By Sinjini Mitra
This year Pakistan has lived to fight another day in the Asian cup after beating spirited Sri Lanka by five wickets in their Super 4 clash on Tuesday. Chasing 134, Pakistan endured a mid-innings wobble against an inspired Wanindu Hasaranga before Hussain Talat and Mohammad Nawaz guided them home with two overs to spare.
The Quest begun with a pledge as opener Sahibzada Farhan responded with a flurry of big shots, which included a 6, 6, 4 sequence against the pacer, Nuwan Thushara. His aggression offset Fakhar Zaman’s scratchy 17; however, Maheesh Theekshana (2/24) had dismissed both openers by the 6th over. The force further shifted as Hasaraganga (2/27) has stuck twice, eliminating Saim Ayub and the skipper Salman Agha.
Earlier the Pakistan’s pacers had put Sri Lanka under pressure on a surface that offered seam swing. Shaheen Shah Afridi (3/28) gave a powerful and impactful start, which led to the dismissing of Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka in two overs. Sri Lanka never recovered from the damage despite a half-century from Kamindu Mendis, which was 50 off 44.
The unbreakable partnerships were fleeting, with the player Haris Rauf and Talat striking at crucial points.
Theekshana and Chamika Karunaratne showed the visuals of the opposition assembling together 43 runs on the 7th wicket, but Sri Lanka could only score 133 for eight. Their innings never truly settled after Charith Asalanka and Dasun Shanaka in a quick, rapid sequence.
While Hasaranga’s mock celebrations added a hint of drama, Pakistan’s toughness in the chase highlights their determination to remain in contention. With this win, they not only stayed alive in the tournament but also sent a clear alert that despite mistakes in their game, they remain a dangerous side in high-pressure contests.