• News
  • Sport
  • TV
  • Radio
  • Education
  • TV Licences
  • Contact Us
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION
No Result
View All Result
1
Home Sport

Sri Lanka win Asia Cup after Rajapaksa, Hasaranga heroics

12 September 2022, 12:18 AM  |
Reuters Reuters |  @SABCNews
Sri Lanka players celebrate after the match.

Sri Lanka players celebrate after the match.

Image: Reuters

Sri Lanka players celebrate after the match.

Sri Lanka were crowned Asia Cup champions for the sixth time after Bhanuka Rajapaksa’s batting pyrotechnics and Wanindu Hasaranga’s all-round brilliance secured their 23-run victory against Pakistan in the final on Sunday.

Player-of-the-match Rajapaksa smashed an unbeaten 71 to help Sri Lanka weather a top order collapse and reach 170-6 at the Dubai International Stadium.

When they returned, Hasaranga claimed three wickets in one over and Pramod Madushan claimed a career-best 4-34 to bowl out Pakistan for 147 in exactly 20 overs.

“We improved a lot coming into the final,” Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka said looking back at their campaign which began with a loss against Afghanistan.

“I think it happened for a good reason. After that we had a serious discussions with all the players.

“We knew the calibre of these players. They did their part and that’s why are the champions.”

Put into bat, Sri Lanka were reeling at 58-5 in the ninth over after their top order wilted early.

Naseem Shah began with a wide but soon redeemed himself by uprooting Kusal Mendis’s off-stump with the third legitimate delivery of the day.

Haris Rauf removed Pathum Nissanka and Danushka Gunathilaka in successive overs and Iftikhar Ahmed took a sharp return catch to cut short Dhananjaya de Silva’s knock of 28.

With Sri Lanka 67-5 at the halfway stage of their innings, Hasaranga (36) combined with Rajapaksa in their most productive partnership of 58 runs from 36 balls.

Rauf (3-29) removed Hasaranga but Rajapaksa remained unbeaten after an incendiary knock that included three sixes and six fours.

It was largely because of his 45-ball blitz that Sri Lanka plundered 103 runs from the last 10 overs.

When they returned, Madushan claimed two wickets in two balls to rock Pakistan.

Babar Azam was caught at short fine leg, while Fakhar Zaman dragged the next ball onto his stumps.

Madushan returned to dismiss Iftikhar (32) after the batsman had combined with Mohammad Rizwan (55) to revive their innings.

Hasaranga, who was adjudged player-of-the-tournament, effectively derailed Pakistan’s chase when the spinner dismissed the dangerous Rizwan, Asif Ali and Khushdil Shah in the same over.

“We dominated the first eight overs but that (Rajapaksa-Hasaranga) partnership proved crucial,” Pakistan captain Babar said.

“As a batting unit, we did not do according to our potential, and with the ball, we could not finish well and conceded 15-20 extra runs.”

The victory would taste even better for Sri Lanka, who could not host the tournament at home because of a political and economic crisis in the island nation though they retained the hosts’ honour.

Share article
Tags: Sri Lanka
Previous Post

11 Kuruman car crash victims laid to rest this weekend

Next Post

Documentary on activist photographer wins rare top film prize at Venice

Related Posts

Manchester United fans inside the stadium before the match as a limited number of fans are permitted at outdoor sports venues.

Qatar’s Sheikh Jassim submits improved bid for Manchester United

26 March 2023, 10:01 AM
Rugby ball.

Lions beat Benetton in Italy for third consecutive UCR win

25 March 2023, 6:41 PM
Paris St Germain's Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring their second goal. Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - Paris St Germain v AS Monaco - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - December 12, 2021.

Captain Mbappe at the double as stylish France thrash Netherlands

25 March 2023, 10:30 AM
bafana

Liberia hold Bafana Bafana to a 2-All draw at Orlando Stadium

24 March 2023, 9:24 PM
General view outside the Tottenham Hotspur training ground in London, Britain, in this image captured on December 9, 2021.

Tourism Minister calls for scrapping of Tottenham Hotspur sponsorship deal

24 March 2023, 12:19 PM

VIDEO: I have asked the Tourism Board if Tottenham deal has been cancelled, says De Lille

24 March 2023, 11:06 AM
Next Post
The 79th Venice Film Festival - Closing Red Carpet Arrivals - Venice, Italy, September 10, 2022 - Laura Poitras arrives.

Documentary on activist photographer wins rare top film prize at Venice

Most Viewed

  • 24hrs
  • Week
  • Month
  • Unions set the record refute wage settlement agreement reports
  • UPDATE | Court hears evidence regarding Zuma’s medical records
  • SABC News crew attacked on N2 while monitoring protests
  • BREAKING | EFF members arrested after clashes with police in Braamfontein Sunday night
  • 320-ton steam generator removed at Koeberg Power Station
  • Corporates prepare for a possible national blackout
  • Unions set the record refute wage settlement agreement reports
  • UPDATE | Court hears evidence regarding Zuma’s medical records
  • SABC News crew attacked on N2 while monitoring protests
  • Wits SRC sued
  • Correctional Services confirms Thabo Bester ‘Facebook rapist’ is on the loose
  • Frustrated Robertsham residents say their taps are still dry
  • Putin says Moscow to place nuclear weapons in Belarus, US reacts cautiously
  • NUMSA expresses shock over the murder of Cloete Murray
  • Government must change its strategy to end energy crisis, says Floyd Shivambu

LATEST

  • South Africa

LIVE: Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga addresses the media


Manchester United fans inside the stadium before the match as a limited number of fans are permitted at outdoor sports venues.
  • Sport

Qatar’s Sheikh Jassim submits improved bid for Manchester United


Russian President Vladimir Putin
  • World

Putin says Moscow to place nuclear weapons in Belarus, US reacts cautiously


A view shows tents at a temporary camp where African migrants have lived since what they say authorities urged landlords to force them from their homes, near the International Organization for Migration (IOM), in Tunis, Tunisia March 22, 2023.
  • Africa

Nineteen African migrants die when another boat sinks off Tunisia


African National Congress (ANC) flag seen at a party event.
  • Politics

‘Mangaung Metro will soon have political leadership’


Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor.
  • South Africa

Minister Pandor says African women should emulate Charlotte Maxeke to uplift others


Weather

  • About the SABC
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs
  • Advertise
  • Disclaimer
  • Site Map

SABC © 2023

No Result
View All Result
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION

© 2023

Previous 11 Kuruman car crash victims laid to rest this weekend
Next Documentary on activist photographer wins rare top film prize at Venice