Asia Cup | Twitter impressed as Shaheen Afridi and Hussain Talat headline Pakistan’s thrilling win over Sri Lanka

Venkateswaran N

ByVenkateswaran N,SportsCafe Editor

17

Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by five wickets in the Asia Cup T20 2025 in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. Shaheen Shah Afridi picked up a three-wicket haul to restrict the Lankans to a modest total while Hussain Talat’s all-round show took the side home in a tense and low-scoring game at the Zayed Cricket Stadium.

Shaheen Afridi
‌Pakistan pulled off their first win in the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup T20 2025 with a five-wicket win over Sri Lanka in a low-scoring thriller in Abu Dhabi. Left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi came up with an impressive spell of 3/28 in four overs to restrict the Lankans to 133/8 in 20 overs, with Hussain Talat also coming to the fore with an all-round performance.

Pakistan had an ideal start with the ball after winning the toss at the Zayed Cricket Stadium, with Shaheen Afridi striking in the very first over. The left-arm pacer sent back opener Kusal Mendis, who spooned an inswinging delivery straight to short mid-wicket, for a first-ball duck. He, then, removed Pathum Nissanka after getting hit for a six off the first ball of his second over. Captain Charith Asalanka and Kusal Perera brought the Lankans back into the game briefly before the latter was dismissed by Haris Rauf. But new batter Kamindu Mendis hit a four and six off the pacer’s last two balls to end the powerplay at 53/3. Captain Salman Agha sprang a surprise on the Lankans, introducing Talat in the eighth over. The move worked wonders as the medium pacer priced out Asalanka (20) and Dasun Shanaka in consecutive deliveries to leave the side reeling at 58/5. Mendis and Wanindu Hasaranga put their heads down to steady the innings once again before the southpaw was joined by Chamika Karunaratne to add 43 for the seventh wicket. Mendis stood tall with his fighting 44-ball 50, a knock that included three fours and two sixes, which took Sri Lanka to a respectable total. For Pakistan, both Rauf and Talat finished with two wickets and supported Afridi in a disciplined bowling show.

In reply, Pakistan started their pursuit cautiously before opener Sahibzada Farhan shifted gears with two sixes and a four in Nuwan Thushara’s second over. Just as it looked like the Men in Green would end the powerplay without losing a wicket, spinner Maheesh Theekshana produced a double-wicket over to brig the match back in the balance. The mystery spinner sent back both the openers as the score read 48/2 after six overs before Hasaranga piled on further misery. The leg-spinner picked up two wickets in his first two overs to put the batting unit on the defensive. Talat and Mohammad Haris, however, kept them afloat with a 23-run association in the next three overs before the wicketkeeper-batter was cleaned up by pacer Dushmantha Chameera. With 54 runs required from 53 balls, Talat and Mohammad Nawaz took the side home with a composed, unbeaten partnership. Nawaz changed the course of the game with two fours in Hasaranga’s third over before Talat also repeated the feat in the leg-spinner’s last. With less than a run a ball required, Nawaz hurried the proceedings with two stunning sixes off Chameera to complete the game with two overs to spare. The left-handed batter top-scored for the Men in Green with a 24-ball 38, including three fours and sixes, while Talat complemented his bowling effort with a crucial knock. He too remained unconquered with 32 runs off 30 balls as Pakistan ended at 138/5. For Sri Lanka, the spin duo of Theekshana and Hasaranga ended with 2/24 and 2/27, respectively, in four overs.

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Well played!

Brilliant knock!

Pak won!

5 wicket won!

?!

haha!

Bowled!

Yeah!

True!

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