In a two-wicket triumph over Pakistan on Thursday at the R. Premadasa Stadium, Sri Lanka‘s nerves started to show toward the end after displaying a meticulous run-chase strategy. India will now face Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup championship game because Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by two wickets.
After losing five wickets for a total of 36 runs, the home team found it difficult to cross the finish line in the midst of a thrilling Zaman Khan last over.
Read More:India vs. Sri Lanka head-to-head in the Asia Cup
The kids scored two runs off the first four balls and saved seven when Charith Asalanka’s blade boundaryed.
When Zaman severely slid on the pads with two needed off the final pass, Asalanka flicked the ball for two in the noisy crowd.
The 100-run third-wicket stand between Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama was a chase-planning masterpiece before the chaos.
When the spinners cooperated, the pair chased ones and twos, choosing the boundary when they missed their distances to lessen the asking rate.
In a damp match, opening pair Kusal Perera and Pathum Nissanka smashed a torrent of boundaries to keep DLS level.
The rain returned after a two-hour and 15-minute delay, leaving Pakistan at 130 for 5 in the 28th over.
After a 30-minute rain delay, Pakistan divided its innings. 108 runs from Mohammad Rizwan (86) and Iftikhar Ahmed (47) helped Pakistan score 122 off 86 after the break.
Rizwan and Iftikhar hit sixes in Pramod Madushan‘s second over on an easy pitch. Rizwan ignored Dunith Wellalage and swept his flighted deliveries for six and four in the next over. Pathirana scored twice by pulling and driving. After struggling in his past three, Theekshana got 12 runs off his penultimate over after preserving a boundary. Due to his expected slower deliveries, Iftikhar hit Madushan for a six down the center to score 74 with Rizwan. Not enough to win.
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