Dubai: Wanindu Hasaranga on Friday picked up three crucial wickets and hit the winning runs to beat Pakistan by five wickets in the last and inconsequential Asia Cup Super 4 tie at the Dubai International Stadium ahead of the most-awaited final here on Sunday.
Pakistan fared terribly post-powerplay after they limped to 49/1 with the help of 9 extras in the first six overs. Their batsmen could not push the score against Sri Lanka spinners as they were found wanting with their feet movement.
Post-10 overs as well, they never hit the purple patch as they lost wickets at regular intervals.
The miserly Hasaranga just conceded 6 runs in his first 2 overs that put the Pakistani batsmen under the pump. Trying to up the ante, Pakistan lost both Fakhar Zaman and captain Babar Azam in back-to-back overs.
The incoming batsmen were mesmerised by spin trio - Hasaranga, Dhananjaya de Silva and Maheesh Theekshana as they ran through the middle overs, forging a massive collapse. Pakistan were reduced to 95/7 from 82/3.
But for Mahommad Nawaz's counter attack, the total would have been even far more worse. The left-hander tonked a couple of sixes before he was unfortunately run-out in the penultimate over. Otherwise, Pakistan looked well within their reach to go past 140, but that also could not have been enough, given the good pace and bounce off the pitch.
Chasing the paltry target, Sri Lanka were in a spot of bother when they were reduced to 29/3 in five overs. But the left-right combination of Pathum Nissanka and Bhanuka Rajapaksa, kept the chase within their sight by finding regular boundaries and keeping the required run rate intact.
And despite losing a couple of wickets in pursuit of big hits, Nissanka held one end to see his side romp to a comfortable win over Pakistan.
Brief scores: Pakistan 121 all-out in 19.1 overs (Babar Azam 30; Wanindu Hasaranga 3-21) lost to Sri Lanka 124 for 5 in 17 overs (Pathum Nissanka 55*; Mohammad Hasnain 2-21) by 5 wickets(UNI)