Asia Cup to Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka was able to achieve a brilliant win in the match played today (Mar 9) with Pakistan in the Finals and thus clinch the Asia Cup at the game played in Mirpur, BanglaDesh.
Pakistan had acquired a total of 260 runs for the loss of 5 wickets at the end of their 50 overs while Sri Lanka eclipsed that target in the 47th over, losing only 5 wickets in the process.
Pakistan who came to the pitch to bat first found Sri Lankan bowling a threat to them. While Lasith Malinga dominated and pressurized the Pakistan batsmen right from the first over of the innings was successful in grabbing the wicket of Shafeel Kahn in the last ball of the first over. Later, Malinga who who came on once again to bowl the third over managed to get another scalp in the last ball of that over too. It was the wicket of Ahamed Sheshad whom he dislodged for 5 runs. Malinga then he came on to bowl his 5th over and he was able to get a wicket in he third ball of that over. It was the wicket of Mohammed Safeed who had managed to score only 3 runs. As such, since Malinga was able to push back the Pakistan innings from its start, they were not able to amass a large score as they had envisaged. On behalf of the Pakistan innings it was Pavad Alam who cracked 114 unbeaten runs which incidentally was his first ton.
In the same way, Misbah-ul-Haq scored 65 runs and Umar Akmal scoring a quick 59 ultimately paved the way for Pakistan to pile up 260 runs.
It is of special interest to note that it was Lasith Malinga who grabbed all 5 wickets that fell in the Pakistan innings.
In this way the Sri Lankan team was faced with a target of 261 runs for victory. Opening batsman Kusal Perera and Lahiru Thirimanna brought Sri Lanka to a formidable position. Kusal Perera was out first in the 11th over, having scored 42 runs. It was a very unfortunate incident that Sangakkara who came to the batting crease had to go back to the dressing-room without scoring a run and was out in the first ball that he faced judged leg-before. On that occasion the Sri Lankan scoreboard was 56 for 2. However, Mahela who joined Thirimanna accumulated as a satisfactory total for Sri Lanka by passing the 200 mark with only 2 wickets down. In the 38th over, when Mahela was dismissed for 75 skiing a catch, the total was 212. It was Ashan Priyanjan who came to the batting crease after Mahela was then out for a paltry 13. Then Angelo Mathews joined Thirimanna at the wicket. It was when 44 overs and 1 ball was bowled that Thirimanna was out for a knock of 101, with victory in sight. After Thirimanna, it was Chathuranga de Silva who came to the wicket. They passed the winning mark in 46.2 balls.
The 101 runs that Lahiru Thirimanna cracked on behalf of Sri Lanka was a distinguished one. Pakistan player Umar Gul tried to get involved in a dispute with Thirimanna when Sri Lanka was 172 runs; but Thirimanna kept his end sticking to his task successfully without taking much notice of the incident. Thirimanna's 101 as well as Mahela's knock of 75 were both a blessing where the batting department was concerned.
It was Lasith Malinga who engaged in a spectacular spell of bowling who was the hero of the match.
It is an outstanding feature that Sri Lanka who were unbeaten in this tournament won the Finals too.
Scoreboard BELOW
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