After displaying a scientific strategy in its run-chase, Sri Lanka’s nerves confirmed in the direction of the top in a two-wicket win over Pakistan on the R. Premadasa Stadium right here on Thursday, which booked its date with India within the last of the Asia Cup.
The host misplaced 5 wickets for 36 runs and was pressured to scramble over the road, into the tooth of an exhilarating last over, bowled by Zaman Khan.
Defending seven runs, the debutant conceded simply two runs off the primary 4 balls earlier than the ball took the sting of Charith Asalanka’s blade and went for a boundary. With two wanted off the final supply, Zaman fatally strayed on the pads and Asalanka flicked it for a pair amidst the deafening roar of a capability crowd.
Earlier than the chaos, Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama’s 100-run partnership for the third wicket was a lesson in organising a chase.
The duo ran onerous to choose up those and twos when the spinners operated in tandem and picked the odd boundary after they missed their lengths to make sure the asking fee by no means received out of hand.
Sri Lanka’s Charith Asalanka is embraced by Dunith Wellalage and Matheesha Pathirana as they have fun their two-wicket win over Pakistan.
| Photograph Credit score:
AP
Sri Lanka’s Charith Asalanka is embraced by Dunith Wellalage and Matheesha Pathirana as they have fun their two-wicket win over Pakistan.
| Photograph Credit score:
AP
The injection of intent got here from openers Kusal Perera and Pathum Nissanka, who fetched a flurry of boundaries with the goal to maintain abreast of the DLS par rating in a rain-hit recreation.
Earlier, after electing to bat following a two-hour 15-minute delay within the begin of play resulting from rain, Pakistan discovered itself floundering at 130 for 5 within the twenty eighth over when the heavens opened once more.
On both aspect of a 30-minute rain-break, Pakistan’s innings was a story of two halves. Mohammad Rizwan (86 n.o., 73b, 6×4, 2×6) and Iftikhar Ahmed’s (47, 40b, 4×4, 2×6) 108-run partnership helped Pakistan ransack 122 off 86 after the interruption.
The pitch appeared to have eased up beneath the covers as Rizwan and Iftikhar minimize unfastened within the first over of pacer Pramod Madushan’s second spell, laying into him with a six every. Rizwan confirmed Dunith Wellalage no respect within the following over, sweeping his flighted deliveries for a six and a 4. Matheesha Pathirana was pushed and pulled for 2 boundaries in a single over. Maheesh Theekshana, who injured his hamstring whereas attempting to avoid wasting a boundary, limped by means of the final three overs of his spell and went for 12 runs off his final. When Madushan’s slower deliveries turned too predictable on the dying, Iftikhar tonked him for a six down the bottom to finish a 74-ball century stand with Rizwan, which, nonetheless, wasn’t sufficient on the finish.