Charith Asalanka, Kusal Mendis shine in chaotic finish as Sri Lanka make Asia Cup final
Hosts won final-ball thriller while chasing 252 in 42 overs, as Mohammad Rizwan's 86* went in vain for Pakistan
Hosts won final-ball thriller while chasing 252 in 42 overs, as Mohammad Rizwan's 86* went in vain for Pakistan
Scorer: @Thilak_Rama | Commentator: Ashish Pant
Excellent game of cricket, which ends in Sri Lanka qualifying for yet another Asia Cup final. They will meet India in the final on the 17th. But before that there is another game left, with India meeting Bangladesh at the same venue tomorrow. We will be back for that as always. Till then, this is Ashish Pant, signing off on behalf of Thilak, Ranjith and Madushka. Ciao!
Kusal Mendis is the Player of the Match: Very happy to come to the final. Overall everyone played really well. Couple of wickets went down, but I was hoping that Charith would finish the game as he has done it before. And he did it. The batter unit have done very well, so have the bowler. Wanindu, Chameera and Kumara are the main bowler, but in the WC they are coming back. Dunith has been bowling well. We have a young unit. Everyone has done well.
Sri Lanka captain, Dasun Shanaka: We had the game under the control but we could have stayed till the end. We gave them a chance to come back but Charith held his nerves. We had the discussion going before the batting. Coaching staff and myself spoke that the mistake was done in the India game. Wickets were given in the first 10 overs, today we did not want to do that mistake. Kusal and Sadeera are the best players of spin at the moment. Charith was great. Character of a great player. Special feeling to play back to back finals. Thanks to the crowd
Presentation time
Only the second time the chasing team won on the last ball in men's ODI Asia Cup. India did it against Bangladesh in the 2018 final.
1.07am: It is seven minutes past one, but the Colombo crowd is buzzing. A stunning run chase and Charith Asalanka held his nerves at the end. Shaheen Afridi tried his best to make a match out of this picking two wickets in the penultimate over, but the target was always in sight. The chase was set up by Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanla who added 57 off 60 balls for the second wicket. Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama then got together adding 100 off 98 balls. There was a brief collapse but Asalanka kept his cool to take Sri Lanka into another Asia Cup final. And for everyone asking about the 252 target. It was adjusted due to DLS method.
Here's the man of the moment, Asalanka: I just thought how can I get two to hit a gap and run hard because it is a big field and just told Pathirana to run hard. I thought either he will bowl a bouncer or a yorker and then he bowled a slower ball, so it was in my side. 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,
Here's the Pakistan captain, Babar Azam: We just decided to bowl our best overs and asked Shaheen to bowl the second last over and believed in Zaman. Sri Lanka played very well, better cricket than us. We have not been up to the mark in the bowling and fielding. That is why we lost the match. In the middle overs, we did not bowl well. That partnership cost us. We started well, ended well, but middle overs were not great. We have lacked that.
Right then. Will it be IND vs PAK, will it be IND vs SL? Super over anyone? Deep third is up. Babar has a long chat with Zaman. So does Shaheen. He is in his debut game. Who will hold their nerve?
Pathirana
Pramod Madushan run out 1 (5m 3b 0x4 0x6) SR: 33.33
Tahir: "Pakistan fighting back like No. 1 team and Sri Lanka playing like defending champion."
Sri Lanka need 8 to win the game. Seven for a super-over. Zaman Khan, on debut, will bowl the last over.
Aesthetics isn't his thing, but when you're pretty fast and pretty skillful, do you really need to bother being pretty?
Hosts won final-ball thriller while chasing 252 in 42 overs, as Mohammad Rizwan's 86* went in vain for Pakistan
Zaman will replace Naseem for Pakistan's virtual semi-final against Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka will look to extend the Asia Cup's record of never having featured an India-Pakistan final
Pakistan don't expect Naseem's injury to affect his availability for the World Cup