Pakistan overcome Sri Lanka to strengthen final hopes
ABU DHABI: An all-round show from Hussain Talat, coupled with a composed finish from Mohammad Nawaz, carried Pakistan to a tense five-wicket triumph over Sri Lanka in the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 Super Four encounter at Zayed Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
Chasing a modest 134 on a tricky surface, Pakistan crossed the finish line with 12 balls to spare, thanks to an unbroken 58-run stand between Talat and Nawaz.
Openers Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman provided a solid base, putting on 45 runs inside the first six overs. However, their dismissals in quick succession to Maheesh Theekshana derailed the momentum. Farhan struck 24 off 15 with two sixes and a four, while Fakhar contributed 17 from 19 balls.
Wanindu Hasaranga deepened the crisis by removing Saim Ayub and skipper Salman Ali Agha in back-to-back overs, reducing Pakistan to 57/4 in the ninth over. Mohammad Haris (14) tried to rebuild with Talat, but his dismissal to Dushmantha Chameera left Pakistan wobbling at 80/5.
From that point, Nawaz and Talat held their nerve. Nawaz top-scored with an unbeaten 38 off 24 balls, laced with three fours and three sixes, while Talat remained steady with 32 not out from 30 deliveries, striking four boundaries.
Theekshana and Hasaranga picked up two wickets each for Sri Lanka, while Chameera chipped in with one.
Earlier, after being sent in to bat, Sri Lanka limped to 133/8 despite Kamindu Mendis’s fighting half-century. Shaheen Shah Afridi rattled their top order, dismissing Kusal Mendis for a duck and Pathum Nissanka for eight inside his first two overs.
Though Sri Lanka reached 53/3 by the end of the powerplay, Talat’s introduction swung the momentum back to Pakistan. The left-arm all-rounder struck twice in his opening over, leaving Sri Lanka tottering at 58/5 by the eighth over.
Hasaranga (15) partnered Kamindu briefly for a 22-run stand before Abrar Ahmed bowled him in the 13th over. Kamindu, however, stood firm, registering a defiant 50 off 44 balls with three fours and two sixes before falling to Shaheen in the penultimate over.
Sri Lanka eventually finished at 133/8. Shaheen led the attack with 3/28, Talat and Haris Rauf grabbed two wickets each, while Abrar claimed one.
