Sri Lanka secured a thrilling victory over Pakistan by a margin of just two wickets in an electrifying final-ball showdown, securing their spot in the Asia Cup final.
The match encountered delays due to rain, ultimately leading to a reduction in the number of overs to 45 per side. At the end of the 27th over, Pakistan stood at 128-4 when rain halted proceedings. Shortly thereafter, Mohammad Nawaz was dismissed on the fourth ball of the 28th over, leaving Pakistan at 130-5 before the rain break.
In an effort to make up for lost time, the game was further shortened to 42 overs per side. Pakistan mounted an impressive comeback, amassing 102 runs in their final ten overs, largely propelled by Mohammad Rizwan’s unbeaten 86. They concluded their innings at 252-7.
However, a twist in the tale occurred as the DLS (Duckworth-Lewis-Stern) method came into play. Sri Lanka’s target was reduced by just one run due to the mid-innings break, which was triggered by Pakistan losing their fifth wicket just before the rain delay. If Nawaz had managed to remain unbeaten before the rain interruption, the target would likely not have been adjusted, or it might have probably even been increased potentially altering the outcome.
Adding to the drama, Indian commentator Harsha Bhogle highlighted a crucial missed opportunity by Pakistan. On the last ball of the game, they failed to execute a run-out chance. By the time Pakistan pacer Zaman Khan released the ball, non-striker Pathirana had already departed from his crease.
Shouldn’t Zaman Khan have been alert to the possibility of a run-out ar the bowler’s end? Pathirana was outside the crease.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) September 14, 2023
