Fragile Sri Lanka undone by Pakistan

Hussain Talat picked up back-to-back wickets (Visuals Credit: SLC)

By Champika Fernando in Abu Dhabi

Sri Lanka’s fragile batting was once again laid bare yesterday in Abu Dhabi as they suffered their second defeat in the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup, this time against Pakistan. The loss all but ends their hopes of defending the title. On a pitch that offered some reward for disciplined bowling rather than any hidden demons, Sri Lanka folded to a modest 133 for 8 after being asked to bat first. The collapse was of their own making, defined by rash strokes, muddled thinking and a startling lack of application.

Pakistan did wobble briefly in their chase, thanks to a spirited spell from, Maheesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga, and some sharp catching in the field, but the target was simply too small to cause serious trouble. They held their nerve to seal victory with five wickets in hand and keep alive their chances of reaching the final.

The pattern of Sri Lanka’s innings was depressingly familiar. Kusal Mendis fell to only his first ball, chipping Shaheen Shah Afridi tamely to short mid-wicket. It was his third golden duck against Pakistan, an unwanted record that summed up his struggles. Pathum Nissanka offered a glimpse of resistance with a couple of firm strokes, but he too succumbed to Shaheen, edging behind for just eight. At 18 for 2 the innings was already teetering.

Kusal Perera, looking to counter, flicked straight to mid-on, Charith Asalanka miscued a pull, and captain Dasun Shanaka edged his very first ball to the wicketkeeper. By the end of the tenth over, Sri Lanka were staring down the barrel at 70 for 5. Any hopes of recovery were snuffed out when Hasaranga swung wildly at Abrar Ahmed and gifted his wicket.

The only bright spot came from Kamindu Mendis. Calm and determined in the middle of chaos, he showed a willingness to graft, collecting his runs through patient accumulation. He brought up a half-century from 43 balls with three fours and two sixes, but even that defiance ended in disappointment. Afridi, returning for a second spell, produced a perfect yorker that trapped him leg before. With Kamindu’s dismissal, Sri Lanka’s last chance of respectability disappeared.  Chamika Karunaratne who was brought into the game as a bowling allrounder did little to justify his selection both with the bat and ball.

Pakistan’s bowlers rarely needed to exert themselves beyond sticking to their plans. Afridi was superb with the new ball, taking three wickets. Haris Rauf unsettled the batters with his pace and hostility, while Hussain Talat chipped in with two handy scalps in the middle overs. Abrar claimed the wicket of Hasaranga and, in a touch of theatre, mimicked the Sri Lankan all-rounder’s trademark celebration as the batsman trudged off.

By the close of 20 overs Sri Lanka had limped to 133 for 8, well short of the par score of around 160 on this ground. Pakistan had every reason to fancy their chances, although the chase did not pass without drama.

Maheesh Theekshana injected life into the contest with two wickets in the final over of the powerplay. He first removed Sahibzada Farhan for 24 before Fakhar Zaman followed him back to the pavilion on 17. The second dismissal owed much to Hasaranga’s brilliance in the field. Stationed at mid-off, he flung himself full length to his right, plucking the ball just inches from the turf. He wheeled away in celebration, even imitating the gesture that Abrar had famously used against India in the Champions Trophy. Pakistan slipped to 48 for 2 and suddenly Sri Lanka sensed a way back.

Hasaranga then raised the intensity with a superb spell. Introduced immediately after the powerplay, he struck with his fourth ball as Saim Ayub failed to read the wrong’un and saw his stumps knocked over. Moments later, he pinned skipper Salman Agar leg before with a fizzing googly. Agar reviewed in hope, but three reds on ball-tracking confirmed his fate. Pakistan were 71 for 4 at the halfway stage, still needing 63 runs from the final 60 deliveries.

When Dushmantha Chameera removed Mohammad Haris soon after, Pakistan were wobbling at 80 for 5. Sri Lanka’s bowlers tightened their lines, the fielders buzzed around, and for a fleeting passage of play, it seemed as though the contest could turn.

But the target was always too modest to truly test Pakistan’s resolve. Hussain Talat (32 not out) and Mohammad Nawaz (38 not out) steadied the chase through careful accumulation, and once the pressure eased, they closed out the chase with two overs to spare.

For Sri Lanka, the result is a harsh reminder of their ongoing problems. The bowlers and fielders briefly brought fight and theatre, but the damage had already been done by a top order that continues to flounder. In a match that demanded grit, their batting offered only fragility.