Sri Lanka's Asia Cup final hero Bhanuka Rajapaksa reckoned his knock - 71* off 45 balls - was one of the best he's ever played as it revived the team's innings and pushed them towards a winning total. The hosts were down to 58 for 5 in the 9th over and were staring at a lowly total and the runners-up medal until Rajapaksa stepped up and steered his team clear.
ASIA CUP 2022
One of the best innings I've played: Rajapaksa
"Of course it's a wonderful moment and one of the best innings that I've played in a very short period of time," Rajapaksa said © Getty
He and Wanindu Hasaranga forged a stand worth 58 runs off 36 balls. When Hasaranga fell in the 15th over, Rajapaksa was batting on 37 off 28. He hit the next gear at the death overs as Sri Lanka smashed 53 off the last five overs. Rajapaksa accounted for 34 of those runs, in just 17 deliveries as he finished with a six to walk back on an unbeaten 71 off 45 balls - laced with six fours and three sixes. It powered the side to 170 for 6 that proved to be a winning total in the end.
"Of course it's a wonderful moment and one of the best innings that I've played in a very short period of time," Rajapaksa said in the post-match press conference. The left-hander said he and the team wanted to show their aggression in the game and hoped to ride on this success leading to the World Cup next month.
"We wanted to show the world... A couple of decades back, we had some sort of aggression in our side. And we wanted to create those moments again. I think as a unit we're doing it fantastically well at the moment and we just want to look forward to the World Cup as well and to keep up this momentum," Rajapaksa said.
"As a nation, I think it is a great win with all the crises happening back home. These are tough times for Sri Lankans and we are glad and we hope we brought some smiles to their faces," he added.
Sri Lanka have enjoyed quite the journey at this tournament that culminated in them clinching their sixth Asia Cup title. Captain Dasun Shanaka revealed there were serious discussions that ensued following their
