The much-awaited Asia Cup 2022 is finally upon us and the multi-nation tournament got underway with Afghanistan handing Sri Lanka an eight-wicket thrashing in the tournament opener on Saturday (Aug 27) in Dubai.
The Asia Cup, which was scheduled to be held in Sri Lanka, was shifted to the UAE, due to the internal turmoil in Lanka. The T20 tournament will throw up some familiar rivalries.
Furthermore, with the ICC T20 World Cup just round the corner, the Asia Cup will bear a lot of importance with teams looking to finalise their World Cup squads. In the previous edition in 2018, India defeated Bangladesh to lift the trophy.
India, who entered the 2022 edition of the tournament as defending champions, handed arch-rivals Pakistan a thrilling five-wicket loss in their Asia Cup campaign opener on Sunday (Aug 28). Apart from the India-Pakistan marquee clash, the tournament will throw up a few high-voltage clashes.
The T20 tournament which promises to be another edge-of the-seat thrilling contest, which will conclude on September 11, with the final being played in Dubai.
Here, mykhel brings you the live updates of Asia Cup 2022:
And that wraps up the coverage for today. Join us for the build up to the final later. The Asia Cup 2022 final will see the Pakistan and Sri Lanka battle out once again at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday (September 11).
Player of the match was awarded to Wanindu Hasaranga for his bowling spell of 3 for 21. This is what the Hasaranga said: "I'm really happy because last few games I've given up some runs, but today I've made a comeback strongly with wickets."
Dasun Shanaka was happy with his teams performance and said "Always acceptable these kind of results. I think the extras were a concern in this game, and the lines the fast bowlers bowled. These are areas we can improve, if we could get early wickets in the next game that will be good."
The losing skipper Babar Azam said: "We played well in the last two games, but the batting has not been up to the mark. But surely impressed with our fast bowlers. This was definitely a good learning experience, we will sit back and analyze this game, and see where we can improve for Sunday."
This is what Sri Lanka's match-winner with the bat, Pathum Nissanka had to say after taking his team across the line: After three all early wickets, it gave me the allowance to play my natural game and see the team over the line. Although there was extra pace from the Pakistan bowlers, I backed my skill and knew what to do. This win will help us to gain momentum and we are looking forward to doing well in the final as well."
FOUR! And it's all over as Sri Lanka defeat Pakistan by 5 wickets in the Asia Cup 2022 Super 4 match with 18 balls to spare.
CHANCE! Put down at third man by Mohammad Nawaz and the ball also crosses the ropes to add insult to injury.
SIX! Followed by a WICKET! This has been a common recently as Shanaka pulls Hasnain off the first ball, but the bowler comes out on top the very next delivery. Sri Lanka - 113/5 in 16.2 overs.
Hasan Ali, who conceded 21 runs inside powerplay, returns to bowl a tidy over as he gives away just 4 runs. But it may be late in the day as Sri Lanka close in on victory.
Pakistan take a review for caught behind of Dasun Shanaka and lose their referral after UltraEdge shows no spike. But there was confusion about, who took the referral as Babar Azam was standing behind the umpire.
FOUR! AND A SIX! Shanaka takes the attack to Haris Rauf for a boundary and a maximum. Sri Lanka now need just 19 runs from 30 balls to win.
After 14 overs, Sri Lanka are 92/4 with Nissanka (51*) and Shanaka (4*) in the middle. Sri Lanka now need less than a run-a-ball 30 to win.
50 up for Nissanka off 41 balls. Now the opener will look to finish the job along with his skipper as Sri Lanka close in on victory.
Despite losing batting partners, Nissanka (47) fights on and closes in on a fifty. The opener is now joined in the middle by his skipper Dasun Shanaka. Sri Lanka - 84/4 in 12.1 overs.
WICKET! Uman Qadir gets his first as he dismisses Rajapaksa for 24 caught by Haris Rauf in midwicket. Sri Lanka - 80/4 in 11.3 overs.
SIX! Nissanka attacks Usman Qadir this time and deposits a short delivery just over the deep midwicket fielder for a maximum. Sri Lanka - 79/3
At the halfway stage of the run chase, Sri Lanka are 68/3 in 10 overs and need 54 more to win in the next ten. Nissanka (34*) and Rajapaksa (22*) are the two men in the middle for the chasing team.
SIX! Rajapaksa once again hits Usman Qadir for a maxmimum over deep midwicket. Sri Lanka now need only 58 runs from 64 balls to win.
OH! HUGE MISS! Rizwan fails to gather and misses a stumping of Rajapaksa, who was completely deceived by Mohammad Nawaz.
SIX! And it's 50 up for Sri Lanka as Rajapaksa sweeps Usman Qadir for the first maximum of the run chase. Sri Lank - 53/3 in 8 overs.
At the end of powerplay, Sri Lanka reach only 37 and most importantly lose three wickets in the process. The Lankans still need only 85 runs from 84 balls, but this game seems to be a low-scoring thriller.
FOUR! FOUR! Nissanka pulls Hasan Ali, who seems to be the weak link in the Pakistan bowling attack, for two more boundaries. Sri Lanka - 37/3 in 6 overs.
FOUR! And A WICKET! Dhananjaya de Silva pulls Haris Rauf for his first boundary of the innings, but the Pakistan pacer responds with a short delivery to get rid of the Sri Lanka batter. Sri Lanka - 29/3 in 5 overs.
FOUR! FOUR! Nissanka gets two more boundaries off Hasan Ali as he flicks one past square leg and follows with a pull. Sri Lanka - 22/2 in 4 overs.
FOUR! Nissanka finds a boundary as slashes hard off Hasan Ali and the ball flies over the slip. Sri Lanka - 12/2 in 3.2 overs.
Almost wicket number three as Dhananjaya de Silva survives a close caught and bowled chance off Mohammad Hasnain. The two Pakistan pacers are bowling very quick.
WICKET! Danushka Gunathilaka flashes at Haris Rauf's quick wide delivery to only finds the edge with Rizwan taking a good catch. Sri Lanka - 2/2 in 1.2 overs.
WICKET! Sri Lanka suffer early set back in run chase of 122 as Mohammad Hasnain removes Kusal Mendis for a golden duck. Sri Lanka - 2/1 in 1 over.
WICKET! Debutant Pramod Madushan finishes off Pakistan innings with a slower deliver that deceive Haris Rauf. Pakistan 121 All Out in 19.1 overs.
WICKET! Nawaz cameo doesn't last long as Hasaranga once again gets into action to run out the Pakistan all-rounder. Pakistan - 121/9 in 19 overs.
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