Pakistan secured a vital five-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in a high-stakes Super 4 match of the Asia Cup on Tuesday, thereby keeping their tournament ambitions alive. Tasked with chasing a modest target of 134, Pakistan experienced some shaky moments but ultimately reached 138 for five. The batting conditions were tricky, yet Pakistan’s openers adopted an aggressive approach from the start. Sahibzada Farhan, scoring 24, made up for Fakhar Zaman’s slow start (17 off 19 balls) by unleashing powerful strokes, including a rapid sequence of two sixes and a four off pacer Nuwan Thushara.
Maheesh Theekshana made the first breakthroughs for Sri Lanka, striking in the sixth over to dismiss Farhan. Shortly after, Zaman, who had previously been hit on the helmet by Dushmantha Chameera, also fell. Wanindu Hasaranga then stepped up, delivering a fiery spell (2/27) that saw him claim the wickets of Saim Ayub and captain Salman Agha, the latter with a brilliant low catch at mid-off. His delivery that dislodged Ayub’s stump was a masterful display of subtle seam movement. Notably, after both dismissals, Hasaranga playfully mimicked Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed’s hands-on-chest celebration, a clear response to earlier on-field banter. With the score at 80 for five, the match hung in the balance, and Pakistan still required 54 runs for victory.
However, Hussain Talat (32 runs off 30 balls) and Mohammad Nawaz (38 runs off 24 balls) displayed remarkable composure, guiding Pakistan to a tense but assured victory with two overs still in hand. Earlier in the match, Pakistan’s fast bowlers had dominated the Sri Lankan batting order. Despite an elegant half-century from Kamindu Mendis, Sri Lanka was restricted to a total of 133 for eight. Sri Lanka’s innings began with an early collapse, as in-form batsmen Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka were dismissed cheaply. Shaheen Shah Afridi (3/28) initiated the damage, trapping Mendis leg-before and then getting Nissanka out, with assists from Talat and wicketkeeper Haris. Captain Charith Asalanka and Kusal Perera attempted a brief recovery, forging a 25-run partnership. However, Perera was soon caught out thanks to a superb diving effort by Faheem Ashraf. In the eighth over, the Pakistani bowling duo of Talat and Rauf struck again, removing both Asalanka and Dasun Shanaka in quick succession, leaving Sri Lanka struggling at 58 for five. Mendis’ gritty fifty, alongside a 43-run stand with Chamika Karunaratne, helped Sri Lanka cross the 100-run mark. Yet, this effort proved insufficient to truly challenge Pakistan, who expertly managed the pressure and clinched a vital win.