The Pakistan pacer Shaheen Afridi and Hussain Talat went on to put a magical spell, helping the side to restrict Bangladesh to 133 runs in the Tuesday clash.
They went on to bag three and two wickets respectively, troubling Sri Lanka in the Super 4s clash of the Asia Cup 2025 at Abu Dhabi.
Batting first, Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis opened the innings while Shaheen Afridi opened the bowling attack. Afridi secured the first wicket by dismissing Mendis for a duck. In his next over, he went on to bag the wicket of Pathum Nissanka for 8 runs.
Despite Kusal Perera (15) and Charith Asalanka (20) tried to stabilise the innings they went back to dugout by Haris Rauf and Talat.
Talat went on bag his second wicket of Dasun Shanaka (0) in the innings as Sri Lanka lost fifth wicket for 58 runs.
However, Kamindu Mendis went on to smash 50 runs off 44 deliveries which included 3 fours and 2 sixes.
Meanwhile, Wanindu Hasaranga went on to score 15 runs before being dismissed by Abrar Ahmed.
With Chamika Karunaratne’s 17* runs, Sri Lanka went on to score 133 runs in their 20 over innings.
Shaheen Afridi went on to bag three wickets while Harid Rauf and Hussain Talat went on bag two wickets each.
Speaking at the toss, Salman Agha said, “We will bowl first. Looks a good wicket, don’t think it will change much. I think we started well (against India), but then the tempo shifted.. They are a good side, we’re a good side. We don’t think about the past, just need to focus on today. We have an unchanged side.”
Meanwhile Charith Asalanka said, “I would have done the same thing. It looks a good pitch, don’t mind batting first. We are playing good cricket, we need to improve in a few areas. Batting and bowling at the death.”
“There are two changes. Theekshana and Karunaratne are in. We thought that we might need one extra bowler, that’s why we have brought in a bowler who can bat,” concluded Asalanka.
Pakistan Playing 11: Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Salman Agha(c), Hussain Talat, Mohammad Haris(w), Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed
Sri Lanka Playing 11: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis(w), Kusal Perera, Charith Asalanka(c), Dasun Shanaka, Kamindu Mendis, Chamika Karunaratne, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Thushara
