In a rain-affected thriller Asia Cup super-4 match played between Sri Lanka and Pakistan Charith Aslanka(49) and Kusal Mendis(91) emerged as the anchor in Sri Lanka’s stunning victory over Pakistan, and now Sri Lanka will face Men in Blue on 17th Sep.
Another world class and nail biting match we witnessed between two Asian side Sri Lanka and Pakistan which finished in the last over of the game, Charith Aslanka showed his world class temperament throughout the chase as he finished the game on last with a brilliant score of 49 of 47 balls.
As it Happened:
Pakistan’s skipper, the ever-reliable Babar Azam, won the crucial toss and opted to set the tone with the bat. The heavens, however, had other plans, and early wickets tumbled. Fakhar Zaman, in sublime form, was an early casualty, but a resilient partnership between Azam (29) and the promising Abdullah Safique (52) weathered the storm.
Wellalage Strikes, Rain Returns
Just as Pakistan was finding its rhythm, the crafty Wellalage sent Babar Azam back to the pavilion, signaling a momentum shift. The rain, unyielding in its persistence, returned, and the match was further truncated to 42 overs each.
Rizwan’s Brilliance and Iftikhar’s Flourish
After the rain-induced intermission, Rizwan took center stage with an explosive display of stroke play, notching a remarkable 86. Iftikhar Ahmad was no less impressive, contributing a vital 47. Their partnership propelled Pakistan to a competitive total of 252.
Kusal Perera’s Blitzkrieg Start
Sri Lanka’s chase was ignited by a familiar face returning after a hiatus – Kusal Perera. He blazed through the first over from Shaheen Afridi, amassing an explosive 10 runs and setting the tone for what was to come.
Mendis and Aslanka’s Crucial Partnership
Kusal Mendis, a beacon of composure, anchored the innings with a sublime 91, exhibiting a perfect blend of aggression and precision. Charith Aslanka, not to be outdone, played a pivotal supporting role with a well-crafted 49. Their partnership laid the foundation for Sri Lanka’s pursuit of victory.
Shaheen’s Double Strike Drama
As the match hurtled towards its climax, Shaheen Afridi injected fresh drama with a double strike in the 41st over. The pendulum swung, and the contest hurtled towards a nail-biting finish.
Zaman Khan’s Debut Heroics
With 8 runs required off 6 balls, the debutant Zaman Khan took center stage, showing nerves of steel. His precision bowling left Sri Lanka needing 6 off the last 2 balls. The crowd held its breath. and on the 5th ball takes an edge and went for four, then last ball 2 run was an easy thing.
Sri Lanka secured their consecutive Asia Cup Final Spot and this will be their 12th Asia Cup Final appearance.