Pakistan batters Mohammad Rizwan and Iftikhar Ahmed on Thursday helped their aspect to put up a aggressive 252-run whole for Sri Lanka to win the essential match which is being seen because the “virtual semi-final” of Asia Cup 2023.
The 2 resumed the innings after a rain delay that diminished the fixture to 42 overs per aspect. Regardless of hassle midway into the innings, the batting duo lifted Pakistan rating close to to 250, earlier than energy hitter Iftikhar was caught.
Pakistan suffered a significant blow when skipper Babar Azam was trapped by Dunith Wellalage within the 16th over after scoring 29 runs. This adopted with a fast succession of dismissals by the Sri Lankan bowlers.
After a rain delay earlier than the beginning of the match, Pakistan opted to bat first in opposition to Sri Lanka, which is seen as a digital semi-final of the Asia Cup 2023.
The toss for the match was delayed after rain began simply minutes earlier than the toss was due.
The essential match is the fourth Pakistan conflict within the event that’s threatened by rains. Beforehand, all video games the Inexperienced Shirts have performed within the Island nation had been affected by heavy showers.
Although Pakistan had introduced their enjoying XI a day earlier however Imam and Saud Shakeel had been dropped final minute. Imam was dropped as a consequence of a again spasm and has been changed by Fakhar Zaman, whereas Saud has a fever and has been changed by Abdullah Shafique.
Each side are coming off dispiriting losses to India in their very own method. Sri Lanka might have all however booked a ticket to the ultimate had they chased down what appeared a really gettable goal of 214 in opposition to India on Tuesday, however Dunith Wellalage’s heroics with bat and ball fell simply brief.
Pakistan’s defeat at their largest rivals’ palms was extra complete; they misplaced by a file 228 runs over two horror days that additionally noticed them lose two of their three premier quick bowlers.
Furthermore, Naseem Shah has been dominated out of the event, and Haris Rauf is nearly equally unlikely to characteristic once more.
At present’s recreation is now a digital semi-final for each side, and one robust efficiency will give them the possibility to make amends for all of it within the closing. If the match at present is washed out, Sri Lanka will repair its place within the closing since they’ve the next run charge than the Inexperienced Shirts.
Enjoying XI
Pakistan: Mohammad Haris, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam (capt), Mohammad Rizwan (wkt), Abdullah Shafique, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan (vice-capt), Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Wasim, Zaman Khan
Sri Lanka: Kusal Perera, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wkt), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka (capt), Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Pramod Madushan, Matheesha Pathirana
