New Delhi: Led by Shaheen Shah Afridi, Pakistan bowlers wrecked havoc on Sri Lanka batters to restrict them to an under-par total in the Asia Cup Super 4 clash on Tuesday. Kamindu Mendis, the lone silver lining in the Lankan batting smashed a half-century as they finished with a below-par score of 133/8 in the stipulated 20 overs after being put into bat first.
It was all about the terrific bowling exhibition by the Men in Green that put them in command in what is a must-win clash for both the sides. The team losing Tuesday’s encounter will crash out of the continental tournament while the other side would remain alive in the race for the final. Afridi proved to be the pick of the bowlers for the side claiming three wickets while Haris Rauf and Hussain Talat also contributed with two wickets each. Abrar Ahmed also claimed a lone wicket in his spell of 4/8.
PAK bowlers blow away SL
It was all about the aggression, precision and clarity of thought Pakistan exhibited right from the first delivery of the match. Treating the must-win game as it should be, Afridi gave Sri Lanka the first blow in just the second delivery of the first innings by removing the seasoned Kusal Mendis for a duck. The accurate Afridi then followed it up with the big wicket of Pathum Nissanka in the third over for just 8 runs.
The strategy of not giving enough time to the batters for settling down was taken seriously by all the bowlers as the experienced Haris Rauf gave Sri Lanka the third blow by claiming the precious wicket of
Kusal Perera for 15 runs. Skipper Charith Asalanka was removed by Hussain Talat who also got rid of Shanaka later. Apart from Mendis, none of the other batters could really show up any courage in front of a perfect bowling by Men in Green.