Pakistan push winless Sri Lanka on the brink of elimination

An all-round performance from Hussain Talat, Shaheen Afridi's key strikes and a measured batting show from the middle order ensured a comfortable victory for Pakistan in their second Super 4s match of the Asia Cup. After restricting Sri Lanka to 133 for 8, Pakistan crossed the finish line with five wickets in hand and two overs to spare, thanks to Talat and Mohammad Nawaz's unbroken 58-run stand, leaving the opposition winless after two games.

Where was the game won?

In the middle overs. Although both teams lost three wickets each in this phase, Pakistan's strikes also stagnated Sri Lanka's scoring, with only two fours and 35 runs coming for them in this phase. On the other hand, Pakistan ensured they stayed close to the required rate thanks to Talat and Mohammad Nawaz's calculated partnership, before both batters were able to finish it off rather easily in the death overs.

SRI LANKA

Powerplay: Pakistan make early inroads

Phase score - 53/3 (RR: 8.83, 4s/6s: 4/4)

Sri Lanka had an early setback after being asked to bat as Kusal Mendis flicked an incoming delivery from Shaheen Afridi straight to short midwicket to depart for a first-ball duck. Kusal Perera then flicked a Faheem Ashraf delivery for a six, and Pathum Nissanka clubbed Afridi for a maximum. But the left-arm pacer hit back by getting a length ball to move across Nissanka and the batter's cross-batted attempt only resulted in an edge to the 'keeper. In the same over, he overstepped and Charith Asalanka sent the free-hit over the ropes. The skipper then hit two fours off Ashraf, which was followed by an economical three-run over from Afridi. Sri Lanka slipped into more trouble as Perera, having struck a four off Haris Rauf's first ball, chipped the next one to mid-on. But they continued to go hard, with Kamindu Mendis striking a four and a six to help his team past fifty.

Middle overs: Talat, Abrar leave Sri Lanka in more trouble

Phase score - 35/3 (RR: 3.88, 4s/6s: 2/0)

Asalanka was nearly caught in the deep in Salman Agha's first over and he departed soon after as he tried to pull one from Hussain Talat but mistimed it. Dasun Shanaka nicked the very next ball to the 'keeper as Sri Lanka lost half their side with only 58 on the board. Wanindu Hasaranga saw off the hat-trick ball and got off the mark with a boundary. But the regular wickets slowed it down for Sri Lanka, who reached 70/5 at the halfway stage, getting only 17 runs in the 5 overs after the powerplay. Hasaranga, who was hit on his wrist by a shot from Kamindu, struck the first four after a drought of 21 balls when he cut a Rauf delivery over cover-point. Hasaranga, though, was the sixth to fall as he was bowled by Abrar Ahmed trying to play across the line. Pakistan lost a review when Abrar thought he had Chamika Karunaratne caught-behind off a sweep but the bowler finished with excellent figures of 1 for 8.

Death overs: Kamindu, Karunaratne help Sri Lanka past 130

Phase score - 45/2 (RR: 9.00, 4s/6s: 4/1)

Kamindu finally got a move on, striking a boundary apiece off Talat and Rauf, with 17 runs coming off the two overs combined, as Sri Lanka crossed 100. He then got a four and a six off Ashraf in the 18th over, which yielded 13 runs. Kamindu registered a 43-ball fifty but fell soon after, leg-before to Afridi, with Pakistan taking a review to get the decision in their favour. Karunaratne got a boundary off Rauf in an 8-run final over as Sri Lanka managed to cross 130, with 28 coming off the last three overs.

PAKISTAN

Powerplay: Sri Lanka strike after positive start

Phase score - 48/2 (RR: 8.00, 4s/6s: 3/2

Sri Lanka's pacers looked menacing at the start, with Nuwan Thushara and Dushmantha Chameera operating with a lot of pace. Chameera even struck Fakhar Zaman on the helmet with a short delivery but Sri Lanka lost a review as they went up for a top-edge, and there wasn't any. Fakhar struggled after that, playing and missing a couple of times, and just about managed to clear the fielder to get a boundary when he swung hard at a short of length delivery. The first shot of authority came from Sahibzada Farhan when he went over the leg-side for a six off Thushara and followed it up with another maximum and boundary in the same over. Maheesh Theekshana conceded 10 in the next over, which included four byes after a tough stumping chance was missed. Chameera kept it quiet in the next over before Theekshana delivered a double strike to lift Sri Lanka. Farhan and Fakhar mistimed their lofts, allowing Sri Lanka an avenue to get back into the game.

Middle overs: Pakistan on track despite wickets

Phase score - 56/3 (RR: 6.22, 4s/6s: 6/0)

Pakistan continued to lose wickets as Hasaranga struck a couple of times. The legspinner had one spin past Saim Ayub to get him bowled before trapping Agha in front, as the skipper also took a review with him. Meanwhile, Talat hit a couple of boundaries to ensure that the scoring did not stagnate, as Pakistan reached 71/4 after 10 overs. But they suffered another setback, as Mohammad Haris, going for an expansive drive, was bowled by Chameera in the 12th over. Sri Lanka lost another review when Theekshana was confident that he had Talat trapped in front. The equation, though, was in Pakistan control as they needed 47 off 42, which became run-a-ball when Mohammad Nawaz got two fours off Hasaranga and one off Thushara to take Pakistan past 100 in the 15th over.

Death overs: Nawaz, Talat finish it off in style

Phase score - 34/0 (RR: 11.33, 4s/6s: 2/3)

Asalanka kept it tight in the 16th over to concede only 4 runs. Hasaranga then came back into the attack for his final over and his first ball went for a four as Talat put away a short delivery. He conceded two wides and was hit for another four by Talat as he gave away 12 in the over, bringing the equation to 14 off 18. Pakistan needed only one more over to race to the target, with Nawaz smashing three sixes off Chameera in the 18th over.

Brief scores: Sri Lanka 133/8 in 20 overs (Kamindu Mendis 50; Shaheen Afridi 3-28, Hussain Talat 2-18) lost to Pakistan 138/5 in 18 overs (Mohammad Nawaz 38*, Hussain Talat 32*; Maheesh Theekshana 2-24, Wanindu Hasaranga 2-27) by 5 wickets.

What next?

On the verge of being knocked out, Sri Lanka play India in the last match of the Super 4s phase, on September 26. But they could be out of contention before that if India beat Bangladesh on September 24. Pakistan's next match is against Bangladesh on September 25, with the remaining games of the competition to be played in Dubai.