Is it Rajapaksa’s unbeaten 71 off 45 which carried Sri Lanka to a sizable score after the indifferent opening half of their innings?
Maybe it is Madushan who picked up a very handy 4-34 as Pakistan began to lose course?
Finally, how about Hasaranga, who not only chipped in with a crucial cameo of 36 to help support Rajapaksa, but then followed that act with the ball where, in the space of just one over, he picked up three wickets which ultimately decided Pakistan’s fate.
When Sri Lanka were teetering at 67-5 at the halfway stage of the first innings, not many would have expected them to recover, let alone post a rather imposing 171 for Pakistan to chase down.
Then, in the very opening over of Pakistan’s inning, Dilshan showed some nerves by giving up nine bonus runs off no-balls and wides before bowling a legitimate delivery. Following that, Pakistan were at 68-2 with eight wickets to spare, and it seemed inevitable that they would slowly change gears and chase down the target.
So you can imagine to everyone’s amazement, both at the ground and for those watching on the screen, that from a position of 102-3 in the 16th over, they collapsed to 147 all out.
We have talked about it time and time again, that whoever wins the toss and bats second invariably wins the match at this ground, but Sri Lanka have proven they can pull it off as they ultimately achieve a comprehensive 23-run victory.
With this victory, Sri Lanka are just one behind India’s seven in terms of Asia Cups won. Off the very final ball Karunaratne bowls a yorker-length right on the money with the stumps uprooted as Rauf tried one last almighty heave to the legside.
Sri Lanka complete a wonderful 23-run victory over Pakistan to secure their sixth Asia Cup title after an eight-year wait.
