SL vs PAK: This Is Our Best Asia Cup Outing So Far - Sri Lanka Captain Dasun Shanaka

With the Asia Cup 2022 final almost here, Sri Lanka skipper Dasun Shanaka revealed that the side is very excited to play in the summit clash and as a team, this is one of his country’s best Asia Cup outings. Sri Lanka and Pakistan will lock horns in the final of Asia Cup 2022 in Dubai on Sunday.

Sri Lanka is already five-time champions in the continental tournament. They won the tournament in 1986, 1997, 2004, 2008 and 2014. They are the second-most successful team in tournament history, next to India, which has won seven titles.

Pakistan pulled off some nail-biting clashes to book finals berth

“As a team, we are very excited to play the final, and Pakistan is a very good team, all the matches have been nail-biters and we are looking forward to the final,” said Shanaka to the media ahead of the final.

“As a tournament, looking back, this has been one of the best Asia Cups we have had, and we are looking forward to the final,” he added.

Sri Lanka started off their Asia Cup 2022 campaign on a poor note with a loss to Afghanistan by five wickets. But they bounced back in their next Group game, defeating Bangladesh by two wickets in a thriller, qualifying for the Super Four phase of the tournament.

Despite a slow start, Dasun Shanaka-led Sri Lanka dominated in the later stages of the tournament

The Islanders went on a dominating run in the Super 4s phase, outdoing their competition in nail-biting matches. They started off with a four-wicket win over Afghanistan and followed it up with an exemplary win against India by six wickets in a last-over thriller. In their final Super Four phase match, they defeated Pakistan by five wickets.

Dasun Shanaka and Co finished the Super Four phase at the top of the table with three wins in three games. Opener Pathum Nissanka is the leading run-scorer for Sri Lanka in this tournament. He has scored 165 runs at an average of 41.25, comprising two half-centuries, with the best score of 55*.

Medium pacer Dilshan Madushanka is the leading wicket-taker for Sri Lanka in the tournament, having taken six wickets in five games at an average of 21.83 and an economy rate of 7.70. His best bowling figures of 3/24.

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