INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Sri Lanka were crowned Asia Cup champs for the sixth time after Bhanuka Rajapaksa&& 's batting pyrotechnics and Wanindu Hasaranga&& 's
overall sparkle secured their 23-run victory versus Pakistan in the last on Sunday.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 3 wickets in one over
and Pramod Madushan declared a career-best 4-34 to bowl out Pakistan for 147 in precisely 20 overs, Reuters reported.Put into bat, Sri Lanka
were reeling at 58-5 in the ninth over after their leading order wilted early.Naseem Shah began with a broad however quickly redeemed
himself by uprooting Kusal Mendis&& 's off-stump with the 3rd legitimate delivery of the day.Haris Rauf removed Pathum Nissanka and Danushka
Gunathilaka in succeeding 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) integrated with Rajapaksa in their most productive collaboration
of 58 runs from 36 balls.Rauf (3-29) removed Hasaranga however Rajapaksa remained unbeaten after an incendiary knock that included 3 6s and
six fours.It was largely since of his 45-ball blitz that Sri Lanka ransacked 103 runs from the last 10 overs.When they returned, Madushan
declared two wickets in 2 balls to rock Pakistan.Babar Azam was caught at short fine leg, while Fakhar Zaman dragged the next ball onto his
stumps.Madushan went back to dismiss Iftikhar (32) after the batsman had actually combined with Mohammad Rizwan (55) to revive their
innings.Hasaranga efficiently derailed Pakistan&& 's go after when the spinner dismissed the unsafe Rizwan, Asif Ali and Khushdil Shah in
the very same over.The victory would taste even much better for Sri Lanka, who could not host the competition in your home because of a
political and economic crisis in the island nation though they retained the hosts& & honor.The post Sri Lanka beat Pakistan to clinch 6th
Asia Cup title initially appeared on Ariana News.
