What an inning from Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama as they took Sri Lanka into the finals. Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by two wickets and will face India in the Asia Cup final on Sunday. Kusal Mendis was the hero of the match for Sri Lanka as he scored a brilliant 91 off 87 with 8 fours and 1 six.
Rain had reduced the deciding encounter of the Asia Cup 2023 between Sri Lanka and Pakistan to 45 overs per side Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat.
Babar Azam and Abdullah Shafique rebuilding the innings after the loss of Fakhar Zaman with some sensible batting Dunith Wellalage dismissed Babar Azam it was a brilliant delivery by Wellalage the ball was pitched on the off-stump and turned away sharply. Babar who was trying to deal with the ball on the front foot lost his balance and Kushal Mendis behind the stumps did the rest. He is making a habit of picking big wickets is Wellalage. The partnership of 64 was finally broken.
Abdullah Shafique got to a well-crafted half-century but he failed to convert it into a three-figure score as Pathirana picked up Abdullah Shafique. Pathirana who was brought back into the attack bowled a shorter delivery which Shafique tried to pull however, though the intent was right he looked to play it in the air rather than down the ground. Fine-leg fielder took a simple catch at the boundary.
It was a brilliant second spell from Pathirana. Mohammad Haris looked to be attacking right from ball one and Pathirana sensed his urgency and set him up beautifully with a slower one which Haris hit straight back to the bowler
Mohammad Rizwan & Iftikhar Ahmed Took The Attack To Sri Lanka
It was a gem of an innings from Rizwan. He came in when Pakistan was in a bit of trouble however, he absorbed the pressure initially and he accelerated as he went on. His partnership with Iftikhar might be the one which may power Pakistan to the final. As the duo put on a fabulous stand of 108 runs.
Before Pathirana comes back and strikes Iftikhar Ahmed departs for a well-made 47. Fantastic innings from Rizwan as Pakistan ended with 252 for 7 his 86 runs were the match-defining innings for Pakistan. Pathirana took 3 vital wickets though he is expensive.
Disaster for Sri Lanka as Kusal Perera got run out just when he looked to take the attack on the bowler’s brilliant throw from Shadab Khan.
Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama put on a 100-run stand
Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama put on a century stand. Despite the wicket, Shadab has not looked convincing at all. In between the good deliveries he also has put in a few loose ones. Kusal Mendis scores a timely 50 important innings from him as he takes his team closer to victory.
Iftikhar creates the breakthrough. It was a dismissal similar to Babar the ball was pitched on off-stump and turned sharply away from the batter and Sadeera was beaten all ends up when he went down the track and tried to work the ball on the leg-side. A slight ray of hope for Pakistan
Kusal Mendis departs for 91 unfortunate deserves a hundred today but it’s Iftikhar once again Iftikhar Ahmed picks up his third wicket. The shining light for Pakistan in this game. Kusal Mendis was bamboozled by Iftikhar who bowled as if he was a frontline spinner.
Drama drama Sri Lanka needs 12 from two overs. Afridi picks up 2 back to back wickets. Asalanka somehow takes Sri Lanka home with 49 runs and was calm & composed in his knock even when the side required 6 runs to win from 2 balls and Zaman Khan had the ball in hand who was spot on in the last over.