Sri Lanka win Hong Kong Sixes after 17 years

Sri Lanka led by Lahiru Madushanka won their second Hong Kong Cricket Sixes title, and first since 2007, after beating Pakistan by three wickets in the final with one over to spare played at Mission Road ground Hong Kong yesterday.

It was a superb all round performance by Sri Lanka team while they restricted five time champions Pakistan for 72 for 6 wickets in 5.2 overs. Two bowlers paceman Dhananjaya Lakshan made an early breakthrough to grab 2 wickets giving away 6 runs in his first over while spinner Tharindu Ratnayake came into the attack and got 2 for 25 in his 2 overs caused Pakistan to be all out with 4 balls to spare after put into bat first. Pakistan opener Muhammad Akhlaq fought a long battle scoring 20 ball 48 with 5 fours and 3 sixes.

Sri Lanka chasing a target of 74 opener Sadun Weerakkody was in terrific form after making back to back two half centuries in quarter final against Nepal and semi final against Bangladesh once again hit 13 ball 34 with a four and 4 sixes while skipper Lahiru Madushanka stroked 19 in 5 balls with 3 sixes. finally Tharindu Ratnayake made unbeaten 16 in 4 balls with a four and 2 sixes including wining six off Hussain Talat to seal their victory in a great style.

Tharindu 4 for 33 guides to win semis

Earlier in the semi final Sri Lanka defeated Bangladesh by 3 wickets with a ball to spare while spinner Tharindu Ratnayake was the match winner producing best figures of the tournament 4 for 33  in his 2 over spell. Sri Lanka chasing a target of 104 reached  it in 5.5 overs with Opener Sadun Weerakkody makinga superb 50 in just 16 balls with 7 fours and 3 sixes retired  hurt well supported by Dhananjaya Lakshan who scored 24 in 6 balls with 4 sixes also added 58 runs opening stand in 2.3 overs.

Tharindu Ratnayake who got highest wickets of the tournament having 8 wickets was named Player of the Series while Dhananjaya Lakshan who got 2 for 6 in  the final was adjudged Player of the Final. Earlier South Africa who lost to Pakistan in the cup semi final won the Plate Championship defeating UAE while Oman won the Bowl Championship defeating Australia  with 4 wickets win with one ball to spare.

Sri Lanka won first title in Hong Kong Sixes in 2007 under the leadership of Indika de Saram once again produced superb effort after 17 years  to grab the title in great fashion with an unbeaten record also entertained the massive crowd at the Stadium yesterday.

Chief scores

Semi final

Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh by 3 wickets

Bangladesh 103 for 5 wickets in 6 overs (Jishan Alam 26, Abdullah Al Mamun 16,Mohammed Saifudeen 23*, Abu Hider 18, Lahiru Samarakoon 1/23, Tharindu Ratnayake 4/33)

Sri Lanka 104 for 4 wickets in 5.5 overs (Sadun Weerakkody 50 retired hurt, Dhananjaya Lakshan 24, Nimesh Vimukthi 12*Abu Hider 1/20,Jishan Alam 2/4)

Player of the Match – Tharindu Ratnayake

Final

Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by 3 wickets

Pakistan 72 for 6 wickets in 5.2 overs (Mohammed Akhlaq 48,Faheem Ashraf 13, Dhananjaya Lakshan 2/6, Tharindu Ratnayake 2/25)

Sri Lanka 76 for 3 wickets in 5 overs (Sadun Weerakkody 34, Lahiru Madushanka 19, Tharindu Ratnayake 16*,Faheem Ashraf 1/19, Hussain Talat 1/18)