Charith Asalanka, Kusal Mendis shine in chaotic end as Sri Lanka make Asia Cup ultimate
Sri Lanka 252 for 8 (Mendis 91, Asalanka 49*, Ifthikar 3-50) beat Pakistan 252 for 7 (Rizwan 86*, Shafique 52, Pathirana 3-65) by two wickets by way of DLS methodology
In a sport of a number of compelling storylines, it was Charith Asalanka who stood tall in the long run as Sri Lanka edged Pakistan out by two wickets in final-ball thriller in Colombo. With it, Sri Lanka made it to their eleventh Asia Cup ultimate, the place they may face India on Sunday.
Asalanka remained unbeaten on 49 off 47 balls to see house a nervy chase, but it surely was a win constructed on Kusal Mendis‘ 91 from 87 deliveries and Sadeera Samarawickrama‘s 48 off 51. Pakistan will look again at what would possibly’ve been, as their injury-hit assault fought tooth and nail, and nearly secured an unlikely come-from-behind win.
Set a DLS-adjusted goal of 252 in a rain-shortened 42-over sport, Sri Lanka wanted six an over from the get-go, however in Mendis and Samarawickrama, they’d two in-form batters of the match at their disposal. During their 100-run third-wicket stand, the sport appeared Sri Lanka’s to lose, as they knocked over the singles whereas additionally discovering boundaries when required.
Indeed, one of many options of the chase was that Sri Lanka by no means ran away with it, whereas on the identical time maintaining the required charge all the time at six or under. While this exuded a way of management, it was additionally what allowed Pakistan the opening late within the sport.
Both Samarawickrama and Mendis fell towards the run of play, every dismissed by the superb Iftikhar Ahmed, who end with figures of three for 50 in eight overs. Samarawickrama got here down the observe and missed an arm ball to be stumped, whereas Mendis chipped a vanguard for Mohammed Haris to take a blinder at quick further cowl, diving full size and greedy it centimetres off the bottom.
Sri Lanka wanted 42 off 41 balls at this level with six wickets in hand, and whereas Dasun Shanaka fell shortly after, Dhananjaya de Silva saved Asalanka firm because the requirement was whittled right down to 12 from 12 deliveries with 5 wickets in hand at the beginning of the penultimate over.
Enter Shaheen Shah Afridi, who had had a completely mediocre sport up till then by his requirements – eight overs bowled, 48 runs conceded, and no wickets taken. Six balls later, Sri Lanka had been seven down, and one other eight away with six balls remaining, as within the penultimate over, Afridi first had Dhananjaya caught at long-on off a low full toss, after which Dunith Wellalage nick behind trying to heave one throughout the road.
Then enter Zaman Khan, the slinger who had had a forgettable debut till then. His 5 overs had gone for 32, and Babar Azam had resisted the urge to convey him on earlier, as an alternative opting to save lots of him for simply such a second. Zaman had given eight runs in his final over, and wanted to save lots of eight within the ultimate over of the chase.
He allowed tailender Pramod Madushan off strike first ball, however then Asalanka extremely took a single off the third, leaving Madushan on strike with six wanted from three. Pakistan had discovered a approach into the sport, after which an try to run a bye because the ball rolled away to the wicketkeeper noticed a chaotic mix-up between Madushan and Asalanka. Thus, Madushan was run-out on the non-striker’s finish. Sri Lanka, who had been additionally a batter quick after Maheesh Theekshana had suffered a hamstring harm within the area, then wanted six from the 2 deliveries, and Pakistan had been abruptly forward.
But then girl luck shone on Sri Lanka, as Asalanka edged a swipe between the wicketkeeper and quick third for 4. Two from one left – with a Super Over on the playing cards – however Asalanka turned an tried yorker behind sq. leg, as Sri Lanka and a packed Premadasa Stadium breathed a heaving sigh of aid.
It was hardly the anticipated end when the day had began with whether or not there could be any play in any respect. Heavy rain had seen the beginning delayed by practically two hours, with Pakistan notably dreading additional interventions as solely a win would suffice for them when it comes to qualifying for the ultimate. And when the rain inevitably arrived once more, halfway via their innings, it proved to be the catalyst for an almost match-winning resurgence.
The match had begun with 45 overs a facet, and Babar electing to bat, a choice that would not appear to be the wisest for a piece of their innings, because the Sri Lankan bowlers throttled the center overs in addition to the opening exchanges. The first 5 overs introduced a wicket and solely 13 runs, whereas by the top of the tenth, Pakistan had nearly crept as much as 40. It was at this level {that a} temporary interval of acceleration happened, with Abdullah Shafique and Babar working nicely and discovering common boundaries.
But when Babar misplaced steadiness to 1 that beat the bat off Wellalage, he discovered himself stumped for the fourth time in ODIs this yr. This as soon as extra slowed down proceedings as Sri Lanka chipped away at Pakistan’s comfortable underbelly. However, Shafique reached a maiden ODI fifty, however threw his wicket away by top-edging a pull off Matheesha Pathirana to deep sq. leg.
Mohammad Rizwan was the one batter who regarded to point out any kind of intent on this interval, however he too survived a few shut calls, both of which, had they been taken, would have sharply modified the trajectory of the innings – and presumably the match.
The first was a stumping alternative, as he fell over attempting to flick an arm ball from Dhananjaya; thankfully for Rizwan, Mendis behind the stumps could not collect cleanly. The second was a missed sweep that popped up off the glove in direction of a vacant quick leg, with Mendis diving full size to his left however agonisingly in need of getting his gloves below it.
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