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Shaheen Afridi’s impressive spell followed a 0-40 performance against India on Sunday.
Asia Cup, Super Four, Abu Dhabi
Sri Lanka 133-8 (20 overs): Kamindu 50 (44); Shaheen 3-28
Pakistan 138-5 (18 overs): Nawaz 38 (24), Talat 32 (30)
Pakistan won by five wickets with 12 balls remaining
Pakistan bolstered their chances of reaching the Asia Cup final with a hard-fought five-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi.
Following their disappointing and controversial defeats against rivals India, Pakistan stumbled to 80-5 while chasing 134, before a crucial 58-run partnership between Hussain Talat and Mohammad Nawaz steadied the ship.
With 46 needed from 40 deliveries, Nawaz struck consecutive boundaries off Wanindu Hasaranga, who had previously taken 2-5 in his initial two overs. When the leg-spinner returned for the 17th over, Talat responded with two further boundaries.
This shifted the equation from 26 runs required from 24 balls to 14 from 18, and left-hander Nawaz sealed the victory with three more sixes, leaving two overs unbowled.
Nawaz remained unbeaten on 38, while Talat finished on 32 not out.
While a defeat would not have eliminated Pakistan, it would have required favorable results elsewhere – a situation Sri Lanka now faces.
Pakistan had earlier effectively restricted Sri Lanka to 133-8, with left-arm bowler Shaheen Afridi claiming 3-28.
Sri Lanka managed 53 runs during the powerplay but lost three wickets in the process, falling to 58-5 when Charith Asalanka and Dasun Shanaka were dismissed on successive deliveries in the eighth over.
Kamindu Mendis spearheaded a recovery with 50, but he was trapped lbw in the penultimate over by Shaheen – who had earlier dismissed Kusal Mendis with the second ball of the match – preventing Sri Lanka from achieving a significant finish.
India and Bangladesh, both victorious in their opening Super Four matches, will meet in Dubai on Wednesday.
The top two teams in the Super Four stage will compete in Sunday’s final.
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