Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Highlights, Asia Cup 2023: SL win by 2 wickets to set up final vs India

Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Asia Cup LIVE: Sri Lanka scripted a thrilling run chase to register a 2-wicket win over Pakistan in a rain-curtailed game. Sri Lanka will now face India in the final. Mohammad Rizwan’s unbeaten 86 runs propelled Pakistan to 252/7 after the match was reduced to 42 overs due to rain. For Sri Lanka, Kusal Mendis slammed 91 while Charith Asalanka scored 49 not out to help the hosts stun Pakistan.

Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Asia Cup Preview: Pakistan face Sri Lanka in a must-win Super Four clash in Asia Cup 2023 on Thursday at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The winner of the Super Four contest, which has now become a virtual semi-final, will face India in the final of the Asia Cup.

India qualified for the final with a 41-run win over Sri Lanka on Tuesday as they accumulated unassailable four points from two wins. They had defeated Pakistan in the Super Four on Monday.

Bangladesh are already out of contention having lost two out of three matches.

Both Pakistan and Sri Lanka have one point each which came after their victories over Bangladesh but Sri Lanka are ahead of Pakistan on net run rate (NRR). Sri Lanka have an NRR of -0.200, while Sri Lanka’s NRR is -1.892.

The weather forecast for Thursday in Colombo is for rain and thunderstorms. In fact as per accuweather.com, there’s a 93% chance of rain today. In case the match gets washed out, Sri Lanka will reach the final due to superior NRR.

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Meanwhile, Pakistan are struggling with injury issues. Pacer Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, and batter Salman Ali Agha picked up injuries in the India game.

While Salman and Rauf could return for the final given if Pakistan reach it, Naseem has been ruled out of the tournament due to a shoulder injury. Pakistan have called up Zaman Khan for the Sri Lanka game and the tearaway pacer is set to make his ODI debut.

Zaman has the ability to bowl at 150 kph consistently.

The Men in Green have already announced their playing XI for the match which includes five changes.

Pakistan XI: Fakhar Zaman, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam(c), Mohammad Rizwan(w), Mohammad Haris, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Zaman Khan

Sri Lanka XI: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis(w), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka(c), Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Pramod Madushan, Matheesha Pathirana