Post by : Mumtaaz
Qadiri
Pakistan stayed alive in the Asia Cup after beating Sri Lanka by five wickets in Abu Dhabi. The victory came in their Super 4 match, where Pakistan chased down a target of 134 runs. The win was important because it gave Pakistan hope of reaching the final, while it left Sri Lanka almost out of the tournament.
Talat And Nawaz Seal The Chase
The turning point of the match was the partnership between Hussain Talat and Mohammad Nawaz. At a time when Pakistan had lost quick wickets, these two batted calmly. They added 58 runs together for the sixth wicket in just 41 balls. Talat scored an unbeaten 32 and was declared Player of the Match for his all-round show. Nawaz hit powerful strokes in the final overs that helped Pakistan finish the chase with ease.
Shaheen Afridi’s Early Breakthroughs
Shaheen Shah Afridi once again showed his value to Pakistan’s bowling attack. He bowled with pace and aggression, picking up three key wickets. His early strikes left Sri Lanka struggling right from the start. With Shaheen in form, Pakistan’s bowling unit looks much stronger and ready for the upcoming matches.
Pakistan’s Careful Chase
Chasing 134, Pakistan began steadily against Sri Lanka’s bowlers. Fakhar Zaman and Sahibzada Farhan gave a positive start but both were dismissed quickly. Sri Lanka’s spinners Maheesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga took important wickets, and Pakistan suddenly found themselves at 71 for four. At that point, the chase looked tricky, but Talat and Nawaz’s smart batting ensured there was no further collapse. They rotated the strike, hit boundaries when needed, and kept the run rate under control. In the end, Pakistan reached the target with 12 balls to spare.
Sri Lanka’s Weak Batting Performance
Sri Lanka, batting first, could only manage 133 runs for the loss of eight wickets. Their innings never really took off after losing early wickets to Shaheen Afridi. Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka both fell quickly, leaving Sri Lanka at 18 for two. A small partnership between Charith Asalanka and Kusal Perera gave some hope, but wickets kept falling. Kamindu Mendis fought hard with a half-century, scoring 50 off 44 balls, but he received little support from the other end.
Middle-Order Collapse Hurts Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka’s middle order could not handle Pakistan’s bowling. Hussain Talat took two important wickets, including captain Charith Asalanka. Haris Rauf and Faheem Ashraf also kept the pressure high. The lack of partnerships meant Sri Lanka could not build a big total. A small late stand between Kamindu Mendis and Chamika Karunaratne helped them cross 130, but it was never going to be enough against Pakistan’s batting line-up.
Sri Lanka’s Final Hopes Almost Over
Sri Lanka were the defending champions of the Asia Cup and had done well in the group stage. However, their form dropped in the Super 4 stage. They lost their first game against Bangladesh and then again to Pakistan. This back-to-back defeat has left them with almost no chance of reaching the final. The only way they can still qualify is if India lose all their remaining matches, which looks very unlikely at this stage.
For Pakistan, this victory has brought new hope. They will next face Bangladesh in their final Super 4 match. If Pakistan win that game, they will have a strong chance of making it to the final. Bangladesh too are in good form after beating Sri Lanka earlier and will be confident when they face India before their clash with Pakistan. The upcoming matches will decide which two teams reach the final of this year’s Asia Cup.
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