COLOMBO: In a nail-biting semi-final showdown at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium, Sri Lanka secured a thrilling two-wicket triumph over Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2023.
The highly anticipated Pak vs Sri Lanka match reached an electrifying climax, with Asalanka emerging as the hero for the home team.
With this dramatic win, Sri Lanka advances to the grand finale of the Asia Cup 2023, set to take place on Saturday, September 17, in Colombo, where they will face off against India.
In a match filled with moments of brilliance and tactical maneuvering, Asalanka’s composure proved to be the decisive factor that guided Sri Lanka to a historic victory. The encounter witnessed unyielding determination from both sides.
As the tension peaked in the closing overs, Asalanka took the responsibility of securing the win upon his shoulders. He displayed unwavering patience and skill at the crease.
During the last over, the scales seemed to tip in favor of the visiting side, largely due to Zaman Khan’s exceptional performance. With just six runs needed to defend in the final two balls, Pakistan appeared poised to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
But fate had a different outcome in store. Asalanka’s bat connected with the penultimate delivery, sending the ball racing to the boundary, leaving Sri Lanka needing only two runs off the last ball.
In a tense moment, Zaman Khan delivered a slower-length ball on the leg side. However, Asalanka, maintaining remarkable composure, dispatched it to the deep square leg fence. The stadium erupted in celebrations as he sprinted between the wickets, guiding his team to an unforgettable triumph.
Reflecting on his strategy during the post-match ceremony, Asalanka shared, “I just thought about finding a gap and running hard because it’s a spacious field. I told Pathirana to run hard. I anticipated either a bouncer or a yorker, and he bowled a slower ball, which favored me. I’m very excited. Mendis and Sadeera batted really well. I wanted to finish; that’s my role. I can rank this innings as second-best in my book.”
Sri Lanka’s pursuit of a target of 252 runs began strongly, with their batsmen displaying maturity and sensibility. Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama forged a pivotal 100-run partnership, establishing their team’s dominance.
Mendis contributed an impressive 91 runs before departing, while Samarawickrama fell just two runs short of his half-century, succumbing to Iftikhar Ahmed’s bowling prowess.
Iftikhar Ahmed emerged as a key figure for Pakistan, making valuable contributions with both the bat and the ball, securing three significant wickets. However, his heroics ultimately ended in disappointment.
Pakistan, batting first, posted a total of 252 runs, largely thanks to the dynamic duo of Mohammad Rizwan and Iftikhar Ahmed. Rizwan delivered an exceptional unbeaten innings, amassing 86 runs off 73 deliveries, featuring nine boundaries. Abdullah Shafique also played a pivotal role, achieving his maiden ODI half-century and securing the second-highest score for Pakistan.
The match, originally scheduled for 45 overs, was reduced to 42 overs due to persistent rain after Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat.
