Pakistan seal thrilling win over Sri Lanka

Abu Dhabi: Pakistan secured a vital five-wicket victory against Sri Lanka on Tuesday, chasing a target of 134 in their crucial Asia Cup Super Four clash at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium.  It was the first points in Super Four for Salman Agha & Co after their defeat to India earlier on Sunday.

Opting to field first after winning the toss, Pakistan’s bowlers delivered a disciplined performance to restrict Sri Lanka to a total of 133/8.

Chasing 134, Pakistan’s openers, Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman, started positively, but Sri Lankan spinners Maheesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga made inroads.

 Theekshana dismissed Farhan (24), while Hasaranga picked up two key wickets, including Fakhar Zaman (17) with a stunning one-handed catch. 

At 50/3 after 7 overs and then 57/4 in the 9th, Pakistan found themselves under pressure.

However, an unbroken 58-run  partnership between Mohammad Nawaz and Hussain Talat (32) proved decisive.

 Nawaz launched a counter-attack, smashing three sixes, including two in a single over off Dushmantha Chameera, and scoring 38 runs off 24 balls. 

Talat remained unbeaten with 32 runs off 30 balls, as they built a crucial 50-run stand. Pakistan reached their target comfortably in the 18th over, ending on 138/5.

Earlier, Shaheen Shah Afridi led the attack with early breakthroughs, dismissing both openers within the powerplay. Hussain Talat also made a significant impact, claiming two wickets in consecutive deliveries, triggering a middle-order collapse for Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka struggled for momentum throughout their innings, with only Kamindu Mendis offering substantial resistance. Mendis battled hard to score a gritty half-century (50 off 43 balls), his third in T20I, providing some respectability to the scoreboard.
 
Abrar Ahmed further stifled Sri Lanka’s scoring with an exceptionally economical spell, recording figures of 1/8 in his four overs.
 
Brief scores: Sri Lanka 133/8 (Kamindu Mendis 50; Shaheen Shah Afridi 3/28,  Hussain Talat 2/18) lost to Pakistan 138/5 in 18 overs (Hussain Talat 32*, Mohammad Nawaz 38*; Maheesh Theekshana 2/24). - Agencies