Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by eight wickets to reach final
Sri Lanka defeated previously unbeaten Pakistan by eight wickets in the fifth match of the tri-nation ODI series on Tuesday to secure a place in the final, while England were eliminated from contention.
Pakistan, invited to bat first at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, were bowled out for 110 in 25.3 overs. Sri Lanka chased down the target of 111 in 18.1 overs, losing two wickets.
Dilshan Madushanka led Sri Lanka’s bowling attack with five wickets for 34 runs, while Sahan Arachchige took two wickets. Asitha Fernando, Ishan Malinga and Dunith Wellalage claimed one wicket each.
Fakhar Zaman fell for five runs, and Maaz Sadaqat was dismissed for eight as Pakistan’s top order struggled. Saad Baig scored five, and Salman Ali Agha made nine.
Babar Azam top-scored for Pakistan with 29 runs off 33 balls, but the team lost half its wickets for 61 runs. Shadab Khan was dismissed for two, while Arafat Minhas scored 10 and Hassan Nawaz made 17 off 31 balls.
Captain Shaheen Shah Afridi added 15 runs off 13 balls, Haris Rauf scored one, and Naseem Shah remained unbeaten on two. Seven Pakistan batters failed to reach double figures.
In reply, Sri Lanka’s openers put on 50 runs for the first wicket before Avishka Fernando was caught off Shaheen Shah Afridi for 16 off 17 balls.
Captain Kusal Mendis fell for eight, bowled by Arafat Minhas, with Sri Lanka on 62.
Kamindu Mendis remained unbeaten on 62 off 60 balls, hitting eight fours and two sixes, while Pavan Rathnayake finished not out on 23 off 26 balls to guide Sri Lanka to victory.
Shaheen and Minhas took one wicket each for Pakistan, with the other bowlers unable to make a breakthrough.
Sri Lanka secured their second consecutive victory in the tournament and confirmed their place in the final against Pakistan, scheduled for October 31. Pakistan had already qualified for the final, while England were eliminated.
Earlier, Sri Lankan captain Kusal Mendis won the toss and elected to field.
Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi said he would also have chosen to bowl had he won the toss, citing the dew expected during the second innings. He said Maaz Sadaqat and Naseem Shah had replaced Saim Ayub and Razaullah in the side.
Pakistan secured their place in the final with a one-wicket victory over England in the fourth match on Sunday. England, batting first, were bowled out for 241 in the 47th over. Pakistan chased down the target of 242 in the 48th over, losing nine wickets, with Shadab Khan scoring a century.