Asia Cup 2022: Sri Lanka warm up for final with comfortable win over Pakistan

10.09.2022 - 09:19 thenationalnews.com

Sri Lanka geared up for the Asia Cup 2022 final in perfect fashion as spinner Wanindu Hasaranga set up a comfortable five-wicket victory over Pakistan on Friday.

Both teams had already booked their place in Sunday's final and faced each other in a dress rehearsal for the title clash. Hasaranga returned figures of 3-21 with his leg-spin to help bowl out Pakistan for 121 in 19.1 overs after Sri Lanka elected to field first in Dubai.

Sri Lanka slipped to 29-3 in their chase before Pathum Nissanka (55 not out) and Bhanuka Rajapaksa (24) put on a stand of 51 as the island nation achieved their target with three overs to spare.

The left-handed Rajapaksa fell after his 19-ball knock but Nissanka stood firm and Hasaranga hit the winning runs as Sri Lanka registered their fourth straight victory. "The confidence we have is massive after four consecutive wins, but we still don't take Pakistan lightly in the final," skipper Dasun Shanaka said. "We know they are a very good side and enough good players in their side to come back strong and we should be ready for that." Pakistan captain Babar Azam, who struggled with only 33 runs in the previous four games, top-scored with a scratchy 30 off 29 balls.

bowling win cup Fakhar Zaman Babar Azam Dasun Shanaka Mohammad Rizwan Dubai Sri Lanka Pakistan

"I think in T20 cricket anything can happen, we can bounce back in next game," a gutted Sri Lanka skipper Dasun Shanaka had said after his team's disappointing loss to Afghanistan in the 2022 Asia Cup opener. Many experts had written the side off after the loss. To be honest, they were not among favorites to win the tournament either. Irrespective of the talks around, the group believed in its ability -- so much, that it eventually went on to win the 2022 Asia Cup - its 6th title - by beating teams like India and Pakistan, who were considered as favourites, on their way to glory.

Asia Cup 2022, Sri Lanka vs Pakistan Highlights: Sri Lanka beat Pakistan to win sixth Asia Cup title

Asia Cup title by convincingly beating Pakistan by 23 runs.

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Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan by five wickets in their dress rehearsal for the Asia Cup final. After rolling over Pakistan for a total sub-par total of 121, Sri Lanka chased down the target with three overs to spare. During the 17th over of the chase, Pakistan players Hasan Ali and Iftikhar Ahmed almost had a collision while attempting a catch. In the second delivery of the seventeenth over, Mohammad Hasnain dished out an off-cutter to Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka who hit it straight to long-on.

Asia Cup 2022 Final: The variation we have in bowling is amazing, says Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka

Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka heaped praise on their bowling line-up ahead of the T20 Asia Cup final against Pakistan here on Sunday and said that his bowlers can challenge any batting line-up going around. Wanindu Hasaranga's three-wicket haul, followed by Pathum Nissanka's brilliant unbeaten 55-run knock, guided Sri Lanka (124/5) to an easy five-wicket victory over Pakistan (121) in their 'Super Four' clash on Friday, a dress rehearsal for Sunday's title clash. Sri Lanka ended the 'Super 4'-stage campaign with three victories in as many matches, defeating Afghanistan, India and Pakistan. Both the teams had qualified for the final even before their 'Super 4' clash.

Asia Cup 2022: Sri Lanka drub Pakistan in dress rehearsal for final

Both teams rested a couple of important players but there was no compromise in the intensity. Dasun Shanaka didn’t want to experiment and stuck to the winning formula of winning the toss and bowling first. The most heartening aspect of the bowling was star leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga rediscovering his rhythm to take 3/21 before opener Pathum Nissanka stayed unbeaten on 55 off 48 to see Sri Lanka home.

Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, Asia Cup 2022, Live Updates: Dress Rehearsal Before Final As Pakistan Take On Sri Lanka

Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, Asia Cup, Live Updates: Sri Lanka and Pakistan will be squaring off against each other in the final Asia Cup Super 4 match on Friday at Dubai International Stadium. This clash will act like a practice match before the final on Sunday between the two teams. Both the teams thrashed India and Afghanistan to pave their way into the summit clash of the tournament. After being out of form for some matches, Pakistan skipper Babar Azam will look to redeem himself in today's match. It will be interesting to see that which side will be putting their best foot forward. (Live Scorecard)