Sri Lanka pocket Hong Kong Sixes title in style by 3-wicket thrashing of Pakistan

Sri Lanka crowned themselves the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes Champions defeating Pakistan by 3 wickets in a nerve tingling final on Sunday at the Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground for their second title since 2007 when Tharindu Rathnayake smashed the first ball he faced for six and went on to dispatch the next for four as the game dangled with the next a no ball and dot ball before pounding the next one into the grandstand in chasing down 73.

Opening batsman Sandun Weerakkody was Sri Lanka’s overall hero with three tournament half centuries in quarter-final and semi-final wins.

Weerakkody hoisted four sixes in a 13-ball 34 while Dhananjaya Lakshan’s run out for 2 off 7 balls saw skipper Lahiru Madushanka make a quick-fire 19 with his dismissal creating a mini panic before Rathnayake settled the issue in a flourish.

Pakistan’s 72 from 5.2 overs revolved around Muhammad Akhlaq’s back to the wall single handed 48 off 20 balls after the Lankan attack decimated the side to 51 for 5 after 3.4 overs.

Rathnayake also weighed in with the ball having a threatening two sixer Faheem Ashraf to mistiming him for a straightforward catch to Lakshan for 13, and followed up bowling Aamer Yamin, before Nimesh Vimukthi pulled off stunning return catch on the second attempt off Shahab Khan.

The Sri Lankan Hong Kong Sixes hurrah foiled Pakistan’s pursuit of a sixth title having downed Australia in the day’s first semi-final.

Sri Lanka’s cup foray followed a 3-wicket semi-final triumph over Bangladesh at a sold-out Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground where Weerakkody and Tharindu Rathnayake combined to inspire Sri Lanka to a victory off the penultimate ball. Slow left-armer Rathnayake took 4 wickets as Bangladesh totaled 103.

Sri Lanka’s final thrust was carried by openers Weerakkody who stroked an unbeaten 50 and Dhanajaya Lakshan 24 from six. Sri Lanka suffered a mini collapse before  

Nimesh Vimukthi gook them to victory with a boundary and a six off successive strikes before crossing over for the winning run. 

Source: Sri Lanka Cricket.lk