Online Reporter
ZIMBABWE were yesterday dumped out of the ongoing T20 Tri-series as Sri Lanka sealed a six-run victory over hosts Pakistan at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium to confirm their place in tomorrow’s final.
Pakistan had already sealed their place after winning their opening three matches against Zimbabwe twice and Sri Lanka.
This left Zimbabwe with an outside chance of making it to the final going into yesterday’s match between the two Asian nations. Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka traded wins during the group stages, with the Chevrons taking the first match by 67 runs, to boost their net-run-rate before the Asians bounced back with a nine-wicket victory of their own on Tuesday.
This left both nations on two points, with the Asians carrying a game in hand.
However, luck seemed to abandon the Chevrons as Sri Lanka managed to survive an unbeaten half-century from Pakistan skipper Salman Agha to eke out a narrow six-run victory.
Sri Lanka’s Dushmantha Chameera held his nerve in a clutch final over to ensure Sri Lanka did not throw away a win they had spent the rest of the evening working hard to earn.
He conceded three runs in the final over, building on a magnificent opening spell to deny Pakistan victory by six runs as Pakistan fell short of a 184-run chase.
The stakes were higher for Sri Lanka than they were for Pakistan, with a victory required for a place in the final, or it would be Zimbabwe playing that game tomorrow.
And Sri Lanka played with a hunger they have rediscovered since they finally won a game on Pakistan soil against Zimbabwe.
Kusal Mendis and Kamil Mishara’s 36-ball 66-run stand got them off to a flyer, with the latter ending up with 76 runs off 48 balls.
Cameos lower down the order got them to 184 runs for five, with Janith Liyanage’s unbeaten run-a-ball 24 a highlight. The hosts found wickets hard to come by with Abra Ahmed the pick of the Pakistan bowlers with figures of two for 28, while Salman Mirza and Saim Ayb claimed a scalp each.
With 185 the target, Pakistan found the going tough in the beginning as they were reduced to 99 runs for five during the opening 12 overs.
A sixth-wicket stand between Agha and Mohammad Nawaz saw the two put up 70 runs off 36 balls and bring the hosts back into the game.
That momentum was only quelled by Esham Malinga claiming the wicket of Nawaz, who was caught by Wanindu Hasaranga at long-on.
Nawaz finished the day on 27 runs off 16 balls while Agha was left stranded with an unbeaten 63 runs off 44 balls.
Chameera was then on hand to safely take his side home and earn himself the Player-of-the-Match for his figures of four wickets for 20 runs.
Malinga also chipped in with two wickets for 54 runs while Hasaranga claimed a scalp of his own as Pakistan finished on 178 runs for seven.
The hosts finished on six points while Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe had four and two points respectively. — Cricinfo/Zimpapers Sports Hub.
