Post by : Badri Ariffin

In a thrilling match at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Sri Lanka secured their place in the tri-series final by narrowly defeating Pakistan by six runs on Thursday night.

Chasing 184, Pakistan was left needing 10 runs off the last six balls when Dushmantha Chameera stepped in to bowl. With captain Salman Ali Agha at the crease with 63*, Chameera executed a series of precise yorkers, claiming two wickets and guiding Pakistan to a final score of 178 for 7.

The match turned rocky for Pakistan early on, as they found themselves at 43 for 4 following Chameera’s impressive overs that sent back both Sahibzada Farhan and Babar Azam. Young pacer Eshan Malinga then struck again, removing Saim Ayub and leaving the home side in dire straits.

However, Salman Ali Agha and Usman Khan salvaged the innings with a vital 56-run partnership, where Usman contributed 33 runs. Mohammad Nawaz's quickfire 27 off just 16 balls gave Pakistan a glimmer of hope, as they needed 22 runs off the last 12 deliveries. As the pressure mounted, Chameera returned to seal the deal, finishing with figures of 4 for 20.

Earlier, Sri Lanka's innings was defined by Kamil Mishara’s striking 76 runs from 48 balls, which included six fours and three sixes. After an early wicket of Pathum Nissanka, Mishara and Kusal Mendis built a notable 66-run partnership, keeping Pakistan at bay.

Despite Mendis falling to Abrar Ahmed, Sri Lanka maintained momentum with contributions from Janith Liyanage (24*) and Dasun Shanaka (17), reaching a total of 184 for 5. Abrar performed admirably for Pakistan, claiming 2 wickets for 28 runs, while others struggled to contain runs on the batter-friendly surface.

Pakistan's positive start quickly dwindled due to the early collapse, requiring the lower order to do extensive repairs. Although Salman fought valiantly with his skillful shot selection, Sri Lanka's exceptional death bowling made the difference.

With this victory, Sri Lanka has built significant momentum heading into Saturday’s final, backed by a confident bowling performance.

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