PAK vs SL, Asia Cup 2022 Final Highlights: Wanindu Hasaranga, Bhanuka Rajapaksa Star As Sri Lanka Clinch Asia Cup 2022 Title With 23-Run Win Over Pakistan

What a performance and what a tournament this has been for Sri Lanka! Ever since losing the first game to Afghanistan, they have been playing excellently well and have strung together some memorable performances to win the Asia Cup 2022 title. After winning all their matches so far while chasing, Sri Lanka found themselves in a spot of bother in this final after losing five wickets early on. But Bhanuka Rajapaksa kept his head down and fought hard to score 71 runs and take the team to a formidable 170/6. Later on, Pramod Madushan gave Sri Lanka a good start with the twin dismissals of Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman. Mohammad Rizwan fought hard but his innings was not quick enough with Wanindu Hasaranga turning things around for his side in the 17th over. Pakistan eventually went on to lose the game by 23 runs after having a good tournament for themselves. This was Sri Lanka's sixth Asia Cup title and first major trophy since 2014 when they had beaten India to win the T20 World Cup. 

Sri Lanka have won the Asia Cup 2022 title with a scintillating performance against Pakistan. They entered the tournament as underdogs and have turned out to be giant-killers beating Pakistan by  runs in a tense final. Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Wanindu Hasaranga, Pramod Madushanka and other players have stepped up to perform and these players have given their fans back home something to smile! What a performance as they continue their undefeated run after losing the first match.

OUT! Pakistan are falling apart and once again, they have found a fielder. Pramod Madushan gets his fourth wicket of the game as Naseem Shah finds Chamika Karunaratne while trying to clear the fence. Naseem Shah c Karunaratne b Pramod Madushan 4(2)

OUT! Another one bites the dust as Shadab Khan perishes while trying to play a big shot. Sri Lanka have been excellent in the field and Danushka Gunathilaka once again takes a good catch. Shadab Khan c Gunathilaka b M Theekshana 8(6)

OUT! Not one, not two but three have Wanindu Hasaranga's triple strike has put Sri Lanka on top. Mohammad Rizwan, Asif Ali and Khushdil Shah are his victims in the over and it would not be wrong to say that Pakistan's chances are looking very bleak here. Mohammad Rizwan c Gunathilaka b Hasaranga 55(49), Asif Ali b Hasaranga 0(1) and Khushdil Shah c M Theekshana b Hasaranga 2(4)

FIFTY! After quite a while, Mohammad Rizwan has finally broken free and has reached his fifty with a six. The concern for Pakistan is that it might have come at a slower pace and he now needs to take his team home from here on. 

OUT! Another wicket has fallen and Mohammad Nawaz, trying to hit one out of the ground, has found the fielder in the deep. Chamika Karunaratne bowled a slower delivery and Nawaz had to hit it hard to get it over but ended up handing a straight catch to Pramod Madushan. Mohammad Nawaz c Pramod Madushan b Karunaratne 6(9)

Pakistan are under pressure with Sri Lanka slowly taking control of things. The run rate is pretty high and Mohammad Rizwan has to break his shackles and get some hits over the fence. Pakistan need 70 off 30 balls to win this match and the Asia Cup 2022 title. 

OUT! The partnership is broken and Pramod Madushan has struck again! Iftikhar Ahmed, trying to play a big shot to keep up with the increasing run rate, perishes with substitute fielder Ashen Bandara taking a good catch in the deep. Sri Lanka have a wicket at a crucial time. Iftikhar Ahmed c (sub)Ashen Bandara b Pramod Madushan 32(31)

Iftikhar Ahmed has started playing some shots and has taken a liking to Wanindu Hasaranga, hitting him for two boundaries. After losing two consecutive wickets, Pakistan have fought back hard in this chase. The fulcrum of this chase has been Mohammad Rizwan, who has batted with maturity and ran well between the wickets. After Hasaranga's expensive over, Maheesh Theekshana bowls a tight one. 

Pakistan have had a steady period of fightback after losing two quick wickets in the powerplay. Mohammad Rizwan has looked good and so has Iftikhar Ahmed and the two would aim to dig deep further with hitters coming down the order. For Sri Lanka, Pramod Madushanka got the two wickets of Babar Azam and then Fakhar Zaman. 

Sri Lanka have been very good in the powerplay with two crucial wickets, both by Pramod Madushanka. Mohammad Rizwan has looked good and so has Iftikhar Ahmed and a lot rests on the two if Pakistan are to fight back in this run-chase. 

OUT! Babar Azam's poor tournament continues as the Pakistan skipper falls early to Pramod Madushan. The right-hander tried to clear the in-field and Dilshan Madhushanka takes a good catch. Next ball, Fakhar Zaman chops one on to his stumps! What a start for Sri Lanka! Babar Azam c Madushanka b Pramod Madushan 5(6) and Fakhar Zaman b Pramod Madushan 0(1)

Mohammad Rizwan has hit a cracking four but Dilshan Madhushanka, after that expensive first over, has come back strongly. He has not let Rizwan free his arms and hence a quiet start for the Green Shirts. 

A terrible start for Sri Lanka as Dilshan Madhushanka has not been able to bowl a legitimate ball before conceding nine extra runs. It is nothing more than a nightmarish start for the young pacer as he is trying to keep it tight but has not been able to hit the mark. But he has made a comeback in the remaining balls. A total of 11 balls in the first over! 

Sri Lanka have had a great fightback in the end after losing five wickets in the first 10 overs. Bhanuka Rajapaksa has been the centrepiece of them coming back into this game and what a knock it has been! The left-hander took his time initially and later, exploded with shots all around the ground. Making the most of dropped catches, he has taken his side to a very good score in a final. Pakistan, after a great start, somehow let things go in the latter half of the innings and they now need to bat very well to win the match and the Asia Cup 2022 title. 

Bhanuka Rajapaksa, after not being able to hit the fence in the initial few deliveries, walks across and scoops one for a boundary. And he hits a six to finish off the innings with 10 runs off the final two balls. Sri Lanka have got 170 here and it is more than a competitive score! 

Pakistan have wasted a good over here. Bhanuka Rajapaksa skied one and Asif Ali and Shadab Khan have a nasty collision with both going for the catch. What's worse is the ball popped out of the hand over the fence, resulting in a six. Shadab Khan is on the ground after taking a knock to the side of his head. He had taken a blow to the left side of his head and now, its the right side. It is not looking good. 

FIFTY! Bhanuka Rajapaksa, making the most of a dropped catch by Shadab Khan, is keeping Sri Lanka in the hunt for a 160-run target here. Despite losing Wanindu Hasaranga, Sri Lanka have not given up and kept hitting back with boundaries. Babar Azam might have missed a trick by not having his pacers bowl earlier after the 10th over as they could have gone for the kill with Sri Lanka batters not having settled. But now, Chamika Karunaratne has joined Rajapaksa as well and the two are leading a great fightback. 

Pakistan have used Mohammad Nawaz for a quick over here and it has yielded only three runs. After an onslaught by Wanindu Hasaranga, Pakistan have pulled things back.