Asia Cup 2025: Green shirts survive early collapse as Talat, Nawaz steer team home

ABU DHABI: The high-stakes Pak vs SL encounter in the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025 Super Fours saw Hussain Talat shine with both bat and ball as Pakistan sealed a hard-fought five-wicket victory over Sri Lanka at the Zayed Cricket Stadium on Tuesday. The thrilling Pak vs SL clash kept fans on edge, with the Green Shirts chasing down a tricky target in 18 overs.

The Pak vs SL battle started brightly for Pakistan, with openers Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman laying a solid foundation, adding 45 runs inside the first 5.3 overs. But Sri Lanka bounced back strongly as Maheesh Theekshana dismissed both openers in quick succession. Farhan smashed 24 off 15 balls with two sixes and a four, while Fakhar managed 17 off 19 deliveries.

The momentum in the Pak vs SL contest soon tilted further towards Sri Lanka as Pakistan lost Saim Ayub for two and skipper Salman Ali Agha for just five, slumping to 57-4. When Mohammad Haris fell for 13 after a brief stand with Talat, the scoreboard read 80-5 in 11.1 overs, leaving the Green Shirts in real trouble.

However, Hussain Talat and Mohammad Nawaz turned the Pak vs SL match on its head with a calm, unbeaten 58-run partnership under pressure. Talat anchored the innings with 32 not out off 30 balls, hitting four boundaries, while Nawaz took the attack to Sri Lanka, blasting an unbeaten 38 off 24 balls with three fours and three sixes, including back-to-back maximums that sealed the deal.

Sri Lanka, who had earlier fought back valiantly, could not capitalise on their chances in the Pak vs SL encounter despite Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga bagging two wickets apiece.

The result leaves Pakistan in a strong position in the Asia Cup Super Fours, with the Pak vs SL clash proving to be a turning point in their campaign.

Earlier, Shaheen Afridi’s fiery opening spell paved the way for Pakistan to restrict Sri Lanka to a modest 133-8 in their ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025 Super Four clash at the Zayed Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.

Opting to bat first after losing the toss, Sri Lanka were rocked early in the Pak vs SL showdown as Afridi dismissed both openers in quick succession. Kusal Mendis departed without scoring on the second ball of the innings, while the in-form Pathum Nissanka was caught behind in the third over, leaving Sri Lanka reeling at 18-2.

The momentum of the Pak vs SL contest shifted further when Haris Rauf dismissed Kusal Perera for 15, ending a brief 25-run stand with skipper Charith Asalanka. Matters worsened in the eighth over when Hussain Talat, bowling his first over of the tournament, struck twice in successive deliveries to remove Asalanka and Dasun Shanaka, plunging Sri Lanka to 58-5.

Despite the collapse, Kamindu Mendis showed resilience in this crucial Pak vs SL fixture, scoring a fighting 50 from 44 balls with three boundaries and two sixes. His effort ensured Sri Lanka reached a somewhat competitive total.

For Pakistan, Afridi was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3-24, while Talat and Rauf chipped in with two wickets apiece, making the Pak vs SL clash a one-sided affair with the ball.

As the second innings begins, Pakistan will fancy their chances of chasing down 134 and taking a crucial step towards the Asia Cup final in this all-important Pak vs SL battle.

Pak vs SL Playing XIs

Pakistan: Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Salman Agha (c), Hussain Talat, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf and Abrar Ahmed.

Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Kusal Perera, Charith Asalanka (c), Dasun Shanaka, Kamindu Mendis, Chamika Karunaratne, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera and Nuwan Thushara.

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