By Sports Reporter
LAHORE — Sri Lanka secured a place in the One-day International tri-series final with a commanding eight-wicket victory over Pakistan, chasing down a target of 111 in just 18.1 overs at Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday.
Read also: Shadab Khan’s century powers Pakistan to thrilling one-wicket win over England
Left-arm fast bowler Dilshan Madushanka led the demolition with a career-best five for 34, helping dismiss Pakistan for 110 in 25.3 overs. Kamindu Mendis then anchored the chase with an unbeaten 62 off 60 balls as Sri Lanka reached 114-2, winning with 31.5 overs remaining.
The result booked Sri Lanka a place in Saturday’s final against Pakistan, who had already qualified after winning their opening three matches. England’s remaining league match against Sri Lanka on Thursday consequently became inconsequential to the final lineup.
After winning the toss, Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis opted to field, and his bowlers quickly justified the decision by repeatedly breaking through Pakistan’s batting order.
Babar Azam was Pakistan’s leading scorer with 29 off 33 deliveries, including five fours. Hasan Nawaz contributed 17, while Shaheen Shah Afridi added a late 15 from 13 balls, hitting two sixes.
Pakistan lost Fakhar Zaman for five in the fourth over when he mistimed a short delivery from Madushanka and was caught at point. Debutant Maaz Sadaqat, included in the squad a day earlier, made eight before Asitha Fernando trapped him leg-before with a yorker.
Saad Baig fell for five, while Salman Ali Agha was dismissed for nine after edging Sahan Arachchige behind. Babar’s departure, leg-before to Eshan Malinga for 29, left Pakistan struggling at 61-4.
The innings deteriorated further as Arachchige dismissed Shadab Khan for two and Dunith Wellalage removed Hasan Nawaz. Pakistan slipped to 91-8, with the lower order unable to mount a recovery.
Madushanka returned to clean up the tail, dismissing Arafat Minhas for 10, Haris Rauf for one and Shaheen to complete his five-wicket haul. Arachchige finished with two wickets, while Fernando, Malinga and Wellalage took one each.
Kamindu leads comfortable chase
Sri Lanka began positively, with Kamindu and Avishka Fernando adding 50 for the opening wicket in 6.5 overs. Avishka scored 16 from 17 balls before pulling Shaheen to Fakhar Zaman at short midwicket.
Kamindu maintained the momentum, reaching his half-century from 43 deliveries. Although he survived a dropped catch and successfully overturned an lbw decision, he remained composed to finish unbeaten on 62, hitting eight fours and two sixes.
Pakistan briefly struck again when Kusal Mendis, who scored eight off six balls, was bowled by Arafat Minhas after the ball ricocheted off his bat into the stumps.
However, Pavan Rathnayake joined Kamindu and ensured there were no further setbacks. Rathnayake remained unbeaten on 23 from 26 deliveries, hitting two fours before sealing the victory with a boundary through cover-point.
Shaheen and Arafat claimed one wicket apiece, but Pakistan’s modest total left their bowlers with little room to defend.
The defeat followed Pakistan’s dramatic one-wicket win over England on Sunday, when Shadab Khan’s unbeaten century rescued the side. Against Sri Lanka, however, the batting line-up failed to produce a competitive score.
Madushanka’s decisive spell and Kamindu’s assured innings secured Sri Lanka’s place in the final, where they will meet Pakistan on Saturday.
