Sri Lanka reduce Pakistan to 130 for five before rain intervenes

Sri Lanka were off to a solid start in the virtual Asia Cup semi-final reducing Pakistan to 130 for five in their last second round game of the tournament at RPS on Thursday.Both teams had beaten Bangladesh in the Super Four stage but had lost to India and whoever wins this contest will go through to Sunday’s final. India are already through to the finals.

Pramod Madushan replaced Kasun Rajitha and tasted immediate success cleaning up Fakhar Zaman with an inswinging yorker. Babar Azam was superbly stumped by Kusal Mendis as Dunith Wellalage continued his habit of taking big wickets. The left-arm spinner had claimed Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in successive overs in Sri Lanka’s earlier game on Tuesday.

Asad Shafique posted a half-century but was dismissed when he tried to put Matheesha Pathirana away for a boundary but failed to clear the mid-wicket fielder.

Pathirana claimed a second wicket when he took a return catch to dismiss Mohammad Haris. Maheesh Theekshana joined the party when he cleaned up Mohammad Nawaz and play was stopped with Pakistan on 130 for five in 27.4 overs due to rain.

The game was delayed due to rain and although match officials decided to play a 45 over game, there was a threat of regular rain interruptions.

Sri Lanka would not be complaining as a no result would give them a slot in the final. Although both teams have the same points in the Super Four stage, Sri Lanka’s Net Run Rate is far superior than Pakistan’s who had suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of India.

Apart from Rajitha, Sri Lanak also left out the experienced Dimuth Karunaratne in place of Kusal Perera, who is making a return to the ODI side after a considerable break due to injury.Pakistan were forced to make five changes due to injuries to players.