10 September 2022 02:51 am Views - 731
By Shanuka Aravinda reporting from Dubai
Sri Lanka will carry a psychological edge into Sunday's Asia Cup final after beating fellow finalists Pakistan by five wickets in the final Super 4 match at the Dubai International Stadium on Friday.
Chasing a target of 122, opener Pathum Nissanka scored his seventh T20I fifty while Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka and Bhanuka Rajapaksa continuing their good form with valuable middle-order runs.
Fast bowlers Mohammad Hasnain and Haris Rauf gave Pakistan a terrific start in their defense, each taking a wicket as Sri Lanka slipped to 2 for 2 in the third over.
Rauf deceived Dhananjaya de Silva for pace, the all-rounder’s leading edge caught by Babar Azam at mid-off as Sri Lanka were left stuttering on 29 for 3, but a 51-run partnership between Nissanka and Rajapaksa wrestled the match back in their team’s favour.
Nissanka overcame the early pressure from Hasnain and Rauf, and steadied his way to an unbeaten 55, an innings that included five boundaries and a six.
Rajapaksa took two sixes off Usman Qadir in his 19-ball 24, and by the time the leg spinner had the last laugh, having Rajapaksa caught in the deep, Sri Lanka required just 42 runs to win.
Shanaka took a huge chunk out of that with 21 off 16, before he was caught at mid-on by Hasan Ali in the 17th over, but all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga scored two boundaries to take Sri Lanka over the line by the end of that over.
Outstanding returns from Sri Lanka's three spinners, who collectively accounted for six wickets and conceded just 60 runs in their 12 overs, helped bowl out Pakistan for 121.
Three of those wickets went to wrist-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga, finishing with his best figures of the tournament so far.
Babar Azam found form with 30, and Mohammed Nawaz contributed 26, but outside of those contributions no other batsman made more than 14.