Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, Super Fours, 15th Match (A2 v B1) - Live Cricket Score, Commentary

Back-to-back losses and Sri Lanka's fate in this competition hangs by a thread. They need multiple results to go their way. On the other hand, this should be a confidence-boosting win for Pakistan after their loss against India. Although they weren't clinical with the bat, their bowlers were on the money from the word go and the fielding was sharp as well. That's it from this encounter. Tune in tomorrow for India vs Bangladesh. For now, goodbye and good night.

Salman Ali Agha: I always smile. Can't say it is a perfect game. We lost four wickets in 3 overs. Apart from that, it was a perfect game. We need to stop these. Our fielding coach (Shane McDermott) has been working really hard with us. We have named him Rockstar. Our players have been doing extra on the field. Shaheen has been bowling really well. He is an asset for us. He is a match-winner. We play so many all-rounders as the game nowadays demands that. I know Talat for several years. Really happy for him. Nawaz as a batter has so much potential. Hope both can continue. Abrar has been bowling well. Whenever we are in a difficult situation, I go to him. Hope he can continue like this for many more seasons for Pakistan.

Charith Asalanka: If you lose 5 wickets before the 10th over, it will be hard. The surface was good. They bowled and fielded really well in the first 8-9 overs. At 57/4 and later 80/5, Pakistan were in real trouble, and that was a positive for us. Even though we only scored 133 runs, the fight and spirit we showed was something to be proud of. He’s (Hasaranga) always been a superstar in white-ball cricket, someone who has done so much for the country and continues to give his best.

Hussain Talat | Player of the Match: It is difficult as it is hot. The conditions were not easy. I took my time. The conditions don't allow you to go full fledged even if you want to play aggressive cricket. The captain and coach talked to me. The plan was to go and attack. But I backed my gut feeling. I wanted to take some time and then felt the boundaries will come. There was a lot of humidity. My energy was low. At the end, we decided he (Nawaz) will go for the big shots. I have been working on my bowling quite a lot with the bowling coach. I had to back my plan B. If I bowl two good overs, I knew my team will benefit.

Debasish Patra: Talat's world has changed in a span of two days.

Shivang: The captaincy was below par from Asalanka

Manish: Toss is playing a crucial role in this Asia Cup.

Swapnadip: Another India vs Pakistan clash is coming up

Stats by Roshan Gede

- Sri Lanka will be knocked out if India beat Bangladesh tomorrow. That would also confirm India a spot in the final.

- Sri Lanka had won each of their last five T20Is against Pakistan, the Asia Cup 2022 final being the most recent of those. Pakistan had won the previous six head-to-head contests before that sequence.

- The 58*-run stand between Hussain Talat and Mohammad Nawaz is the highest for sixth wicket or lower in a Men’s T20 Asia Cup run-chase, as well as the highest for sixth wicket or lower for Pakistan in the competition’s history.

Hasaranga vs PAK in T20Is
2/20
3/38
3/21
3/21
3/27
2/27
16 wickets at 9.62, SR: 9, ER: 6.41

22:35 Local Time, 18:35 GMT, 00:05 IST: Crucial win for Pakistan! Their bowlers did a superb job to restrict Sri Lanka to 133. Barring Kamindu Mendis' 50, none of the Lankan batters made any notable contribution. While the Lankan bowlers put on a fight, they didn't have enough runs on the board. Despite Fakhar struggling for timing, Pakistan got off to a decent start to stay ahead of the rate. From 45/0, they slipped to 57/4 with Wanindu Hasaranga picking a couple of wickets. The asking rate was mostly in the vicinity of 6 RPO and when Chameera nipped out Mohammad Haris, it seemed like we could see a close encounter. But Nawaz and Hussain Talat extinguished SL's hopes with a fine unbeaten half-century stand. Talat, who picked two key wickets earlier, batted cautiously while Nawaz took the aggressive route and in the process played some wonderful strokes.

Chameera to Nawaz, SIX, Pakistan win by 5 wickets. Full and in the slot, Nawaz clears his front leg and tonks it over long-on. Enough elevation to clear the the jumping fielder in the deep

Chameera to Nawaz, no run, slower ball, Nawaz backs away early, slashes and misses

Chameera to Nawaz, SIX, fifty partnership! Back of a length, Nawaz stands tall to hammer the pull over deep midwicket. Massive

Chameera to Nawaz, no run, 134.3kph, hard length, Nawaz shuffles across a long way to scoop and misses

Chameera to Nawaz, no run, 137.2kph, hits the deck hard and generates extra bounce does Chameera. The batter makes room to cut and gets beaten

Chameera to Nawaz, SIX, 136.7kph, round the wicket, length ball from Chameera, Nawaz makes room and superbly slices it over point. He's struck so well that the ball goes all the way

Dushmantha Chameera [3.0-0-13-1] is back into the attack

Equation: 14 runs | 18 balls. Should be a cakewalk for Pakistan, right? A slight hold-up in play as the physio is out to tend to Hussain Talat, probably cramps.

Hasaranga to Nawaz, 1 run, swept to deep backward square leg. 12 runs off Hasaranga's final over

Hasaranga to Hussain Talat, 1 run, nudged into the midwicket pocket