Colombo, Sri Lanka - In a nail-biting encounter at the Asia Cup 2023, Sri Lanka's cricket sensation, Charith Asalanka, expressed his exhilaration after playing a remarkable inning, labeling it as the second-best of his career. Asalanka's heroics led the Dasun Shanaka-led Sri Lankan side to a thrilling victory against Pakistan, securing their spot in the tournament's summit clash with just two wickets to spare.

Facing a daunting target of 252 runs, Sri Lanka found themselves in a precarious situation as their middle order crumbled. However, Asalanka's composure under pressure proved pivotal in guiding his team to a memorable victory.

Reflecting on the nerve-wracking final moments of the match, Asalanka shared his thoughts with reporters during the post-match press conference. "I just thought about how I could find the gaps and run hard because it's a vast field. I communicated to Pathirana to push for quick runs," he explained.

Anticipating the bowler's next move, Asalanka continued, "I expected either a bouncer or a yorker, but he surprised me with a slower ball. Fortunately, it favored my side. I'm absolutely thrilled. Mendis and Sadeera batted exceptionally well. My role is to finish games, and I'm delighted to contribute. This innings ranks second in my book," he added.

Kusal Mendis emerged as another standout performer for Sri Lanka, notching an impressive 91 runs off 87 deliveries. His partnership with Sadeera Samarawickwarma (48) yielded 100 crucial runs off 98 balls, setting the stage for the thrilling finish.

Expressing his satisfaction with his performance, Mendis, who was named the Man of the Match, said, "I'm pleased with my contribution and thrilled to reach the final. We had a few nervous moments when we lost those two wickets, but having Charith in the middle gave us hope. He's done it before against Afghanistan. Our bowlers also did well, so it's a great feeling to be in the final."

Sri Lanka, under the leadership of skipper Dasun Shanaka, has now reached two consecutive Asia Cup finals. Shanaka commended his team's efforts and the depth of their bowling attack. "Wanindu, Kumara, and Dusmantha are our main bowlers, but we have others who are performing admirably. This is a young and talented unit. We controlled the game for most parts, but the loss of wickets took it to the last over. We gave Pakistan a chance to claw back into the game, but we had faith in Charith to guide us home. We discussed our batting approach and learned from our mistakes in the India game, where we lost wickets early. Kusal and Sadeera played exceptional innings," Shanaka commented.

On the other side of the coin, Pakistan's skipper, Babar Azam, expressed disappointment following his team's exit from the tournament, criticizing the bowling performance that led to their downfall.

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