In a fierce Super 4 encounter in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka by five wickets to advance in the Asia Cup after surviving a brilliant performance from an agitated spinner Wanindu Hasaranga.
It shouldn’t have been difficult to chase 134, but Pakistan almost ruined it before rallying to finish at 138 for five.
Early on, Pakistan’s batsmen went for the jugular after opener Sahibzada Farhan (24) made up for a clumsy Fakhar Zaman (17 off 19 balls) at the other end with some forceful blows, notably a series of 6, 6, 4 off bowler Nuwan Thushara. The conditions were not easy to bat on.
But two balls later, Zaman, who had been pinged flush on the helmet by Dushmantha Chameera, was removed by Maheesh Theekshana (2-24), who had Sahizada’s number in the third delivery of the sixth over.
Hasaranga (2-27) soon took charge after pulling off a stunning low catch at mid-off to send back Zaman. He then struck twice, removing Saim Ayub and skipper Salman Agha. The ball that rattled Ayub’s stumps was a gem — just enough movement to sneak past his defence.
Hasaranga mimicked Pakistani spinner Abrar Ahmed’s hands-on-chest celebration on both instances. Ahmed had previously made fun of the Lankan player for mimicking his “Neymar” celebration after castling him.
Pakistan still needed 54 runs at 80 for five, and a loss would have eliminated them from contention for a berth in the final.
Hussain Talat (32 not out off 30 balls) and Mohammad Nawaz (38 not out off 24 balls), two eager soldiers, were discovered by them, though, and calmly gathered the final runs as Pakistan touched the tape with two overs remaining.
Earlier, despite Kamindu Mendis’ excellent fifty, Pakistan’s pacers severely tested the Sri Lankan hitters, limiting them to a far below-average 133 for eight.
When sent to bat, Sri Lanka got off to a terrible start, losing their most reliable batter in the competition, Pathum Nissanka, an over later, and losing their in-form Kusal Mendis in the second ball.
On a night tailor-made for seamers, Shaheen Shah Afridi (3-28) delivered the early breakthrough, drawing an uppish flick from Mendis that found Talat. Nissanka countered with a six off Afridi, but perished the very next ball, edging behind to Haris as Sri Lanka stumbled to 18 for two.
But a 25-run partnership for the third wicket between captain Charith Asalanka and Kusal Perera produced a minor comeback. Both Asalanka and Perera appeared to be in excellent form as well; they both hit a six, but the stand did not take off.
Perera looked to loft Haris Rauf over the infield, but Faheem Ashraf timed his dive perfectly to break the stand. Sri Lanka closed the Powerplay at 53 for three — a mixed start that quickly soured when Asalanka and skipper Dasun Shanaka fell off successive deliveries in the eighth over.
Pacer Talat tempted Asalanka into a pull, but the shot lacked power and Rauf pouched it easily at square leg. Off the very next delivery, Shanaka nicked behind to Haris, leaving Sri Lanka reeling at 58 for five.
Mendis (50 off 44) produced a determined half-century, laced with some delightful strokes, and added 43 for the seventh wicket with Chamika Karunaratne to carry Sri Lanka past the 100 mark.
