Sri Lanka sent shivers down Babar Azam-led Pakistan's spine with a clinical five-wicket win in Asia Cup Super 4 clash. Sri Lanka skipper Dasun Shanaka celebrated his 31st birthday in style as a superb bowling display followed by a patient 55-run knock from Pathum Nissanka did not give Pakistan a chance to make a comeback.
Once again, it was Shanaka who won the toss and opted to field first. Pakistan got off to a decent start in the powerplay overs but in-form Mohammad Rizwan got out for a run-a-ball 14 to debutant Pramod Madushan. Fakhar Zaman's struggle to get big runs continued. Zaman played too many dot deliveries and eventually got out to Chamika Karunaratne for 18-ball 13.
Only four boundaries were hit till the halfway stage. The pressure got to Babar as well who has looked a pale shadow of himself in the tournament so far. He lost his wicket to Hasaranga for a 29-ball 30.
Iftikhar Ahmed and Khushdil Shah struggled to get going as well. Dhananjaya de Silva got the wicket of left-handed batter Khushdil (4). Hasaranga struck twice in the 15th over of consecutive deliveries. Iftikar got out for a 17-ball 13 followed by Asif Ali who bagged a golden duck. In the next over, Hasan Ali bagged a duck as well as Maheesh Theekshana got the better of him.
Mohammad Nawaz helped Pakistan get past 120. The tailenders struggled and Nawaz got out in an attempt to come back for a couple of runs. The southpaw hit two sixes and one four in his 18-ball 26 before getting out in the penultimate over. The tailenders did not contribute much to the score as Pakistan managed a modest 121 before getting all out in the final over.
Chasing 122, Sri Lanka lost two of their three top-order batters for ducks. Opener Kusal Mendis got out for a golden duck to Mohammad Hasnain. In the next over, Haris Rauf got the wicket of Danushka Gunathilaka for a four-ball duck. After 2/2, Nissanka made use of the fielding restrictions. Dhananjaya struggled and got out in the powerplay overs for a single-digit score as Rauf struck again.
From 29/3, Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Nissanka shared a crucial partnership. Rajapaksa hit two sixes in his 19-ball 24 before losing his wicket to Usman Qadir. The two shared a 51-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
Nissanka continued to anchor the run chase. Shanaka played a cameo to help Sri Lanka get to the doorstep of victory. Shanaka contributed with a quickfire 16-ball 21 before falling to Hasnain. Meanwhile, Nissanka got to his half-century. Hasaranga came to the crease and hit two boundaries to finish off the match with three overs to spare. On the other end, Nissanka remained unbeaten for 55 off 48 deliveries including five fours and one six.
Pakistan made two changes to their side before the final and it did not go their way. They included Hasan in place of Naseem Shah whereas Shadab Khan made way for Qadir. Sri Lanka made two changes as well but it did not affect the outcome of the game.
