KEY POINTS
- Shaheen Afridi starred with the ball for Pakistan, taking 3 early wickets to rattle Sri Lanka’s top order.
- With a target of 134, Pakistan hold the advantage, but Sri Lanka hopes for a bowling miracle under lights.
ABU DHABI: In a high-stakes Super Four encounter of the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025, Sri Lanka posted a fighting total of 133 for 8 in their 20 overs against Pakistan at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium on Tuesday.
With a place in the final on the line, the Sri Lankan batters faced a fiery Pakistani attack, with Kamindu Mendis’s half-century standing tall amid the wreckage.
Opting to field first, Pakistan made early inroads thanks to Shaheen Shah Afridi, who dismissed both openers, Kusal Mendis for a golden duck and Pathum Nissanka for 8, within the first three overs.
Afridi finished with impressive figures of 3 for 28, making life difficult for the Sri Lankan top order.
Captain Charith Asalanka and veteran Kusal Perera tried to revive the innings, but both fell before the halfway mark. The middle order continued to struggle, with Dasun Shanaka falling for a duck.
The lone standout was Kamindu Mendis, who played a composed knock of 50 off 44 balls, hitting 3 fours and 2 sixes to guide Sri Lanka past the 100-run mark.
He found some support from Wanindu Hasaranga (15) and Chamika Karunaratne (17 not out), who helped add valuable runs in the later overs.
Pakistan’s bowlers kept the pressure on throughout, with Haris Rauf claiming 2 for 37, and Hussain Talat chipping in with 2 for 18. Spinner Abrar Ahmed was the most economical, conceding just 8 runs in 4 overs and taking a key wicket.
With a modest target of 134, Pakistan now have the upper hand and a win probability of 73.66%, according to live match forecasts.
Sri Lanka, however, will be banking on early wickets and spin-friendly conditions to stage an upset and keep their Asia Cup hopes alive.
The match remains finely poised as Pakistan prepare to chase under lights in Abu Dhabi.
