PAK vs SL: "What A Game" - Fans React As Sri Lanka Beat Pakistan In A Thriller To Qualify For Asia Cup 2023 Final

The 5th match of the Asia Cup 2023 Super Four stage was played between Dasun Shanaka-led Sri Lanka National Cricket Team and Babar Azam-led Pakistan National Cricket Team on Thursday, September 14 at the R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo. The match was a 42-over-per-side contest as the rain delayed the start and interrupted the play.

Sri Lanka National Cricket Team beat Pakistan National Cricket Team by 2 wickets in the virtual semi-final to qualify for the final of the Asia Cup 2023 and now they will take on India on Sunday. This is the 12th time that Sri Lanka have reached the Asia Cup final, the most by any team across ODI and T20 formats.

Pakistan won the toss and opted to bat first in the match. The Men In Green had announced their playing XI a day before the game and made five changes, with out-of-form Fakhar Zaman being replaced by Mohammad Haris and Faheem Ashraf being replaced by Mohammad Nawaz.

The rest of the three changes were forced with batter Saud Shakeel replacing Salman Ali Agha and pacers Mohammad Wasim and Zaman Khan replacing Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf.

At the toss, Babar Azam informed that they had made two more forced changes to their playing XI as Imam-ul-Haq, who suffered a back spasm, and Saud Shakeel, who had a fever, were replaced by Fakhar Zaman and Abdullah Shafique. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, made two changes as Kusal Perera and Pramod Madushan replaced Dimuth Karunaratne and Kasun Rajitha.

Opening the innings with Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman got out for 4. However, Shafique batted brilliantly and alongside Babar Azam brought back the momentum towards Pakistan by adding 64 runs in 70 balls. Dunith Wellalage was the man who broke the partnership between the Pakistan opener and the No.3 batter. The Men In Green quickly lost the next three wickets and were reduced to 130/5.

They looked in trouble when Mohammad Rizwan joined forces with Iftikhar Ahmed to build a great partnership. Together they played some blistering strokes and added 108 runs in just 78 balls, helping Babar Azam-led side post 252/7 on the board.

The wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan scored 86 runs off 73 balls, with 6 fours and 2 sixes, while Iftikhar Ahmed smashed 47 runs off 40 balls, with 4 fours and 2 sixes.

Chasing the target, Kusal Perera played an attacking brand of cricket to provide Sri Lanka with a great start. Unfortunately, his innings was cut short in the 4th over itself as he got run out, courtesy of a brilliant throw from Shadab Khan. Following that, Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis had a good half-century stand.

After Nissanka got out, it was all about Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama as they frustrated the Pakistan bowlers with their batting masterclass. Together they added 100 runs off 98 balls before Samarawickrama got stumped a few balls after he sustained a nasty bouncer to his head off Shaheen Afridi.

Then, Sri Lanka quick wickets of all their premier batters except Charith Asalanka, who fought till the end, and made sure his side crossed the finish line as he took a double on the very final ball for the victory.

Here’s How X Reacted To the Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Asia Cup 2023 Super Four Clash:

Once again, no India-Pakistan final in the Asia Cup. This is such a talented Sri Lankan batting side.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) September 14, 2023

What a THRILLLAAA

— Abhimanyu Bose (@bose_abhimanyu) September 14, 2023

LONG LIVE, ODI CRICKET….!!!

The World Cup is coming and ODI cricket is at its peak! pic.twitter.com/cjdSpaWaOV

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) September 14, 2023

Sorry but Pakistan??????.

— Bhawana (@bhawnakohli5) September 14, 2023

An India Pakistan final in the #AsiaCup is just not to be. It’s simply not possible

— Bazid Khan (@bazidkhan81) September 14, 2023

Asia Cup peaking at right time with rain not playing spoilsport.

— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) September 14, 2023

Well played Sri Lanka ??
Congratulations ? ? ?
Better team deserved Final …..

With heavy heart I’m tweeting this. ? ? ?

— Shoaib Jatt (@Shoaib_Jatt) September 14, 2023

What a game. Sri Lanka! Unbelievable scenes at Khettarama. India vs Sri Lanka in the final of the Asia Cup for the ninth time.

— Venkata Krishna B (@venkatatweets) September 14, 2023

What an innings by Asalanka ? #PAKvsSL

— Vikram Sathaye (@vikramsathaye) September 14, 2023

What fightback! What bowling! But Sri Lanka held their nerves! Absolute nerve-crashing match! Well played, Sri Lanka! Hard luck, Pakistan #PAKvSL #AsiaCup

— Mohsin Kamal (@64MohsinKamal) September 14, 2023

Asalanka does it for Lanka
No India-Pak Asia Cup finals yet again. #PAKvsSL #AsiaCup

— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) September 14, 2023

Jay Shah and ACC: pic.twitter.com/feu1qZ2t3d

— Manya (@CSKian716) September 14, 2023

What a contest #AsiaCup2023 Happy for Charith Asalanka man. Congrats to Sri Lanka on getting to the Asia Cup final again????. Continue trending in the right direction.

— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) September 14, 2023

Asia Cup peaking at right time with rain not playing spoilsport.

— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) September 14, 2023

Well played Sri Lanka ??
Congratulations ? ? ?
Better team deserved Final …..

With heavy heart I’m tweeting this. ? ? ?

— Shoaib Jatt (@Shoaib_Jatt) September 14, 2023

Sri Lanka deserves to win. Pak lost the game in the middle overs where they should have picked up wickets. Well done Zaman Khan, came back so well along with Shaheen.

— zainab abbas (@ZAbbasOfficial) September 14, 2023

This is unreal! It’s 1am in the morning and the enthusiasm is top of the world. What a game ? Congratulations Sri Lanka on the magnificent victory and reaching the finals. Hard luck Pakistan. #PAKvSL #AsiaCup2023

— Vinay Kumar R (@Vinay_Kumar_R) September 14, 2023