Sri Lanka Stun Pakistan to Reach Final Against India- IPL

Sri Lanka beat Pakistan in a close semi-final to reach the Asia Cup final for the second year in a row. They will face India in the final. Pakistan made 130 for 5 after Fatima Sana scored 47 off 36 balls. Sana then took 4 for 38 with the ball. Sri Lanka still managed to chase the target with eight balls left.

Pakistan Lose Early Wickets

Sri Lanka chose to bowl first in Dubai. The decision worked early as Chamari Athapaththu took two wickets in her first two overs. Athapaththu dismissed Shawaal Zulfiqar and Ayesha Zafar. Left-arm spinner Sugandika Kumari also removed Muneeba Ali in her first over. Chamudi Prabodha added another wicket when she stumped Sadaf Shamas in the 10th over. Pakistan were left at 52 for 4 at the halfway stage.

Fatima Sana played a key role in getting Pakistan to a fighting total. She started with six dot balls but soon found her rhythm. She hit a four against Chamudi before sweeping Kavisha Dilhari for another boundary. Sana then hit a six over square leg. Sana continued to score during the final overs. Gull Feroza made 21 off 32 balls, while Tuba Hasan added 12 off 10. Pakistan scored 78 runs in the final 10 overs to finish on 130 for 5.

Sri Lanka Lose Four Wickets

Sri Lanka’s chase started badly. They were reduced to 5 for 2 and then 33 for 4 inside the first 10 overs. Fatima Sana played a big part in the early damage. She dismissed two of Sri Lanka’s top three batters, including captain Chamari Athapaththu.

Sri Lanka needed a strong partnership to get back into the game. Harshitha Samarawickrama and Kavisha Dilhari provided exactly that. Samarawickrama scored 36 off 31 balls, while Dilhari made 33 off 33. The pair added 67 runs from 59 balls.

They kept the scoreboard moving with singles and twos. They also found boundaries when Pakistan’s bowlers gave them chances. The partnership put Sri Lanka back in control. Pakistan needed wickets to stop the chase, and Sana returned to the attack at the right time.

Sana Strikes Again

Sana dismissed both Samarawickrama and Dilhari in her second spell. She finished with 4 for 38 and gave Pakistan a chance right until the end. Sri Lanka’s lower order held their nerve. Nilakshika Silva and Kaushini Nuthyangana took the team close to the target.

An above-waist no-ball from Sana then gave Sri Lanka another chance. Nuthyangana hit the next ball for the first six of her career. With just five runs required from 11 balls after the no-ball and six run-scoring shot, Sri Lanka successfully managed to win with eight balls remaining.

Nilakshika scored the winning boundary against Sana, thus winning the game for Sri Lanka. Captain Fatima Sana of Pakistan was seen crying after giving her all with both bat and ball. The Asia Cup Final between Sri Lanka and India is set for Sunday. Their recovery after losing four wickets early in the match will boost their confidence for the final encounter.

BEST BOWLER

Fatima Sana

PAK-W

4 wickets 3.4 overs · 38 runs

3.4 overs • 0 maidens • 38 runs conceded

BOWLING MAP · LINE, LENGTH & WICKET ZONE

Key Insight: Fatima Sana produced a four-wicket performance, taking 4 wickets for 38 runs in 3.4 overs. She claimed 1 wicket against a right-handed batter and 3 wickets against left-handed batters.

MATCH IMPACT 4 W · 3.4 OV · 38 R · ECO 10.36

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