Dushan Hemantha’s four-wicket haul and Ahan Wickramasinghe’s sensational fifty sealed Sri Lanka A spot within the remaining and introduced an finish to defending champions Pakistan A marketing campaign to its unexpected conclusion within the first semi-final match of the ACC Males’s T20 Rising Groups Asia Cup 2024. Sri Lanka left Pakistan bamboozled with their blitzkrieg and relentless onslaught whereas chasing a paltry goal of 136. Regardless of dropping opener Yashodha Lanka after he obstructed the sector, Lahiru Udara and Ahan Wickramasinghe went berserk within the powerplay.
Boundaries got here in response to their will, and the defending champions appeared clueless of their makes an attempt to place a halt to Sri Lanka’s high-flying inning.
Fours and sixes grew to become a continuing theme within the powerplay because the duo shared the brunt of piling up runs on the board. The 66-run partnership between the duo was sufficient to take the sport away from Pakistan.
The defending champions ultimately obtained their breakthrough within the ninth over after Udara’s shot was taken comfortably by Abdul Samad.
With left-arm wrist spinner Sufiyan Muqeem offering the much-needed breakthrough, Pakistan made one other push to make a late comeback within the sport.
Boundaries grew to become scarce within the subsequent two overs, forcing the pair to gamble on their pictures in quest for boundaries. Nuwanidu Fernando took the mantle and despatched the ball in the direction of the boundary rope to ease off the nerves.
On the subsequent supply, Abbas Afridi stung again and ended Fernando’s time on the crease. The move of boundaries grew to become dry, however Sri Lanka did not break a sweat with the equation utterly favouring them.
Wickramasinghe completed the inning with an unbeaten 52 and ensured that Sri Lanka ended on the successful aspect.
Earlier within the match, Pakistan A gained the toss and opted to bat, which ultimately backfired on them. Pakistan misplaced Yasir Khan (2) early within the powerplay, however captain Mohammad Haris and Omair Yousuf stored the tempo excessive.
With the duo on the crease, Pakistan appeared properly set to finish the powerplay on a excessive notice. However Eshan Malinga swung the momentum in Sri Lanka’s favour within the remaining over of the powerplay.
He castled Haris (6) on the second ball and confirmed Qasim Akram (0) the way in which to the dugout on the ultimate ball of the powerplay.
Yousuf and Haider Ali tried to steer Pakistan’s sinking ship from that time, and so they fared properly as much as a sure extent. With the climax of the primary inning approaching, the duo began to indicate shades of opening their arms.
Haider got here down the monitor, missed the ball utterly and was stumped within the thirteenth over bowled by Dushan Hemantha.
With wickets falling at one finish, Yousuf tried to drive Pakistan’s inning from the opposite. Hemantha wasn’t within the temper to permit Pakistan to run away with the sport.
He dismissed Arafat Minhas for 10 and Abdul Samad for a four-ball duck, leaving Pakistan tottering a103/6. Hemantha continued to stamp his authority within the sport and drew the final straw.
He eliminated set-batter Yousuf (68) in his remaining over to make sure Pakistan had been pressured to defend a sub-par whole. A few boundaries from Abbas Afridi in the direction of the tail finish propelled Pakistan’s rating to 135/9.
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