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Paul McNamara

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.
The total always looked far too thin, after Pakistan failed to recover from a wretched start to their innings.
Gun opening batsman Asif Ali was outdone by the pace of Lakshan to be comprehensively bowled for a golden duck. Four balls later, Rathnayake raced in from the extra cover boundary to catch Talat, who departed for one.
Faheem Ashraf threatened some pyrotechnics when he lashed a pair of sixes, only to trudge off in high dudgeon after horribly mistiming a swipe off Rathnayake to offer Lakshan a straightforward catch and lose his wicket for 13.
Another ball from Rathnayake kept low and skittled Aamer Yamin, before Nimesh Vimukthi grabbed a brilliant caught-and-bowled at the second attempt after Shahab Khan slapped a shot straight back at the bowler.
While Sri Lanka claimed a second title, Pakistan had appeared to be on course for a record sixth victory in the competition, and thumped Australia handily in the day’s first semi-final.
Australia had captain Dan Christian for taking them to a competitive total of 107-1, with the skipper hitting six sixes from the final over of his side’s innings.
That though was not enough, as Asif Ali got the run chase off to a flying start with 32 runs from just seven balls. His wicket was quickly followed by that of fellow opener Muhammad Akhlaq, who made 32 from 10 balls, and it was left to Aamer Yamin and captain Fahreem Ashraf to see their side home by four wickets, as they finished on 109-2.
Sri Lanka, meanwhile, eased past Bangladesh, winning by three wickets at a sold-out Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground.
Weerakkody and Tharindu Rathnayake combined to inspire Sri Lanka to a victory off the penultimate ball. Slow left-arm bowler Rathnayake claimed four wickets as Bangladesh failed to muster any momentum in their fragile total of 103.
Weerakkody made an unbeaten 50, and was ably supported by fellow opener Dhanajaya Lakshan, who carved 24 from six deliveries. After Lakshan holed out to deep midwicket, and Weerakkody retired having reached his half century, a couple of quick wickets gave Bangladesh hope.
But Nimesh Vimukthi clobbered a four and a six in successive balls, before a scrambled single completed the win and sparked jubilant scenes among Sri Lanka’s large contingent of supporters.


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Sandun Weerakkody completes impressive tournament with the bat in three-wicket win at Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground


Sandun Weerakkody completes impressive tournament with the bat in three-wicket win at Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground.


Hong Kong Cricket Sixes

Hong Kong Cricket Sixes: Sri Lanka claim second title after easing past below-par Pakistan

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Sandun Weerakkody completes impressive tournament with the bat in three-wicket win at Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground

Sandun Weerakkody completes impressive tournament with the bat in three-wicket win at Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground