Pakistan Keep Final Hopes Alive With Win Over Sri Lanka

News Desk

Islamabad: Pakistan revived their Asia Cup 2025 campaign with a five-wicket victory against defending champions Sri Lanka in a must-win Super Four encounter at Sheikh Zayed Stadium on Tuesday.

Put into the field first, Shaheen Shah Afridi gave Pakistan a fiery start, removing Kusal Mendis for a duck and Pathum Nissanka for just eight in his opening burst. Despite Sri Lanka reaching 53 by the end of the powerplay, the pressure soon mounted as Hussain Talat struck twice in his first over, reducing them to 58/5 inside eight overs.

Kamindu Mendis resists
Kamindu Mendis fought hard amid the collapse, scoring a gritty 50 off 44 balls with three fours and two sixes. His resistance ended in the penultimate over when Afridi returned to dismiss him, closing with 3/26. Haris Rauf and Talat claimed two wickets each, while Abrar Ahmed picked up one as Sri Lanka were restricted to 133/8.

Nervy chase for Pakistan
Pakistan’s batting reply wasn’t straightforward, as Sri Lanka’s spinners applied pressure. Mohammad Nawaz steadied the innings with a composed 38, while Talat capped his all-round performance with an unbeaten 32 to see Pakistan home with five wickets in hand.

Qualification equation
The victory keeps Pakistan in contention for the final, though their fate depends on both results and net run rate (NRR).

• If India win all remaining matches and Pakistan beat only Bangladesh, NRR will decide the second finalist.
• If Pakistan beat both Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, NRR could again prove decisive.
• If both Pakistan and India win their remaining fixtures, they will qualify directly for the September 26 final.

Pakistan’s earlier defeat to India complicated matters, with India’s dominant chase of 172 in just 18.5 overs giving them a major NRR advantage.