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T20 Cricket Asia Cup Finals : ‘After 10 overs, coach told a winning secret’

13 Sep 2022

  • Bhanuka Rajapaksa makes big reveal at post-match press conference 
By Gayashan Withanarachchi reporting from Dubai   Asia Cup 2022 Finals Man of the Match Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Wanindu Hasaranga, who entered the field when five wickets were lost for a total of 58 runs, said that they planned to take Sri Lanka’s scoreboard to 140. Responding to a question from The Morning Sports during the post-match press conference after clinching the Asia Cup on 11 September, Rajapaksa said: “After 10 overs, the coach came to the middle and told me and Wanindu to play for 15 overs. At that time, the coach asked me how many shots I could hit. I said that even if we scored 130-140 runs, it would be a big score on this pitch. The pitch was not as easy as expected, because the ball was swinging. “Actually, the credit should go to Wanindu. He came and completely took away the pressure. He scored 36 runs in less number of balls. Then all I had to do was stay at the wicket for 20 overs. But after losing five wickets, Wanindu and I actually talked about reaching 140 runs,” Rajapaksa added, while answering the question. Furthermore, Rajapaksa said that this is a big victory for Sri Lankans who are going through a crisis at home, and he further stated that the team will regain the aggressiveness of the Sri Lankan cricket team of two decades ago, and successfully face the Twenty20 World Cup starting next month in Australia. Rajapaksa also said that this was the best innings he had played in the short time he represented the Sri Lankan team. He scored an unbeaten 71 runs in 45 balls including three sixes and six fours in the final. Both Rajapaksa and Hasaranga added 58 runs in 36 balls for the sixth wicket.  Pakistan Head Coach Shaklain Mushtaq, who joined the press conference before the arrival of the Sri Lankan players, said that although Pakistan took the first few wickets and got the upper hand, Bhanuka Rajapaksa came and turned the game around. Pakistan’s coach further added: “Sri Lanka should get all the credit for the victory. In the first few overs, we took the early wickets of the Sri Lankan team. After breaking the backbone, the game was turned around with the way Bhanuka Rajapaksa played. Then the other players also gave him good support.  “No amount of praise is enough. It must be the best innings of Bhanuka's career. Because in the first nine overs, we had them by the neck. But beyond that, the way he played, the game was excellent.”  


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