PATHUM NISSANKA PLAYER OF THE MATCH 68

By Srian Obeyesekere

Sri Lanka overcame a fighting minnows Hong Kong by 4 wickets chasing down a praiseworthy 149 for 4 wickets off 20 overs in what finally boiled down to a neck to neck Asia Cup tussle with the former 2022 champions stretched to the limit in the final crunch time by a side comprising mainly expatriates grabbed 4 wickets for 9 runs in a score of 127 for 6 into 17.1 overs on a high of Pathum Nissanka’s 68 off 44 before Wanindu Hasaranga came to the show smashing an unbeaten 20 off 9 balls requiring 9 off the last two overs as he crashed the fifth delivery of the penultimate over by Ateel Iqbal past the bowler for four to carry his side through with eight balls to spare in a dramatic finish at the Dubai International Stadium yesterday.

Indeed, if the match as an entirety belonged to the bravado of Pathum Nissanka’s consistently Mr Reliable Player of the Match backbone slugging out firing 6 boundaries and 2 over the top, the final drama was all Wanindu Hasaranga put to play his all-round flair in batting Sri Lanka to victory in that final scramble where Hong Kong had admirably pulled the game into a contest taxing the former champions to the very end.

Following a 36 second wicket rallying off 33 balls by Nissanka and Kamil Mishara a run a ball 19 with a six and boundary after a 1 for 26 loss of Kusal Mendis for 11, the Lankans Mr Reliable took the score past hundred, third out – 119 for 3 after 15.1 overs. Hong Kong followed up by a double strike removing Kusal Janith Perera 20 off 16 with a six and boundary who had added 57 for the third wicket with Nissanka as Sri Lanka lost their fourth wicket without addition to successive deliveries by the Hong Kong skipper Yasmin Murtaza. 16-ball 20 with a six and boundary.

Hong Kong made a third strike in the space of six balls and the addition of 3 runs when Ehsan Khan removed the Lankan skipper Charith Asalanka for a fifth ball 2 caught by Ayush Shukla and six runs later another key wicket of Kamindu Mendis for 5 off 5 with the Hong Kong skipper claiming his third wicket having him caught by Basar Hyat.
Then arrived Hasaranga joining Shanaka who kept his end hitting a boundary allowing his partner to lead the final charge.

Hong Kong’s 149 revolved around Nizakat Khan’s unbeaten 52 off 38 hitting 4 boundaries and 2 sixes and by opener Anshy Rath 48 off 46 with 4 boundaries and co-opener Zeeshan Alin 23 as the minnows displayed grit their first wicket yielding 41 to reaching 118 for 3 wickets after 15.5 overs in finishing on a pleasing T20 score of 149 for just four wickets.
Sri Lanka’s Dushmantha Chameera pucked up 2 wickets for 29 off his 4 while Hasaranga and Shanaka took one each while Nuwan Thushar went for 36 runs from 4 and Asalanka 22 from 3 while Mahees Theekshana. recalled for Matheesha Pathirana. conceded 22 runs.

Sri Lanka 153 for 6 (Nissanka 68, Hasaranga 20, Murtaza 2-37) beat Hong Kong 149 for 4 (Nizakat 52, Rath 48, Chameera 2-29) by four wickets.