Pakistan Defeats Sri Lanka in Asia Cup Super 4s Clash
Pakistan clinched a comfortable victory against Sri Lanka in their second Super 4s match of the Asia Cup, showcasing an all-round performance. Hussain Talat’s contributions with both bat and ball, coupled with Shaheen Afridi’s crucial strikes, paved the way for Pakistan’s success. A composed batting display from the middle order ensured they crossed the finish line with five wickets to spare and two overs remaining.
After restricting Sri Lanka to a modest 133 for 8, Pakistan’s chase was anchored by an unbroken 58-run partnership between Talat and Mohammad Nawaz. This victory leaves Sri Lanka winless after two Super 4s games.
The middle overs proved decisive. While both teams lost three wickets each during this phase, Pakistan’s bowling restricted Sri Lanka’s scoring, limiting them to just 35 runs and two boundaries. Conversely, Talat and Nawaz’s calculated partnership kept Pakistan on track, allowing them to finish the game strongly.
Sri Lanka’s Innings:
Sri Lanka faced early setbacks after being asked to bat. Shaheen Afridi struck early, removing Kusal Mendis for a duck. Despite some aggressive shots from Kusal Perera and Pathum Nissanka, Afridi dismissed Nissanka, and Sri Lanka continued to lose wickets at regular intervals.
The middle overs saw Hussain Talat and Abrar Ahmed further stifle Sri Lanka’s progress. Key wickets, including that of captain Dasun Shanaka, left Sri Lanka struggling at 58 for 5. Wanindu Hasaranga’s brief resistance was cut short by Abrar Ahmed.
In the death overs, Kamindu Mendis and Chamika Karunaratne provided some late impetus, helping Sri Lanka reach a total of 133 for 8. Kamindu Mendis reached his half-century before being dismissed by Afridi.
Pakistan’s Innings:
Pakistan’s chase began positively, but Sri Lankan pacers Nuwan Thushara and Dushmantha Chameera posed early challenges. Sri Lanka managed to remove the openers, Fakhar Zaman and Sahibzada Farhan, through Maheesh Theekshana’s double strike, providing them an opening.
However, Pakistan continued to lose wickets in the middle overs, with Wanindu Hasaranga dismissing Saim Ayub and Salman Agha. Hussain Talat’s crucial boundaries ensured the scoreboard kept ticking. Mohammad Haris’ dismissal further added pressure, but the equation remained in Pakistan’s favor, requiring 47 runs off 42 balls.
Mohammad Nawaz accelerated the scoring with well-timed boundaries. In the death overs, Nawaz and Talat finished the chase emphatically, with Nawaz smashing three sixes in the 18th over to seal the victory.
Brief Scores:
Sri Lanka: 133/8 in 20 overs (Kamindu Mendis 50; Shaheen Afridi 3-28, Hussain Talat 2-18)
Pakistan: 138/5 in 18 overs (Mohammad Nawaz 38*, Hussain Talat 32*; Maheesh Theekshana 2-24, Wanindu Hasaranga 2-27)
Pakistan won by 5 wickets.
What’s Next: Sri Lanka faces India in their last Super 4s match on September 26. Pakistan will play Bangladesh on September 25.
Disclaimer: This news article is based on publicly available information and may be subject to updates.
