How Sri Lanka Won Asia Cup 2022
The Asia Cup has arguably been one of the most entertaining tournaments in recent times, and may even be the most thrilling edition in the history of the Asia Cup given the number of incredible matches fans have witnessed over the previous two weeks.
Pre-tournament favourite
Everyone was fairly certain that the current World No. 1 T20Is team, Team India, would take home the trophy at the 15th Asia Cup in 2022.
From fans to cricket pundits everyone predicted that there will be a clash of India and Pakistan in the finals and then the men in blue will claim the trophy.
India, however, started the tournament on a high note by beating Pakistan in their opening match, giving everyone reason to believe that India would win after 14 days.
But, the specifics of what exactly happened and how it occurred will be covered in this article.
Group Stage (6 Teams – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Hong Kong, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka)
The opening match of the 15th edition of Asia Cup was played between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan and at that time no one didn’t even imagined that the team who failed to show any temperament and fighting spirit in the tournament opener and lost the game would go on to win the tournament.
However, their fans and we too were confident about their comeback but to win the title was a different road altogether.
India won the second match of the tournament by defeating Pakistan by 5 wickets. And in the third league stage game Afghanistan edged past Bangladesh to become the first team to qualify for the Super 4 round.
The men in blue then joined Afghanistan in the Super 4 stage after outlasting Hong Kong by 40 runs in their second league format game.
The intensive fifth match of the league stage saw Sri Lanka claiming a last-over thriller against Bangladesh to confirm their berth for the Super 4. While Pakistan became the last team to join the three already qualified Asian Giants after beating Hong Kong by a big margin of 155 runs.
Super Four (4 Teams – Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka)
Sri Lanka entered the field in the Super 4 four with a self-assured demeanour and defeated Afghanistan by 4 wickets in the Super 4 opening match to exact revenge on Afghanistan.
India, who entered the competition as the overwhelming favourite to win the trophy, suffered their first loss to Pakistan in a nail-biting final over on September 4.
Despite losing, the men in blue were sure that they would make it to the finals, but they were not aware of Sri Lanka’s plans since the Islanders shocked India in the third match of the Super 4 stage, ending their ambitions to win their eighth Asia Cup title.
A lot was still depended on Afghanistan because if they would have defeated Pakistan in the fourth game then India might have some chances to qualify for the finals. But it doesn’t happened as Afghanistan lost the game and both Afghan’s and India were straightaway knocked out of the tournament.
The already qualified Sri Lanka and Pakistan for the finals on September 11 met in the last game of Super 4 as per the schedule, where Sri Lanka showed their class and warned the Pakistan to be aware of themselves after claiming a dominating 5 wicket win.
The Finalists
Sri Lanka
Even after they were defeated by Afghanistan in the first game, fans never gave up on them.
Then, in a unique manner Sri Lanka orchestrated an amazing turnaround and proved why they have been the most trustworthy squad in the Asia Cup during the last super four stage game and throughout the tournament.
Let’s look at their journey
Group stage –
Lost to Afghanistan by eight wickets
Defeated Bangladesh by 2 wickets
Super four stage –
Defeated Afghanistan by 4 wickets
Defeated India by 6 wickets
Defeated Pakistan by 5 wickets
Pakistan
Similar to Sri Lanka, Pakistan’s 2022 Asia Cup journey started on a bad note with a five-wicket loss to India. The “Men in Green,” then made a remarkable comeback and, following three straight victories, they qualified for the finals of the marquee event for their 3rd Asia Cup title.
Let’s look at their journey
Group stage –
Lost to India by five wickets
Outlasted Hong Kong by 155 runs
Super four stage –
Outlasted India by 5 wickets
Outlasted Afghanistan by a single wicket
Lost to Sri Lanka by 5 wickets
The ‘high-voltage’ final – How Sri Lanka won Asia Cup 2022
The battle for the shining Asia Cup trophy began on 7 30 PM IST on Sunday, and it was Pakistan who dominated the game from first over itself as they removed the in-form Kusal Mendis on duck and broke Sri Lanka’s back after dismissing half of their side at the score of just 58.
But, Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Wanindu Hasaranga soaked the pressure from Sri Lanka and brought them back into the game by adding a valuable 58-run for the sixth wicket, before the latter got out after scoring a sensible yet quick-fire 36 off 21.
Rajapaksa then took the whole responsibility of taking his side to a respectable total on his shoulder and did exactly the same, with a fine unbeaten knock of 71 off 45 he drove Sri Lanka to 170 for 6 in 20 overs.
The ‘high-voltage’ final saw another pressured situation when Dilshan Madushanka gave away 9 runs without bowling a single legal bowl. But, the men in green couldn’t managed to keep the momentum and lost two quick wickets inside the powerplay.
Rizwan Khan and Iftikhar Ahmed tried to put Pakistan on track, but despite adding 71 for the third wicket, there partnership was the major factor behind Pakistan’s loss as they took 59 balls for the same. When Iftikhar got out after scoring 32 off 32, Pakistan required 78 off 40 which was still chase able, but suddenly they witnessed a collapse and five of their main hitters got out in the span of just 27 runs and they bundled out for 147 runs to lost the game and the Asia Cup title by 23 runs.
