Hong Kong Cricket Sixes: Sri Lanka claim second title after easing past below-par Pakistan
Sandun Weerakkody completes impressive tournament with the bat in three-wicket win at Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground
Sri Lanka won their second Hong Kong Cricket Sixes title, and first since 2007, after beating Pakistan by three wickets in the final on Sunday.
Sandun Weerakkody, who blasted half centuries in his team’s quarter-final and semi-final wins, spearheaded the Sri Lankan dash to a significantly below-par target of 73.
The opener clubbed four sixes in a 13-ball 34, before Dhanashaya Lakshan disappeared for a comparatively sluggish two off seven balls when he was run out following a mix-up with captain Lahiru Madhusanka.
Madhusanka hoiked Hussain Talat to midwicket for 19 to spark minor panic among the Sri Lankans. But their nerves were eased when Tharindu Rathnayake sent his first ball marginally over the fielder at long on for six to leave Sri Lanka requiring eight from nine balls.
Rathnayake hit the next ball for four and after a no ball and dot ball, finished it in style with a huge six into the grandstand to prompt ecstatic celebrations among his teammates and Sri Lanka’s joyous supporters.
Muhammad Akhlaq played a fine lone hand to salvage a Pakistan innings that plumbed the depths of 51 for five after 3.4 overs. The opener’s 48 from 20 balls lifted his team to 72 all out from 5.2 overs, as Pakistan committed the cardinal sin of failing to use their full allocation of overs.
