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Dhaka: Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by six wickets in their last match of the Asia Cup in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka on Friday, ending their campaign on a high.
Umar Akmal made highest 48 runs as Pakistan reached 151-4 in 19.2 overs, after restricting Sri Lanka to 150-4 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.
Umar Akmal was the top-scorer with 48, but he was aided by Sarfraz Ahmed with 38 and Sharjeel Khan with 31.
Mohammad Hafeez and Sharjeel got off to a good start, adding 23 in three and a half overs before Hafeez fell for 14.
He had hit three boundaries, and was dismissed in pursuit of a fourth. Off-spinner Shehan Jayasuriya managed to beat him in the flight to have him caught and bowled.
Akmal let Sarfraz dominate their partnership, getting to 12 off 18 balls before Sarfraz’s dismissal. After that he opened up.
Siriwardana was smacked for six over midwicket, four over midwicket, and four over cover. Nuwan Kulasekara and Chameera were hit for fours as well. With 7 runs to win Kulasekara was thrashed for another six. The next ball looked like it would be a boundary and a win for Pakistan but Perera took a magnificent catch at long off.
With just 1 run to win off the final over, Malik played a dot ball and hit one next one to the fielder at mid off. Had the catch been taken, a dramatic end coule have been on the cards, but Kulasekara faffed the chance and Pakistan won by 6 wickets.
Earlier, Tillakaratne Dilshan and Dinesh Chandimal scored vital half-centuries to guide Sri Lanka to a commanding 150 for 4.
The struggling Sri Lankan side suffered another setback when Angelo Mathews’ niggle prevented him from playing the match. In his absence it was Chandimal who led the side.
Having scored a half-century against UAE earlier in the tournament, Chandimal suffered a couple of lean matches but seemed keyed in for the ultimately inconsequential tie against Pakistan.
India will face hosts Bangladesh in the final on March 6.
Brief scores
Sri Lanka - 150 for 4 (Dilshan 75*, Chandimal 58, Irfan 2-18)
Pakistan - 151 for 4 (Akmal 48, Ahmed 38, Sharjeel Khan 31)
Result - Pakistan won by 6 wickets
Points - Pakistan 2, Sri Lanka 0
MOM - Umar Akmal (Pakistan)
