Defending champion of Asia Cup 2022, Sri Lanka kept their Asia Cup title defense alive after a win over Pakistan on Thursday by two wickets on the very last ball when two runs were required in a nail-biting contest and qualify for the final to play against India.
Electing to bat in the rain-tainted match, Pakistan set a target of 252-7 in 42 overs following half-centuries by Mohammad Rizwan (86) and Abdullah Shafique (52).
Kusal Mendis held Sri Lanka’s chase on track but it was Charith Asalanka’s unbeaten 49 runs that assisted them clinch the last-ball thriller.
Thursday’s Super Four match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan had become semi-final after co-hosts lost to India in Super 4.
Selecting to bat first, Pakistan lost opener Fakhar Zaman early while captain Babar Azam (29) fell just when he was looking set on the pitch.
Shafique (52) and Rizwan (86) stabilized the innings and Iftikhar Ahmed (47) delivered a breezy cameo in the middle order to carry them above the 250 mark.
Shadab Khan caught Pathum Nissanka off his bowling and then ran out Kusal Perera to control Sri Lanka on the back foot but the collapse Babar wanted did not occur.
Mendis (91) and Sadeera Samarawickrama (48) developed a 100-run partnership to put Sri Lanka’s chase back on track.
Samarawickrama was on 41 when he was struck flush on his helmet while attempting to pull a bouncing delivery from Shaheen Afridi.
The batter dropped his bat and helmet and fell to his knees taking his forehead.
While he was able to continue, Samarawickrama was soon dismissed. He was stumped with Iftikhar splitting the long-stand partnership.
Iftikhar (3-50) also declined Mendis a hundred and dismissed Dasun Shanaka before Afridi got two wickets in two balls to shift the match on its head.
Requiring six runs from the last two balls from debutant Zaman Khan, Asalanka hit a streaky boundary and then pushed for two to complete a nervy chase for his team.
