Published On 23 Sep 2025
Both teams were aware that a loss in the crucial Super Fours match on Tuesday would mean they would be eliminated from the regional cricket competition being held by the United Arab Emirates.
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Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman shared a 45-run partnership, giving Pakistan a near-perfect start to their chase for the 134.
Farhan, in particular, had a higher resemblance to the two as he scored 24 runs in 15 balls before being bowled out by Maheesh Theekshana in the sixth over for a break.
Zaman was not his usual quick-scoring self, and he followed Farhan two balls later when a diving Wanindu Hasaranga caught his slog through the covers brilliantly. He was hit on the head by a bouncer from Dushmantha Chameera in the first over.
Leg-spin bowler Hasaranga came back to haunt Pakistan after Theekshana’s double-wicket over. As Pakistan’s procession raged on, he took one wicket for each in his first and second overs.
Hasaranga and Chameera quickly dismissed Saim Ayub, Salman Agha, and Mohammed Haris, leaving the 2012 Asian champions with a tricky situation and 54 runs away from victory.
Hussain Talat and Muhammad Nawaz had to win the game against the capable Sri Lankan bowling attack, before the latter was ultimately responsible for Hussain Talat’s batting against India, which had received a lot of negative feedback.
To calm Pakistan’s nerves, Talat scored 32 out of 20. Nawaz also hit 38 off 24 to put an end to the run chase, bringing Pakistan home with two overs to spare.
When Shaheen Shah Afridi defeated Kusal Mendis on the second ball of the match, Pakistan’s decision to bowl almost immediately came to an end.
In his second over, he dismissed Pathum Nissanka, Sri Lanka’s top run scorer, to give the six-time champions a run for the money.
Before their dismissals, Kusal Perera and captain Charith Asalanka collaborated briefly.
With a 44-ball fifty, Sri Lanka’s innings was revived by Kamindu Mendis, who had started the match at number five, to post a 133-8 total.
Afridi, who hasn’t been at his best when taking wickets, chose the bowlers from Pakistan and took 3-28 in his four overs.
With two wickets each, Talat and fellow pacer Haris Rauf each added two.
With a net run rate (NRR) of 0. 226, Pakistan moved up to second place, behind only India, who had a 0. 689. The win also gave them two much-needed points.
With a NRR of 0. 121 and zero points, Bangladesh dropped from second to third place, while Sri Lanka was closer to elimination.
They will now hope that Bangladesh can defeat Pakistan on Thursday and India by a wide margin. Then, on Friday, Sri Lanka would hope to defeat India, who is currently second overall, by a sizable margin.
Source: Aljazeera
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