Colombo : Dasun Shanaka led Sri Lanka, also the defending champions of the Asia Cup defeat Pakistan by 2 wickets in a close encounter at Premadasa Stadium, Colombo to enter into the final where they will face the 7 times Asia Cup champion India.
Chasing a total of 252 in a rain curtailed and shortened encounter of 42 overs, Sri Lankan openers Pathum Nissanka and Kushal Perera took no time to and started timing the balls to perfection and scoring quick runs via continuous boundaries, Kushal Perera who’s making his comeback after 2 years looked in sublime touch before getting run out of a brilliant direct hit to the stumps from Shadab Khan. Nissanka was now accompanied by Kushal Mendis, they started building a partnership but suddenly Nissanka got dismissed off Shadab, being caught and bowled. Mendis was now accompanied by Samarawickrama, and both of them added a stand of 100 runs, but yet again Samarawickrama got stumped against off spinner Ifthikar Ahmed. Kushal Mendis too didn’t last longer as he got on 91, dismissed off a stunning catch by Mohammad Haris. The scenes now took a dramatic turn – Charith Asalanka, the pillar of middle order held one end continuing to score runs but Sri Lanka lost quick 3 wickets and suddenly brought pressure. Pakistani death bowlers Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Wasim gave a new turn to the match and hopes to Pakistan fans. With 8 runs to defend from the last over, the debutant Zaman Khan was handed with the task to do so. He conceded just 2 runs off his 1st 4 balls, but in the next 2 balls, Asalanka broke all hopes of Pakistanis as he struck a boundary and a double off the last 2 balls to give Sri Lanka the ticket for final. Kushal Mendis was adjourned the man of the match for his heroic 91 (87).
Sri Lanka Winning Moment 🇱🇰🏏
Sri Lanka 🇱🇰🏏now reached 11 Asia Cup Finals, more than either India or Pakistan.
Congratulations @OfficialSLC 🇱🇰🙏#LKA #SriLanka #PAKvSL #AsiaCup #AsiaCup2023 #SLvPAK pic.twitter.com/YVVehScM7p
— Sri Lanka Tweet 🇱🇰 (@SriLankaTweet) September 14, 2023
Earlier with the Ball, the game was all about ups and downs, though they managed to dismiss star players like Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Haris, Nawaz cheaply, the Pakistan Batting burden was carried by Abdullah Shafique scoring his maiden ODI 50, and the pressure was taken off by Mohammad Rizwan and Ifthikar who scored 86* and 47 respectively. After their dismissal, Sri Lanka did well to restrict Pakistan to 252 in a rain curtailed encounter.
Brief Scorecard
1st Innings
Pakistan : 252-7 (42)
Mohammad Rizwan : 86* (73)
Abdullah Shafique : 52 (69)
Sri Lanka
Matheesha Pathirana : 3/65
2nd Innings
Sri Lanka : 252-8 (42)
Kushal Mendis : 91(87)
Charith Asalanka : 49* (47)
Result : Sri Lanka win by 2 Wickets ( DLS)
