Desk Dubai: Sri Lankan opener Pathum Nissanka smashed a half century, helping his team beat Pakistan by five wickets in the Asia Cup Super Four match at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium yesterday. Leg spinner Usman Qadir dismissed Bhanuka Rajapaksa to break a 51-run partnership between him and Nissanka in the 12th over, however the latter kept the scoreboard ticking with boundaries and singles.

Earlier in the first innings, leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga claimed three wickets as Sri Lanka bundled out Pakistan for 121 in their dress rehearsal for the Asia Cup final. Both teams have already booked their place in Sunday’s title clash and are playing the last Super Four match of the tournament, which serves as a warm-up to the T20 World Cup in October-November. 

Sri Lankan bowlers kept the Pakistan batters in check after they elected to field first.Hasaranga soon took charge to return figures of 3-21 including the key wicket of skipper Babar Azam for 30. Openers Mohammad Rizwan and Babar found it tough to score and debutant fast bowler Pramod Madushan struck in his first over. He sent the in-form Rizwan, who is second to Virat Kohli in the tournament’s run-scoring charts, back to the pavilion for 14. Chamika Karunaratne ended Fakhar Zaman’s stay on 13 and Pakistan slipped further when Hasaranga bowled Babar. Babar, who has struggled in the tournament with scores of 10, 9, 14 and nought in his previous innings, began with a delightful straight drive for four but could not produce a match-defining score.

Published in The Daily National Courier, September, 10 2022

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