Sri Lanka 'A' secured their place in the final of the ACC Men's T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup, defeating Pakistan Shaheens by seven wickets in the first semifinal which took place at the Oman Cricket Academy Ground in Muscat on Friday, October 25.
Sri Lanka successfully chased down the target of 136 runs without breaking much sweat with 21 balls and seven wickets to spare. Dushan Hemantha, who claimed 4 wickets for 21 runs, was named Player of the Match for his outstanding performance.
Pakistan Shaheens out, Sri Lanka A advances to final
Pakistan Shaheens, batting first, were restricted to a modest total of 135/9 in their 20 overs. Omair Bin Yousuf top-scored with a well-made 68 runs. However, Sri Lanka's bowling attack, led by Dushan Hemantha's impressive four-wicket haul, kept the Shaheens in check.
Pakistan Shaheens flop batting
Pakistan Shaheens struggled to build a substantial total, with Omair bin Yousuf's 68 runs being the lone bright spot. The rest of the batting lineup failed to contribute significantly, as wickets fell regularly. Captain Mohammad Haris and other key players like Qasim Akram, Haider Ali, and Abdul Samad were unable to make a substantial impact.
Dushan Hemantha led Sri Lanka A's bowling attack, claiming four wickets. Nipun Ransika and Eshan Malinga also chipped in with a wicket each to restrict Pakistan Shaheens to a modest total.
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Sri Lanka overhaul lowly target without breaking a sweat
In reply, Sri Lanka A chased down the target with relative ease, reaching the target in the 17th over with seven wickets to spare. Their successful chase secured their spot in the final of the ACC Men's T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup.
Ahan Wickramasinghe's unbeaten 52 off 46 balls, which included four fours and a six, played a crucial role in Sri Lanka A's victory. The opening partnership between Wickramasinghe and Lahiru Udara, who scored a quick-fire 43 off 20 balls, set the tone for the chase.
The second semifinal between Afghanistan A and India A will be played later on October 25 to determine the other finalist. Notably, the final match is scheduled for Sunday, October 27.
