Pak vs Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka wins by two wickets, advances to finals

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka emerged victorious against Pakistan with a slender two-wicket margin in a high-stakes semi-final of the Asia Cup 2023, held at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium on Thursday.

The heart-pounding Pak vs Sri Lanka match reached its climax as Asalanka sealed the win for the home team.

The grand finale of the Asia Cup 2023 is now set to take place on Saturday, September 17, in Colombo, featuring Sri Lanka and India.

Decided on the final delivery as Sri Lanka win by 2️⃣ wickets 🏏

Great fight shown by the boys 👏#PAKvSL | #AsiaCup2023 pic.twitter.com/nZgtLcPVVT

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) September 14, 2023

In a nail-biting encounter, Asalanka’s composure proved pivotal as he guided Sri Lanka to a historic victory in the face of a daunting challenge during the Asia Cup clash. The match witnessed moments of brilliance, tactical maneuvering, and unyielding determination on both sides.

As the tension reached its zenith in the closing overs, the responsibility of securing the win fell upon Asalanka’s shoulders. He exhibited unwavering patience and skill at the crease.

During the last over, the scales tilted in favour of the visiting side, largely due to Zaman Khan’s exceptional performance. With just six runs required to defend in the final two balls, it seemed as if Pakistan might snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

However, destiny had other plans. Asalanka’s bat made contact with the penultimate delivery, sending the ball skimming to the boundary, and Sri Lanka found themselves needing only two runs off the last ball.

Zaman Khan bowled a slower-length ball on the leg side, but Asalanka, displaying remarkable composure, dispatched it to the deep square leg fence. Celebrations ensued as he sprinted between the wickets, guiding his team to an unforgettable triumph.

Reflecting on his strategy during the post-match ceremony, Asalanka revealed, “I just thought about finding a gap and running hard because it’s a spacious field. I told Pathirana to run hard. I anticipated either a bouncer or a yorker, and he bowled a slower ball, which favored me. I’m very excited. Mendis and Sadeera batted really well. I wanted to finish; that’s my role. I can rank this innings as second-best in my book.”

Sri Lanka’s pursuit of a target of 252 runs commenced strongly, with their batsmen demonstrating maturity and sensibility. Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama formed a crucial 100-run partnership, placing their team in a commanding position.

Mendis contributed a commendable 91 runs to the scoreboard before departing, while Samarawickrama fell just two runs short of his half-century, succumbing to Iftikhar Ahmed’s bowling prowess.

Iftikhar Ahmed emerged as a key figure for Pakistan, making valuable contributions with both the bat and the ball, claiming three significant wickets. However, his heroics ultimately ended in disappointment.

Pakistan, batting first, posted a total of 252 runs, largely thanks to the dynamic duo of Mohammad Rizwan and Iftikhar Ahmed. Rizwan played an exceptional unbeaten innings, accumulating 86 runs off 73 deliveries, featuring nine boundaries. Abdullah Shafique also played a pivotal role, achieving his maiden ODI half-century and securing the second-highest score for Pakistan.

The match, originally scheduled for 45 overs, was reduced to 42 overs due to persistent rain after Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat.