Asia Cup 2023
Pakistan VS Sri Lanka Played at Premadasa, Colombo on 14th and 15th September 2023
Sri Lanka 252/8 in 42 Overs (Kusal Mendis 91, Charith Asalanka 49*, Sadeera Samarawickrama 48, Pathun Nissanka 29, Iftikhar Ahmed 3/50, Shaheen Shah Afridi 2/52)
Pakistan 252/7 in 42 Overs (Mohammad Rizwan 86*, Abdullah Shafique 52, Iftikhar Ahmed 47, Babar Azam 29, Matheesha Pathirana 3/65. Pramod Madhusan 2/58)
Sri Lanka Won the match by 2 wickets on the last ball of the match by Duckworth Lewis Method
Sri Lanka Went to The Final.
Player of the match: Kusal Mendis
In a pressure cooker situation when 90% of the 35 thousand home crowd were biting their nails cool headed Charith Asalanka holding his nerve took his team across on the very last ball of the ran curtailed 42 overs a side match against Pakistan.
The match starting on 14th September for rain interruption went past mid night to 15th September. Sri Lanka earned yet another date with India in the final to be played on the same ground on 17 September 2023. Much cherished India -Pakistan derby in Asia Cup final for the first went so close but remained out of site. It is 11th time of the 16th Asia Cup Sri Lanka will appear in the final. They won it 6 times while India won 7.
The match was well under control of Sri Lanka almost throughout the match till the business session of the later stage of Sri Lankan innings. While chasing Pakistan score of 252/7 Sri Lanka was cruising at 222/5 at the 38th Over. Pakistan came strongly back extending the match to the last ball of the last of the rain curtailed 42 over. A great match and a great win for Sri Lanka.
Handicapped by injury to key bowlers Haris Rauf and Nassem Shah as well as lack of form of key batsmen Pakistan had to appear with 5 changes on the day. Abdullah Shafique came in place of Imam ul Haq, Mohammad Haris replaced Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Newaz came in for Faheem Ashraf. The two pacers Naseem Shah and Haris were replaced by Wasim Junior and Zaman Khan. Sri Lanka brought in Kusal Perera in the top order and played Pramod Madushan.
Winning the toss Pakistan elected to bat. Out of form Fakhar failed once again. But Babar pairing with Abdullah Shafique steadied the innings with 64 runs 2nd wicket partnership when rookie Lankan spinner Wellalage alluring Babar Azam with a brilliant, flighted delivery deceived Babar (29). Abdullah Shafique also left scoring 51. It was left to Rizwan (86*) and Iftikhar (47) to post a reasonably challenging score of 252/7. Sri Lankans bowled well and fielded tight not allowing Pakistan to take the match away.
This Sri Lanka team appeared well disciplined. Kusal Perera got run out scoring 20. Pithun Nissanka (29) and Kusal Mendis steadied the boat adding 57 for the second wicket. But the strong platform of Lankan reply was created by Medis (91) and Sadeera Samarawickrama (48) adding 100 for the 3rd wicket. Iftikhar striking two deadly blows removing both brought Pakistan back in the game. Babar marshalling his depleted attack smartly kept his team in the hunt though Sri Lanka appeared cruising with Mendis and Asalanka. Suddenly panic set in the Lankan camp after Mendis left at 210. Shaheen Afridi taking 2 wickets in the 41st over created great excitement.
Sri Lanka required 8 runs of the last over. Babar had debutant Zaman Khan at his disposal. Zaman, a slinger is known for his death over specialty in T20 franchise almost made it. The match drifted to the last ball with Sri Lanka needing two runs for the win. Cool Ashanka delivered to the great relief of the adoring home crowd. Well done Sri Lanka. Pakistan also should be credited for fighting all the way.
We conclude saying that justice has been done. Sri Lanka is the most consistent performer of Asia Cup 2023. They richly deserved another show down against team India. Pakistan with a depleted bowling attack did their best .A Pakistan -India final still did not happen at Asia Cup.
BDST: 0940 HRS, SEP 15, 2023
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