Colombo (TIP)- In a game of multiple compelling storylines, it was Charith Asalanka who stood tall in the end as Sri Lanka edged Pakistan out by two wickets in a final-ball thriller in Colombo. With it, Sri Lanka made it to their 11th Asia Cup final (for ODIs), where they will face India on Sunday, September 17.
Asalanka remained unbeaten on 49 off 47 balls to see home a nervy chase, but it was a win built on Kusal Mendis’ 91 from 87 deliveries and Sadeera Samarawickrama’s 48 off 51. Pakistan will look back at what might’ve been, as their injury-hit attack fought tooth and nail, and almost secured an unlikely come-from-behind win.
Set a DLS-adjusted target of 252 in a rain-shortened 42-over game, Sri Lanka needed six an over from the get-go, but in Mendis and Samarawickrama, they had two in-form batters of the tournament at their disposal. During their 100-run third-wicket stand, the game seemed Sri Lanka’s to lose, as they knocked over the singles while also finding boundaries when required.
Indeed, one of the features of the chase was that Sri Lanka never ran away with it, while at the same time keeping the required rate always at six or below. While this exuded a sense of control, it also allowed Pakistan the opening late in the game.
Both Samarawickrama and Mendis fell against the run of play, each dismissed by Iftikhar Ahmed, who finished with 3 for 50 in eight overs. Samarawickrama came down the track and missed an arm ball to be stumped, while Mendis chipped a leading edge for Mohammad Haris to take a blinder at short extra cover, diving full length in front and grasping it centimetres off the ground.
Sri Lanka needed 42 off 41 balls at this point with six wickets in hand, and while Dasun Shanaka fell shortly after, Dhananjaya de Silva kept Asalanka company as the requirement was whittled down to 12 from 12 deliveries with five wickets in hand.
Enter Shaheen Shah Afridi, who had had an absolutely mediocre game up until then by his standards – eight overs bowled, 48 runs conceded, and no wickets taken. Six balls later, Sri Lanka were seven down, and another eight away with six balls remaining as Afridi first had Dhananjaya caught at long-on off a low full toss, and then Dunith Wellalage nick behind looking to heave one across the line.
Then enter Zaman Khan, the slinger who had had a forgettable debut until then. His five overs had gone for 32, and Babar Azam had resisted the urge to bring him on earlier, instead opting to save him for just such a moment. Zaman had given eight runs in his last over, and needed to save eight in the final over of the chase.
He allowed tailender Pramod Madushan off strike first ball, but then Asalanka incredibly took a single off the third after a dot, leaving Madushan on strike with six needed from three. Pakistan had found a way into the game, and then an attempt to run a bye as the ball rolled away to the wicketkeeper saw a chaotic mix-up between Madushan and Asalanka. Thus, Madushan was run-out at the non-striker’s end. Sri Lanka, who were also a batter short after Maheesh Theekshana had suffered a hamstring injury in the field, then needed six from the two deliveries, and Pakistan were suddenly ahead.
But then Asalanka edged a swipe between the wicketkeeper and short third for four. Two from one left – with a Super Over on the cards – but Asalanka turned an attempted yorker behind square leg, as Sri Lanka and a packed Premadasa Stadium breathed a heaving sigh of relief.
It was hardly the expected finish when the day had started with whether there would be any play at all. Heavy rain had seen the start delayed by nearly two hours, with Pakistan particularly dreading further interventions as only a win would suffice for them to qualify for the final. And when the rain inevitably arrived again, midway through their innings, it proved to be the catalyst for a nearly match-winning resurgence.
Source: Cricinfo