Sri Lanka 252 for 8 (Mendis 91, Asalanka 49*, Ifthikar 3-50) beat Pakistan 252 for 7 (Rizwan 86*, Shafique 52, Pathirana 3-65) by two wickets through DLS methodology
Set a DLS-adjusted goal of 252 in a rain-shortened 42-over sport, Sri Lanka wanted six an over from the get-go, however in Mendis and Samarawickrama, they’d two in-form batters of the event at their disposal. Throughout their 100-run third-wicket stand, the sport appeared Sri Lanka’s to lose, as they knocked over the singles whereas additionally discovering boundaries when required.
Certainly, one of many options of the chase was that Sri Lanka by no means ran away with it, whereas on the identical time maintaining the required fee at all times at six or under. Whereas this exuded a way of management, it was additionally what allowed Pakistan the opening late within the sport.
Each Samarawickrama and Mendis fell in opposition to the run of play, every dismissed by the superb Iftikhar Ahmed, who end with figures of three for 50 in eight overs. Samarawickrama got here down the monitor and missed an arm ball to be stumped, whereas Mendis chipped a vanguard for Mohammed Haris to take a blinder at brief additional cowl, diving full size and greedy it centimetres off the bottom.
Sri Lanka wanted 42 off 41 balls at this level with six wickets in hand, and whereas Dasun Shanaka fell shortly after, Dhananjaya de Silva stored Asalanka firm because the requirement was whittled all the way down to 12 from 12 deliveries with 5 wickets in hand in the beginning of the penultimate over.
Then enter Zaman Khan, the slinger who had had a forgettable debut till then. His 5 overs had gone for 32, and Babar Azam had resisted the urge to carry him on earlier, as a substitute opting to save lots of him for simply such a second. Zaman had given eight runs in his final over, and wanted to save lots of eight within the remaining over of the chase.
He allowed tailender Pramod Madushan off strike first ball, however then Asalanka extremely took a single off the third, leaving Madushan on strike with six wanted from three. Pakistan had discovered a method into the sport, after which an try to run a bye because the ball rolled away to the wicketkeeper noticed a chaotic mix-up between Madushan and Asalanka. Thus, Madushan was run-out on the non-striker’s finish. Sri Lanka, who have been additionally a batter brief after Maheesh Theekshana had suffered a hamstring damage within the subject, then wanted six from the 2 deliveries, and Pakistan have been abruptly forward.
However then girl luck shone on Sri Lanka, as Asalanka edged a swipe between the wicketkeeper and brief third for 4. Two from one left – with a Tremendous Over on the playing cards – however Asalanka turned an tried yorker behind sq. leg, as Sri Lanka and a packed Premadasa Stadium breathed a heaving sigh of aid.
It was hardly the anticipated end when the day had began with whether or not there can be any play in any respect. Heavy rain had seen the beginning delayed by almost two hours, with Pakistan notably dreading additional interventions as solely a win would suffice for them by way of qualifying for the ultimate. And when the rain inevitably arrived once more, halfway by means of their innings, it proved to be the catalyst for a virtually match-winning resurgence.
However when Babar misplaced steadiness to 1 that beat the bat off Wellalage, he discovered himself stumped for the fourth time in ODIs this yr. This as soon as extra slowed down proceedings as Sri Lanka chipped away at Pakistan’s tender underbelly. Nonetheless, Shafique reached a maiden ODI fifty, however threw his wicket away by top-edging a pull off Matheesha Pathirana to deep sq. leg.
The primary was a stumping alternative, as he fell over attempting to flick an arm ball from Dhananjaya; happily for Rizwan, Mendis behind the stumps could not collect cleanly. The second was a missed sweep that popped up off the glove in the direction of a vacant brief leg, with Mendis diving full size to his left however agonisingly wanting getting his gloves underneath it.
On the different finish although the wickets stored tumbling, as Pakistan discovered themselves at 130 for five in 27.4 overs when the rains intervened for a second time. Whereas the bottom workers had been prepared with the covers a number of overs prior, the umpires let play proceed by means of a light-weight drizzle within the hope that it might be a passing bathe. This, although, quickly turned out to a quick however heavy downpour which noticed important components of the bottom – and crucially the pitch – get soaked.
Whereas play acquired underway with solely a 30-minute stoppage, the influence of that temporary downpour can be felt for the remainder of the sport. Not solely had the match been decreased to 42 overs a aspect, but in addition the grip and switch which the spinners had been exploiting had all however vanished. As a substitute was a ball that was skidding by means of on to the bat.
Rizwan, who had been treading water previous to the rain break in reaching 22 off his first 30 balls, acquired to his half-century off solely one other 18 deliveries. He took a selected liking to Madushan, who was taking part in his first sport of the event rather than Kasun Rajitha. Madushan had been miserly in his opening four-over spell of 1 for 16, however on his return within the thirty fourth over, Rizwan greeted him with a nonchalant slap over deep midwicket.
Madushan then compounded issues later within the over by overstepping – adopted by two wides – solely to be swatted down the bottom by Iftikhar off the free hit. All in all, the over would go for 18, and it signalled the beginning of Pakistan’s death-overs onslaught.
The ultimate ten overs of Pakistan’s innings ultimately ended up yielding 102 runs, with Rizwan ending unbeaten on 86 from 73 balls. Iftikhar offered the perfect supporting act on the different finish with a strong 47 off 40. The pair placed on 108 off 78 deliveries for the sixth wicket.
Sri Lanka’s bowlers, in the meantime, struggled, particularly with their star spinner Theekshana hobbling by means of his remaining set of overs with a hamstring pressure – he would later be despatched for scans, and be unavailable to bat – whereas Wellalage too was unable to supply the identical wicket-taking heroics he had showcased in opposition to India. However for as soon as, it was their batters who would bail them out.
