Anurag Kumar
Defending champions Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan by two wickets in a dramatic Super Four match on Thursday to advance to the Asia Cup final against India. Kusal Mendis scored an exceptional 91 and Charith Asalanka a courageous unbeaten 49.
After Pakistan elected to bat on another rain-affected day, Abdullah Shafique (52) and Mohammad Rizwan (86 not out) each scored fifty to lead the team to a respectable 252 for 7 off 42 overs.
Sri Lanka responded in kind through Mendis and Asalanka as they inched past the target off the final delivery of the match, thereby preventing an Indo-Pakistan summit clash.
The championship match will be contested on Sunday.
Sri Lanka’s chase was quite extraordinary, especially given that Pakistan’s pacers Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf were out with injuries.
The 57-run partnership between Mendis and Pathum Nissanka (29) stabilized the Sri Lankan innings after Kusal Perera’s early departure.
Despite Nissanka’s return catch to Shadab Khan, the Lankans were about to embark on an even more advantageous passage.
Lanka progressively closed the gap as Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama (48 off 51 balls) added 100 runs for the third wicket.
Mendis is endowed with natural striking prowess and coordination, as demonstrated by his blow. The right-handed batsman utilized his feet effectively against spinners and confronted the faster bowlers with confidence.
Samarawickrama kept his end running despite being struck on the head by Shaheen Afridi once with a cricket ball.
However, a brief hurry ended his stay. Iftikhar’s slightly fuller-length delivery found him in no-man’s land, and Rizwan made a simple stumping.
Mendis and Asalanka scored an additional 33 runs before Iftikhar returned to dismiss him.
Mendis’ attempt to deflect the ball off his pads resulted in a leading edge, which Mohamamd Harris captured magnificently with a diving catch.
After losing four wickets in consecutive overs, Sri Lanka appeared to be on the precipice of bungling the chase.
During that phase, Afridi took two wickets with consecutive deliveries. But Asalanka maintained his composure in the final over to propel his team to victory.
Shafique and Rizwan supported Pakistan’s innings earlier with fifty-plus scores. Iftikhar Ahmed added a late surge for Pakistan (47 runs off 40 balls).
After the dismissal of Fakhar Zaman, Pakistan gained some early momentum through Shafique and captain Babar Azam despite the unforgiving batting surface.
Shafique and Babar scored 64 runs in approximately 11 overs. Shafique scored runs in a more conventional manner, and his cover drive off of fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana was a site for sore eyes.
Just as the second wicket partnership was beginning to flourish, Dunith Wellalage shattered it. The left-arm spinner, who nabbed five top-order batsmen against India on Tuesday, this time weaved his magic around Babar.
Babar believed the ball was coming into him when it pitched outside his off-stump, so he played for spin. However, the ball moved away from him, allowing Mendis to complete a quick stumping.
Babar’s dismissal precipitated a mini-collapse for Pakistan, which lost three more wickets for 30 runs in six overs.
At 130 for five, they were in danger of being dismissed for a below-par total as the Sri Lankan spinners attempted to dominate the middle overs, as they had against India.
However, Rizwan and Iftikhar demolished their aspirations during an entertaining 108-run sixth-wicket stand.
In fact, Pakistan added 102 runs in the last 10 overs, between overs 32 and 42, as Rizwan and Iftikhar attacked Sri Lankan bowlers.
Rizwan, a veteran wicketkeeper-batsman, had not been scoring runs of late, so he chose the ideal time to do so.
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Rizwan’s innings was typical, beginning at a slower pace and culminating with a series of towering smashes through the on-side.
Iftikhar has a simple mindset as a batsman, as he attempts to smash every ball that comes his way out of the ground. The right-handed batsman employed a similar strategy here.
Iftikhar and Rizwan led Pakistan to a respectable total, but they were unable to withstand the Sri Lankans’ resolve.
