By In an electrifying cricket showdown during the Asia Cup 2023, Sri Lanka secured a breathtaking victory against Pakistan on Thursday. The match was a nail-biter that went down to the very last ball, with Sri Lanka edging out Pakistan by two wickets. This dramatic win has propelled Sri Lanka into the final, where they will face off against India.
The game’s tension reached its peak as Charith Asalanka, representing the home side, played a pivotal role in reaching the 252-run target. With the pressure mounting, Asalanka remained calm and displayed exceptional patience in his batting.
In the final over, it seemed like Pakistan had the upper hand, thanks to Zaman Khan’s brilliant performance. They needed to defend only six runs in the last two balls. However, Asalanka managed to get an outside edge on the penultimate ball, and the ball reached the boundary line.
With just two runs needed off the final ball, Zaman bowled a slower-length ball on the pads. Asalanka, the left-handed batter, held his nerve and played a simple shot towards the deep square leg fence. He celebrated as he ran two runs, guiding his team to a historic victory.
Speaking after the match, Asalanka shared his thoughts on his strategy for the last-ball victory. “I just thought about how I could find a gap and run hard because it’s a big field,” he said. “I thought either he would bowl a bouncer or a yorker, and then he bowled a slower ball, so it was in my favour. I am very excited. Mendis and Sadeera batted really well. I wanted to finish. That is my role. I can rank this innings second place in my book,” he added.
Throughout the match, Sri Lanka looked like the favourites to chase down the target of 252 runs. Their batters displayed maturity and sensibility in their innings. Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama formed a crucial partnership of 100 runs, putting their team in a commanding position. Mendis scored 91 runs before getting out, while Samarawickrama fell just two runs short of his half-century.
Iftikhar Ahmed played a vital role for Pakistan, contributing with both the bat and the ball. He took three crucial wickets, but despite his heroics, Pakistan couldn’t secure the win.
Batting first, Pakistan posted a total of 252 runs, with Mohammad Rizwan and Iftikhar Ahmed leading the charge. Rizwan played an unbeaten innings of 86 runs, while Abdullah Shafique scored his maiden ODI half-century, making him the second-highest scorer for Pakistan.
The match, which was initially scheduled for 45 overs but later reduced to 42 due to rain, offered cricket fans an unforgettable and heart-pounding spectacle. Sri Lanka’s thrilling victory now sets the stage for a highly anticipated final against India on September 17th in Colombo.
