The News is Sri Lanka easily defeated Pakistan. Pakistan Vs Sri Lanka Super 4 of Asia Cup 2023 at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Thursday, Sri lanka winning by two wickets in a thrilling last-ball match and managing to reach the Asia Cup final.
Summary of the Pakistan vs Sri Lanka match
In the rain-affected 42-over match, the resolute Sri Lankan team pulled off a stunning comeback, winning by a thrilling two-wicket margin despite pursuing a 253-run total. With a commanding 92 runs, Kusal Mendis spearheaded the attack, and Sadeera Samarawickrama chipped in with a fast 48 off 51 balls.
Part-time spinner Iftikhar Ahmed was the most successful bowler for Pakistan, collecting three wickets; Shaheen Shah Afridi took two wickets in the last overs; and Shadab Khan removed one batsman.
Pakistan win toss and opt to field: Pakistan Vs Sri Lanka
Earlier, Pakistan won the toss and opted to bat. Sri Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka said he would have opted to bowl first anyway because of the conditions of the outfield.
Pakistan inning
Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first, with Madhusan bowling a maiden over. On the final delivery of the over, Abdullah Shafique chipped the ball to mid-off, but he was fortunate to escape when it missed the fielder inside the circle.
The moment Maheesh Theekshana came on from the other end following the maiden, Sri Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka did the same. Theekshana attempted to put more pressure on the hosts, but his second over ended with just two runs. In Madushan’s second over, the Pakistani openers began to find their rhythm, scoring four runs at bat. The Green Team plodded along as Theekshana went for three runs in his second over.
Sri Lanka vs Pakistan: A nervous start
After a nervous start for each opener, Madushan struck with a magnificent delivery in his third over to remove Fakhar Zaman. The ball bounced into the stumps as Fakhar attempted to reach for the approaching delivery but left too much space exposed.
Following his early introduction at nine runs, captain Babar Azam hit the pacer for a boundary on the fourth delivery of the fifth over. After five overs, Pakistan’s total stood at 13 for the loss of one wicket.
As Pathirana entered the attack, Theekshana staggered off the field. With a run on every ball, the two batters’ conservative approach resulted in just eight runs at the end of the over. With five wickets lost, Pathirana concluded the 36th over with Pakistan’s total standing at 192.
In his seventh over, Theekshana took the wicket. The spinner attempted to contain Sri Lanka’s effort, giving up just five runs. In the 38th over, both batsmen sent Pathirana to the covers for four runs, relieving some of the burden on them.
Pakistan Cross 200: Sri Lanka vs Pakistan
Pakistan passed the 200-run mark with three singles and a wide in the over. As with the pacer in the previous over, Theekshana persisted at the other end in an attempt to contain Pakistan, but both batters hit the spinner for a boundary over the ropes. With 12 runs from it, four singles concluded the 39th over.
Pakistan scored 14 runs in the 40th over thanks to the pair’s excellent batting. Pakistan reached 235 for the loss of five wickets at the end of the over thanks to a 90-meter six from Iftikhar. who had conceded eight runs in the previous five deliveries. When Pathirana delivered a slower ball on the third ball of the 41st over, Iftikhar was out.
Pakistan Made the Right target
Iftikhar gave up a valiant 47 but missed a chipped extra cover. Pakistan’s 41st over ended with six runs, bringing their total to 242 for six wickets lost. The leggie then edged it to the wicketkeeper to end Pakistan’s innings with Shadab out of the game. After 42 overs and seven wickets lost, Pakistan’s total was 252 thanks to 10 runs.
Sri lanka Inning: Pakistan Vs. Sri Lanka
Against Shaheen Shah Afridi, Kusal Perera hit a boundary on the fourth delivery of Sri Lanka’s opening over. He next hit a forceful ball over midfield for another four, bringing his total for the first over to 11 runs. In his first-ever ODI bowling over, Zaman Khan produced a maiden over that displayed a range of lengths.
Dream comeback versus the Quality Bowlers
In Shaheen’s second over, Perera, making his ODI comeback after a two-year break, fiercely followed the ball and sent it over midwicket for a boundary. After a single off the following ball, Shaheen held the batters to four dot balls to end the third over at 16 for no loss. This helped rotate the strike.
Zaman’s start remained difficult as Perera smashed a boundary with the opening delivery of the fourth over. But Pakistan took the crucial wicket of Perera with a run-out on the next delivery, bringing his innings to 17 runs thanks to a superb throw from Shadab.
In the fourth over, Nissanka assumed responsibility by hitting Zaman for two more boundaries. Rain was on the horizon, so Sri Lanka wanted to beat the DLS score. With five dot balls and a boundary in Shaheen’s fifth over, Sri Lanka reached 32 for the loss of one wicket.
Iftikhar Brilliant with Ball: Pakistan Vs Sri Lanka
On the first delivery of the 36th over. Iftikhar removed Mendis from the game. With Haris execution, a much-needed wicket for the Green Team The ball spun sharply, and the Lankan batter edged it to the covers. After that, Asalanka and captain Shanaka scored six runs to relaunch the home team’s pursuit.
After Babar brought him back into the attack, Shaheen gave up three runs in the 37th over. As the hosts attempted to dry up runs and stifle the two new batsmen at the crease, Afridi played a solid over.
In the 38th over, Iftikhar conceded five runs and removed Lanka’s captain, Shanaka, with the fourth ball of the over. Nawaz managed to hold onto an excellent catch near the boundary.
Asalanka sent Shaheen packing with a border over his head. In the 39th over. The pacer conceded eight runs when the Lankan team needed twenty from eighteen deliveries.
Zaman entered the game in the 40th over. Asalanka extended his arms to raise the game’s forty-first boundary. When the Lankan team required 12 runs from 12 balls, the pacers gave up 8 runs.
A nail-biting finish: Pakistan Vs Sri Lanka
A thrilling conclusion saw the Lankans cross the finish line after the Sri Lankan team did, scoring eight runs in the final over.
After Pramod was out of the game by Zaman Khan on the previous delivery. An unfortunate edge took the fifth ball of the over to the boundary. After Asalanka nicked the final ball towards midwicket, the two batters accomplished the double that was required to win.
