Sri Lanka ‘A’ steam-roll Pakistan Shaheens and enter final

ACC Men’s T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup

Saturday, 26 October 2024 02:24 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Dushan Hemantha with figures of 4/21 picked up his second Player of the Match award

Dushan Hemantha is congratulated by team mates after capturing Pakistani wicket

Ahan Wickramasinghe celebrates his half-century

Ahan Wickramasinghe and Sahan Arachchige rejoice Sri Lanka A’s victory

A magnificent spell of leg-spin bowling by the tournament’s leading wicket-taker Dushan Hemantha coupled with brilliant batting by Lahiru Udara and Ahan Wickramasinghe saw Sri Lanka ‘A’ beat Pakistan Shaheens by seven wickets in emphatic fashion in the first semi-final and enter the final of the ACC Men’s T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup in Oman yesterday.

Hemantha coming to bowl in the middle overs as he has done right throughout the tournament ran through the Pakistan middle order as they slumped from 42-1 in the first five overs to collapse to 135-9 losing their last seven wickets for 44. Hemantha proved unplayable on a surface which gave some assistance to the spinners as he picked up four wickets for 21 to walk away with his second successive Player of the Match award. He has so far captured 14 wickets and is easily the leading wicket-taker.

Pakistan winning the toss and batting first raced away to 42-1 with Omair Yousuf calling the shots and contributing 33 of them before losing their way when two wickets fell in the final over of the power play to be 45-3. Pakistan never recovered from that loss of wickets and despite Omair contributing an aggressive 68 off 46 balls (5 fours, 4 sixes) there was no support from the other end.

Giving good support to Hemantha were seamers Nipun Ransika and Eshan Malinga who shared four wickets. Sri Lanka ‘A’ were off the blocks in a resounding manner posting 67-1 in the first power play with Lahiru Udara leading the way with a forceful 39 off 15 balls. He lost his opening partner Yashodha Lanka in bizarre fashion when he was given out for obstructing the field. Yashodha was running back for the third run when he was in line with the throw that came from the outfield preventing the ball from hitting the wicket.

Ahan Wickramasinghe joined Udara in a partnership of 64 off 37 balls that knocked the wind of the Pakistan sails. Udara departed for a stroke-filled 43 off 20 balls (2 fours, 4 sixes) but Wickramasinghe carried the fight to the Pakistan bowlers hitting 4 fours and a six reaching his half-century off 46 balls when victory was achieved with 21 balls to spare.

Sri Lanka ‘A’ will meet the winners of the second semi-final between India ‘A’ and Afghanistan ‘A’ in the final on Sunday.

Scores: Pakistan Shaheens 135-9 (20) (Omair Yousuf 68, Nipun Ransika 2/21, Eshan Malinga 2/28, Dushan Hemantha 4/21)

Sri Lanka ‘A’ 137-3 (16.3) (Lahiru Udara 43, Ahan Wickramasinghe 52*)