Sri Lanka clinch Asia Cup for the 6th time after stunning win

Sri Lanka emerged Asia Cup champions for the sixth time with a 23-run win over the more-fancied Pakistan in Dubai. Central to the title win was a counter-attacking batting effort from Bhanuka Rajapaksa (71* off 45) and Wanindu Hasaranga (36 off 21), who lifted Sri Lanka from 58/5 and set 171 for Pakistan, a target that proved too tall for Babar Azam and Co on the night. They were bowled out for 147 in 20 overs as Sri Lanka brought up five consecutive T20Is wins for the first time since April 2014.

How the toss spiced things up

Coming into this final, Sri Lanka's only loss in the tournament came when they batted first. To be fair, it wasn't a one-off instance of them failing to put a total on the board; since the 2021 T20 World Cup, Sri Lanka had lost all the seven matches they batted first in. Furthermore, the venue only multiplied the challenge on offer - teams chasing in Dubai had won 26 of the last 30 games leading into this final. So when the coin fell Pakistan's way, it pitted Sri Lanka's bat-first limitations against Pakistan's grey chasing record, making for a fascinating contest.

Just how did SL get to 58/5?

Pakistan were just too good with their pace upfront. Naseem Shah, steaming in, rattled Kusal Mendis's stumps in the opening over but more pace awaited them in the form of Harif Rauf, who notched up pace in excess of 150 and picked the wickets of Pathum Nissanka (caught at mid-off) and Danushka Gunathilaka (bowled). Things went from bad to worse when Iftikhar Ahmed got rid of Dhananjaya de Silva, who had hitherto looked Sri Lanka's best batter.

Now let's talk about that partnership

Looking back, Pakistan were taken aback by that counterattacking partnership between Wanindu Hasaranga and Bhanuka Rajapaksa. The duo added 58 runs off 36 balls for the sixth wicket. Hasaranga, in particular, was aggressive against pace and spin alike, and even hit Rauf for two consecutive boundaries before edging one to the keeper. Rajapaksa then took control, finishing with 6 fours and 3 sixes and helping his side add 53/0 in the last five overs. It was only the second time in eight T20Is in 2022 Sri Lanka managed 150+ batting first.

Pakistan could have restricted them for fewer?

Yes.. The pitch had good bounce for shot-making but also had enough in it for the bowlers. But Babar Azam instead of attacking Sri Lanka at five-down, allowed Rajapaksa-Hasaranga to get their eyes in against three overs of spin.

Pakistan's fielding in the last five overs didn't help either. Rajapaksa was dropped twice, first by Shadab Khan on 49 at long-on before he collided with Asif Ali at deep mid-wicket and made for another drop. In contrast, Sri Lanka took all the catches that came their way, which at Dubai's 'Ring of Fire' stadium isn't always easy.

Pakistan and chase: what went wrong today?

Babar Azam's form and Mohammad Rizwan's slow-cooked fifty that lacked impetus to chase something like 171 in a high-pressure final. Looking back, Pakistan weren't able to counterattack when they lost Babar (caught at short fine leg) and Fakhar Zaman (chopped on) off consecutive balls to Pramod Madushan (who finished with 4 for 34). Both Iftikhar Ahmed and Rizwan were slow to get off the blocks and it meant that Pakistan were only 68/2 at the halfway mark. To be fair to the duo, they had done well against Hasaranga, picking 25 runs off his first three overs but his fourth, it can be said, all but decided the match. Three wickets fell in that over; that of a well-set Rizwan (55 off 49), Asif Ali and Khushdil Shah, and it all led to Pakistan being bowled out for 147 in 20 overs.

Brief Scores: Sri Lanka 170/6 in 20 overs (Rajapaksa 71*, Hasaranga 36; Rauf 3-29) beat Pakistan 147 in 20 overs (Rizwan 55; Madushan 4-34, Hasaranga 3-27) by 23 runs