In the third match of theAsia Cup 2025 Super 4 round played in Abu Dhabi, Pakistan thrashed Sri Lanka by five wickets and knocked the latter out of the tournament. Earlier at the toss, Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha emerged victorious against his counterpart Charith Asalanka and elected to field first. Shaheen Shah Afridi got rid of Kusal Mendis on the second delivery of the match and delivered the maiden breakthrough to the Men in Green. In his next over, the pacer got Pathum Nissanka caught at the hands of wicket-keeper Mohammad Harris. After a horrendous start, Sri Lanka were expecting their skipper Asalanka to step up and play an impactful innings but he became the victim of Haris Rauf after scoring only 20 runs off 19 balls. Dasun Shanaka,
facing his first delivery, lost his battle against Hussain Talat and returned to the pavilion with a duck.
Wanindu Hasaranga fell against Abrar Ahmed after amassing 15 off 13. In the crunch situation, Kamindu Mendis held his nerves and stitched a 43-run stand with Chamika Karunaratne. Mendis departed after scoring 50 off 44. Shaheen got the left-handed batter’s wicket. Riding on Kamindu’s knock, Sri Lankaerected a total of 133/8 in 20 overs. Karunaratne walked back to the dugout with his unbeaten 17 off 21. In the crucial contest, Shaheen looked confident and picked up 3/28 figures in his four-over spell. Rauf and Talat got two wickets respectively while Abrar bagged one wicket.
Pakistan looked shaky in the chase but completed it eventually
Following the target, Pakistangot a fine start from their openers Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman. However, in the sixth over, Maheesh Theekshana handed double blows to the Green Army, dismissing both openers. In the next over, Wanindu Hasaranga cleaned up Saim Ayub and pushed Pakistan under pressure.Skipper Salman also looked nervous and lost his Hasaranga after scoring only two off five.
Mohammad Haris was expected to produce a solid knock but he could hoard only 13 runs after facing 11 balls. The stumper-batter failed to counter Dushmantha Chameera, who cleaned him up. In the pressure situation, Hussain Talat (32* off 30) and Mohammad Nawaz (38* off 24) held their nerves and took Pakistan home by five wickets in hand and 12 balls to spare. Sri Lanka are now officially out of the tournament and they will play their last game against India for pride on September 26.
