Colombo, Sep 14: Kusal Mendis produced an outstanding 91 and Charith Asalanka a gutsy unbeaten 49 as defending champions Sri Lanka overcame Pakistan by two wickets in a dramatic Super Four match here on Thursday to set up an Asia Cup final against India on Sunday.
Fifties by Abdullah Shafique (52) and Mohammad Rizwan (86 not out) had led Pakistan to a competitive 252 for 7 off 42 overs after electing to bat on another rain-affected day.
But Sri Lanka replied in kind through Mendis and Asalanka as they inched past the target off the last ball of the match, also spoiling the possibility of an Indo-Pak summit clash.
The manner in which Sri Lanka mounted their chase was quite remarkable, even considering the fact that Pakistan were without injured pacers Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf.
After Kusal Perera departed early, Mendis in the company of Pathum Nissanka (29) steadied the Lankan innings with a 57-run stand for the second wicket.
But an even better passage was in the waiting for the Lankans, despite Nissanka spooning a return catch to Shadab Khan.
Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama (48 off 51 balls) added 100 runs for the third wicket, as Lanka gradually bridged the gap.
Samarawickrama, even though he was pinged on the helmet once by Shaheen Afridi, kept his end going with some sensible cricket. But a momentary rush ended his stay. Iftikhar caught him in no-man’s land with a slightly fuller length ball, and Rizwan made an easy stumping.
Mendis milked a further 33 runs along with Asalanka, but Iftikhar returned to dismiss him.
Thereafter Sri Lanka fell into panic mode, losing four wickets in as many overs and it seemed that they were on the verge of botching up the chase.
Afridi did the damage during that phase with two wickets in successive balls. But Asalanka held his nerves in the final over to carry his side home.
Earlier, Shafique and Rizwan propped up Pakistan innings with fine fifties. Pakistan also received some late push from Iftikhar Ahmed (47 off 40 balls).
Shafique and Babar milked 64 runs in a little over 11 overs. Just as the second wicket alliance was blossoming, Dunith Wellalage snapped it by dismissing Babar.
The dismissal of Babar pushed Pakistan into a mini-collapse as they lost three more wickets for 30 runs inside six overs.
At 130 for five, Rizwan and Iftikhar provided an entertaining 108-run stand for the sixth wicket.
The last 10 overs — between 32 and 42 — saw Pakistan adding 102 runs. (PTI)
