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Asia Cup Super 4s Updates: Pakistan closing in on win

Tue, 23 September 2025

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23:53

Need 26 off 24

Pak 108-5 (16 ovs) vs SL 118-6 | Scorecard

Right arm offie Asalanka back in the attack and he comes around the wicket to Nawaz who inside edges the ball to square leg for a single.

Talat then makes room and smacks it over the bowler who didn't jump in time as the batters take a single.

Big shout for LBW next as the Nawaz was hit on the pads while deep in his crease. No says the umpire even as the batter is run out at the keeper's end. The third umpire says not out.

A dot later, Nawaz and Talat take a single each as 4 come off it.

Thushara back in the attack, overpitched in the slot and Nawaz creams it through covers for a four!

He then takes a single down to backward point.

A short ball next and Talat pulls it to deep backward square for a single.

Full, swinging and on the pads and Nawaz is happy to play it around the corner for a single.

Talat is then beaten on the cut as he goes for the shot.

A dot to end the over as 7 come off it.

23:41

Nawaz, Talat hold key for Pakistan

Pak 97-5 (14 ovs) vs SL 118-6 | Scorecard

Hasaranga back in the attack and he comes around the wicket to Talat who starts the over with a single to the leg side.

A dot later, an overpitched ball, Nawaz drives the ball through covers for a four.

Nawaz then just gets on one knee and he connects and sweeps it to fine leg for a four.

Nawaz then gets a single to the leg side.

A dot to end the over as 10 come off it.

Theekshana continues and he hits Talat straight on his back leg as he attempts a slog sweep and misses. The bowler appeals. No says the umpire. SL take the review as the batters take a single. Ball tracking shows ball going down leg side. Leg bye given.

A dot later, Nawaz takes a single off an inside edge to the leg side.

Talat then cuts the ball to the off side for a couple.

Talat then plays the next ball to long on for a single.

Nawaz is then beaten as Theekshana bowls a quicker one. 5 come off the over.

23:32

Lose half the side

Pak 82-5 (12 ovs) vs SL 118-6 | Scorecard

Mohammad Nawaz is the new man in he starts with a dot. The short and wide ball next and Nawaz is beaten as he goes for the big swing.

Nawaz then edges the ball down to third man for a single to get off the mark.

Short ball and Talat goes for a pull and he misses.

Talat then nearly chops on but the ball runs past his leg stump and he takes a single as 2 runs and wicket come off it.

Chameera is back in the attack and he bowls a superb ball, back of length ball that nipped back, Haris swings, misses and the ball crashes into the middle stump and he strikes on return! Haris is out for 13 and wicket comes just when Pakistan were looking to build a partnership.

Theekshana back in the attack as Haris and Talat start the over with a single each.

Haris then just goes inside out and chips it over extra cover for a four!

Haris then takes a single to long-on.

Talat then cuts the ball to backward point for a single.

Haris then drives the ball to long on for a single as 9 come off it.

23:21

Need a partnership

Pak 71-4 (10 ovs) vs SL 118-6 | Scorecard

It's neck and neck now as SL were 70 for 5 at this stage but Pakistan need this partnership to flourish to get across the finish line.

But Lankan spinners Theekshana and Hasaranga won't make it easy. We have a close match on the cards.

Right arm medium pacer Karunaratne in the attack now and Haris starts the over with a couple to mid-wicket.

He then takes a single before Karunaratne bowls two wides.

The next ball is in the slot and Talat lofts it over covers for a four!

Talat then takes a single to third man.

A dot later, Haris ends the over with a single to deep point as 11 come off it.

23:15

Hasaranga takes two wickets

Pak 60-4 (9 ovs) vs SL 118-6 | Scorecard

Mohammad Haris is the new man in and he and Talat take three singles as 3 runs and a wicket come off it.

Hasaranga continues and he gets his 2nd wicket as Agha misses the straight one as he caught in front of the stumps. Big shout for LBW. Umpire raises the finger. Pakistan take the review and lose it as the ball tracking shows impact in line and hitting the stumps. He is out for 5.

Asalankaa brings himself on as he bowls his left arm spinners and Agha starts the over with a single. A dot later, Talat takes a single to the off side.

Agha then plays the ball to backward point for a single.

Talat then makes room and cuts the ball past backward point for a four!

A dot to end the over as 7 come off it.

Talat is the new man in and he starts with two dots as 2 come off it.

Leggie Hasaranga in the attack now Ayub starts the over with a single.

A dot and a single to Agha later, Hasaranga strikes!

Hasaranga bowls a googly as the ball beats Ayub's defences to crash into the off stump. He is out for 2.

22:59

Hasaranga takes a blinder!

Pak 48-2 (6 ovs) vs SL 118-6 | Scorecard

Salman Agha is the new man in and he is off the mark with a quick couple as 2 wickets and 5 runs come off the over.

Saim Ayub is the new man in and starts with an aggressive drive down to mid-off for a single.

Zaman makes room, plays it towards Hasaranga at mid-off, who stays low and manages to grab the ball inches off the ground even as it was seaming away from him. Blinder of a catch and Zaman is out for 5. Theekshana gets his 2nd in the over.

Theekshana continues and Farhan just makes room and lofts it down the ground for a couple.

A dot later, Farhan just chips the full ball straight to the man at cover and he is out for 24 off 15. Pakistan lose their first wicket.

Chameera is back in the attack, Farhan swings and misses.

Farhan then mistimes the pull off the short ball and he plays it towards mid-wicket for 3.

A dot later, the short ball is pulled to deep square leg where Hasaranga puts in the slide to keep it down to just two.

Zaman then cuts the ball to backward point, calls for a single but no says his partner at the other end.

Chameera comes around the wicket, Zaman hits it over covers for a couple. 7 come off the over.

22:45

Farhan takes to the attack

Pak 36-0 (4 ovs) vs SL 118-6 | Scorecard

Offie Theekshana in the attack now and Zaman starts the over with a single to mid-wicket.

Two dots later, Farhan mistimes a swipe to deep mid-wicket and he gets a single.

Zaman then comes down the track, misses the full toss, the keeper misses it too as the ball runs to the boundary for 4 byes.

Short ball and Zaman cuts it past backward point for a four as 10 come off it.

Physio comes out to check on Zaman again who doesn't look a hundred per cent.

Thushara continues, full ball and Farhan plays it through the line and swings it over long on for a six!

Slow and full and Farhan flicks it to mid-on for a single.

Zaman then plays the ball to square leg for a single.

Length ball again on the off stump and Farhan lofts it over mid-off for a six!

Widish ball, Farhan makes room and creams it through covers for a four!

A short bouncer that Farhan sits under to end the over as 18 come off it.

22:33

Slow start for Pakistan

Pak 8-0 (2 ovs) vs SL 118-6 | Scorecard

Chameera opens at the other end and he starts with a short ball in the corridor and Zaman lets it go as the ball holds its line.

Another dot later, short bouncer, Zaman looks to pull, he gets hit on the helmet and the ball flies up and is caught by the fielder. Big shout for caught, No says the umpire. Sri Lanka take the review and lose it.

Meanwhile, the physio does the mandatory concussion test on the batter. He looks fine as a new helmet comes out for him.

Zaman looks fine to resume even as he looks to have a big of a swelling on the forehead.

The next ball nips back and Zaman is beaten as he stays cemented to the crease.

Zaman then comes down the track and goes for the big swing, misses.

Zaman then comes down and swings his bat and hits the length ball over the square leg fielder for a four! 4 runs come off the eventful over.

Pakistan openers Fakhar Zaman and Sahibzada Farhan come out to chase 134 while Thushara opens the attack for Sri Lanka.

And Thushara starts with a fullish ball on the leg stump and Farhan chips it to the leg side for a single.

Thushara then bowls a fuller ball and that is a dot.

Zaman then clips the full and swinging ball to deep backward square leg to get off the mark with a couple.

Thushara then bowls a inswinging yorker and the batter digs it out for a dot.

Another inswinger and Zaman inside edges it to mid-on for a single.

A dot to end the over as 4 come off the opening over.

22:07

Afridi takes 3 for 28; Kamindu Mendis hits half-century

SL 133-8 (20 ovs) vs Pak | Scorecard

Kamindu Mendis scored a hard-fought 50 to take a wobbly Sri Lanka to 133/8 in their Asia Cup Super Fours match against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

Shaheen Afridi (3/28) and Hussain Talat (2/18) struck twice each to leave Sri Lanka tottering at 80 for six at one stage, but Mendis' 44-ball knock which included three fours and two sixes saved the blushes for the island nation.

Afridi took two wickets upfront to put Sri Lanka under pressure but it was Talat who gave Pakistan the command of the contest with dismissals of Charith Asalanka (20) and Dasun Shanaka (0) in the eighth over.

Theeekshana is the new man in and scampers for a single off a bye.

Length ball, Karunaratne swipes it to deep mid-wicket for a couple as a wicket and 8 runs come off it.

Pakistan now only have an extra fielder in the circle because of slow over-rate.

Rauf is back in the attack and Karunaratne gives it everything and the ball flies to third man for a four.

Full ball next, hits Karunaratne in the pads, big shout for LBW no says the umpire, Pakistan review and lose it as the ultra edge shows there was an inside edge.

Karunaratne then takes a single to mid-off.

Chameera then goes for the big hoick, mistimes it and is caught as Agha runs back from mid-off and he is out for 1 and Sri Lanka lose the 8th wicket.

Chameera is the new man in and he off the mark with a single.

Karunaratne ends the over with a single as a wicket and 7 runs come off it.

Afridi back in the attack to bowl his final over and Karunaratne drives the ball to covers for a single.

A wide ball next. A full toss and a dot later, Afridi bowls another wide.

Length ball and Mendis pulls it over deep square leg for a couple to bring up his 50.

Afridi then bowls it full and hits it into Mendis's toe. Afridi appeals, no says the umpire. Pakistan review. Ultra Edge shows no bat involved. Ball tracking shows pitching in line, impact in line, wickets hitting. And Mendis has to walk back for 50 off 44 balls. Afridi breaks the 43-run stand!

21:39

SL get past the 100-run mark finally

SL 118-6 (18 ovs) vs Pak | Scorecard

Ashraf is back in the attack and Karunaratne comes down the track and misses the shot. Dot ball that.

Slow, short and wide next and Karunaratne just cuts it through cover point for a four.

He then pulls the ball to mid-wicket for a single.

Mendis then pulls the ball to mid-on for a single.

Yorker next and Karunaratne plays it out to long on for a single.

Short ball and Mendis pulls it over deep square leg for a six as 13 come off it.

Rauf back in the attack and the short ball is pulled in between mid-wicket and long on for a four,

Mendis then plays the ball past backward point for a couple.

A dot later, Mendis gets the inside edge onto his pads and it falls near the base of the stumps, the batters sneak a single even as as Rauf runs to the end other to pick the ball and break the stumps. Good effort.

Karunaratne then gets across and hits the ball to the leg side for a single.

Mendis then swings and misses as 8 come off the over.

21:28

Abrar finishes with 1 for 8

SL 97-6 (16 ovs) vs Pak | Scorecard

Talat is back in the attack and Mendis starts the over with a couple to fine leg.

Mendis then gets another couple as he pulls it towards backward square leg.

Mendis then gets a boundary over third man.

A dot later, Mendis then gets a single to sweeper cover.

A dot to end the over as 9 come off it.

Abrar continues and Mendis starts the over with a single.

Three dots later, Karunaratne goes for the big slog and the ball flies of his arm and is caught by the slip fielder behind the keeper. Big shout. Umpire says not out. Pakistan take the review and lose it as the Ultra Edge shows the ball ballooned up off his forearm.

A dot to end the over and is the end of an excellent spell from Abrar.

Faheem is back in the attack and after two dots, Mendis pulls the ball to backward square leg for a couple.

A dot later, the length ball is pulled down to long on where Rauf does well to keep it from going to the boundary and saves a couple.

A single to end the over as 5 come off it.

21:13

Hasaranga out for 15

SL 82-6 (13 ovs) vs Pak | Scorecard

Karunaratne is the new man in and he is off the mark with a single to the leg side.

Mendis then takes a single to short third man. Three dots to end the over as 2 runs and a wicket come off it.

Abrar continues and he bowls a flighted googly, Hasaranga looks to hack it across the line, misses it and the ball crashes into the bottom of the middle stump. Hasaranga is out for 15.

Rauf is back in the attack and he comes around the wicket to Mendis, its full and wide and the batter then plays it to deep cover for a single.

Hasaranga then plays the ball to mid on for a single.

Mendis then plays clips the full ball to backward square leg for a single.

Short and wide and Hasaranga slashes it over cover point for a four!

A single past mid-on next for Hasaranga.

A dot to end the over as 8 come off it.

Abrar continues after drinks and Hasaranga starts with a dot. Abrar then throws a widish ball that Hasaranga cuts to cover point for a single.

Mendis then plays the ball straight into his partner at the other end, he seems to have been hit on the hand. He gets some attention from the physio.

Mendis then plays two dots before he plays the ball to mid-wicket for a single as 2 come off it.

20:55

Talat gets 2 wickets

SL 70-5 (10 ovs) vs Pak | Scorecard

Talat continues and he starts with a short ball that Mendis looks to pull, hit on the pad, big shout for LBW, no says the umpire.

Another dot later, Mendis just punches the ball to cover-point for a single.

A dot later, Hasaranga just taps the ball down towards the on side and runs for a couple.

Edged and the ball goes past empty slip cordon for a single to third man.

Talat comes around the wicket to Mendis and a dot to end the over as 5 come off it.

Leggie Abrar Ahmed in the attack now and he starts well as Mendis and Hasaranga take just three singles in the over.

20:47

SL lose half the side

SL 62-5 (8 ovs) vs Pak | Scorecard

Hasaranga is the new man, faces the hat-trick ball and he plays taps it to cover for a dot.

He then defends the next ball while Talat keeps it simple.

Hasaranga then pulls the short ball to end the over with a four through mid-wicket as 4 runs and 2 wickets come off it.

Shanaka is the new man in and he gets a cross seamed ball, fishes for the one outside off, gets the edge and is caught behind. Shanaka is out for a first ball duck. SL lose half the side.

Right arm medium pacer Hussain Talat is in the attack now and after a dot, Asalanka looks to pull the short ball, no timing on it and Rauf takes a running catch at deep square leg and he is out for 20 off 19.

Off spinner Agha brings himself on and Asalanka and Mendis take a single each off the first two balls. A dot later, Asalanka slog sweeps but the ball falls just short of the incoming fielder from the deep, he takes a single.

Mendis and Asalanka take a single each as 5 runs come off it.

20:36

SL lose the third wicket inside the Powerplay

SL 53-3 (6 ovs) vs Pak | Scorecard

Kamindu Mendis is the new man in. Rauf bowls around the wicket and after two dots, Mendis punches the ball through the off side for a four.

Mendis ends the Powerplay with a pull over backward square leg for a six! A wicket and 14 come off it.

Haris Rauf in the attack now and he is welcomed with a four as Perera hits the half volley over extra cover for a four.

Rauf strikes next ball as Perera chip flicks the ball as Ashraf does well to complete a catch, diving across from mid-on. Perera is out for 15 off 12. SL now lose the 3rd wicket.

Afridi continues to bowl his 3rd wicket on the trot and after a dot, the ball nips into Perera who plays the ball to the leg side for a couple.

A dot later, he gets a single to the on side.

A dot later, Asalanka is beaten by a peach of a delivery that nips away! Just 3 come off the over.

20:25

Afridi getting the ball to seam and swing

SL 36-2 (4 ovs) vs Pak | Scorecard

Ashraf continues and after two dots, the short and wide ball is cut over point for a four by Asalanka!

A dot later, Asalanka mistimes a short but it still runs past mid-on for a four.

A dot to end the over as 8 come off it.

Asalanka is the new man in and Afridi bowls an outswinger and he beaten on the off stump.

Afridi then bowls a short ball and Asalanka plays it to the leg side for a couple. No ball given for height.

Free hit next, its' a slow. short ball and Asalanka picks it up and sends it sailing over deep backward square leg for a six!

A dot and a single to end the over as 16 runs and a wicket come off it.

Afridi continues, bowls in the slot, Nissanka just swings his bat and lofts it over long-on for a six!

Afridi strikes again! He bowls a length ball that moves away, Nissanka looks to swing across the line, gets the edge and is caught behind for 8. SL lose the 2nd wicket.

20:13

Mendis out for a duck

SL 12-1 (2 ovs) vs Pak | Scorecard

Medium pacer Faheem Ashraf opens at the other end and Perera and Nissanka take a single each, Ashraf bowls a good seaming ball that beats the batter.

A dot later, Perera meets the pitched up ball and flicks it straight over deep mid-wicket for a six!

A dot to end the over as 8 come off it.

Kusal Perera is the new man in and he is off the mark with a single to fine leg, flicking the full ball.

Nissanka then mistimes the next hit to mid-on for a dot.

The next ball is an outswinger, the ball just keeps swinging away from he batter and runs away from the diving fielder where the fielder does well at the boundary. 2 runs come off the byes.

A dot to end the over as 4 runs and a wicket come off it.

Sri Lanka openers Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis come out to bat while Shaheen Shah Afridi opens the bowling for Pakistan.

And Afridi gets some movement first up and Nissanka plays the ball to fine leg to get a single.

Afridi strikes! Pitched up delivery on middle and leg, the ball comes on quicker. Mendis just flicks the ball straight to the fielder at mid-wicket and he is out for a golden duck!

19:42

SL look to get back to winning ways

Pakistan captain Salman Agha has won the toss and elected to bowl against Sri Lanka in their Super 4s match in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

While Pakistan go into the match unchanged, Sri Lanka have made two changes bringing in spinner Maheesh Theekshana and Karunaratne.

The pitch looks like a good batting track with some early help for pacers with a good covering on grass on the pitch. A run feast is expected in Abu Dhabi tonight.

Playing XIs:

Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis(w), Kusal Perera, Charith Asalanka(c), Dasun Shanaka, Kamindu Mendis, Chamika Karunaratne, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Thushara

Pakistan: Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Salman Agha(c), Hussain Talat, Mohammad Haris(w), Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed

Reeling from early setbacks in the Super 4s, both Sri Lanka and Pakistan will be desperate to register their first win in this critical stage of the Asia Cup when they lock horns in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

Sri Lanka, who breezed through the group stage unbeaten, were jolted by a four-wicket loss to Bangladesh in their Super 4 opener. The defeat not only disrupted their rhythm but also snapped an impressive eight-match winning streak in the T20 Asia Cup.

On the other hand, off-field issues have dominated headlines around the Pakistan team, overshadowing their middling performances on the field. They are in disarray after suffering yet another humbling defeat at the hands of arch-rivals India on Sunday, their second loss to the 'Men in Blue' in this tournament.

India and Bangladesh have two points each with Suryakumar Yadav's men leading the standings owing to a superior net run rate. Sri Lanka and Pakistan occupy the third and fourth spots respectively.

With little time for recovery, Pakistan skipper Salman Agha and his side now face a must-win situation under mounting pressure.

The absence of former skipper Babar Azam and senior batter Mohammad Rizwan has only deepened the batting crisis, exposing a lineup short on technique and temperament.

Against India, top order batters Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub offered a glimmer of hope, stitching together 90/1 to hand a promising start.

Ayub, in particular, showed signs of resurgence after three consecutive ducks. However, the innings fizzled out in the latter half, once again highlighting Pakistan's inability to sustain pressure.

The bowling unit, too, has struggled. Leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed, who found success against lower-ranked teams like Oman and the UAE, failed to find the right lengths against a dominant Indian batting line-up and was taken to the cleaners.

Sri Lanka, despite their strong run, have their own set of issues to iron out.

A fragile middle order remains a concern, though Dasun Shanaka's counterattacking knock at No. 5 against Bangladesh offered some respite. Pathum Nissanka, the standout performer with back-to-back fifties in the group stage, has hit a rough patch.

However, Kusal Mendis and Kamil Mishara appear to be in good touch and could provide much-needed stability.

In the bowling department, pacer Nuwan Thushara has impressed, currently standing as the fourth-highest wicket-taker in the tournament with six scalps.

Spin wizard Wanindu Hasaranga, along with Dushmantha Chameera, Charith Asalanka, and Shanaka, have also contributed effectively across matches.

Promising all-rounder Dunith Wellalage has rejoined the squad after a brief absence following the death of his father last week, a return that could bolster both morale and depth.

Teams

Sri Lanka: Charith Asalanka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Kusal Perera, Nuwanidu Fernando, Kamindu Mendis, Kamil Mishara, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando, Nuwan Thushara, Matheesha Pathirana.

Pakistan: Salman Ali Agha (c), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Waseem Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Afridi, Sufyan Moqim.

Asia Cup Super 4s Updates: Pakistan closing in on win

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