In a gripping game of cricket, Sri Lanka narrowly beat Pakistan to secure a berth in the Asia Cup final against India. The match was part of the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup and was held in Colombo, Sri Lanka’s capital. After a rain-induced delay, Pakistan set a target of 252-7, with a significant contribution of an unbeaten 86 from Mohammad Rizwan. Sri Lanka, in response, achieved their revised Duckworth-Lewis-Stern target of 252 in a last-ball finish.

The match was marked by several standout performances. For Pakistan, Mohammad Rizwan’s 86 from 73 balls, along with Abdullah Shafique’s 52 from 69 balls, and Iftikhar Ahmed’s 47 from 40 balls, were key contributors to their total. Matheesha Pathirana, on the bowling side, took three wickets for 65 runs. For Sri Lanka, Kusal Mendis scored a crucial 91 runs, leading their response, while Sadeera Samarawickrama added 48 off 51 balls.

The final overs of the match were nothing short of a cliffhanger. Shaheen Afridi’s two wickets in the penultimate over seemed to swing the momentum towards Pakistan, with Sri Lanka needing eight runs from the last over. However, Charith Asalanka held his nerve, scoring a four and then two runs off the last two balls. He finished unbeaten on 49, ensuring Sri Lanka’s victory.

Reflecting on the win, Kusal Mendis praised his team’s performance and expressed his happiness at reaching the final. Conversely, Pakistan’s captain Babar Azam stated that his side’s bowling and fielding were not up to the mark, which he saw as the reason for their loss. The win places Sri Lanka as runners-up in the Super Four stage, setting them up for a final match against India.

The thrilling victory has set the stage for an exciting final between Sri Lanka and India. The match promises to be a high-stakes encounter, with both teams displaying excellent form throughout the tournament. Cricket fans worldwide will be eagerly looking forward to this face-off in the Asia Cup final.