- Scorecard is available here
Abu Dhabi, 23 September 2025: Shaheen Shah Afridi’s three-wicket haul, Hussain Talat’s all-round contribution of two wickets and an unbeaten 32, and Mohammad Nawaz’s explosive 38 off 24 balls steered Pakistan to a composed chase of 134, sealing a five-wicket win with 12 balls to spare in the ACC T20 Asia Cup Super-Four clash against Sri Lanka at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi on Tuesday night.
In pursuit of the target, Sahibzada Farhan (24, 15b, 1x4, 2x6s) and Fakhar Zaman (17, 19b, 2x4s) put on 45 for the opening stand in 5.3 overs. Both batters fell to Maheesh Theekshana in the last over of Powerplay, leaving Pakistan 46 for two.
Saim Ayub and captain Salman Ali Agha then fell prey to Wanindu Hasaranga as Pakistan were left reeling at 57-4 in 8.1 overs. Mohammad Haris and Talat then added 23 runs for the fifth wicket before Haris was castled by Dushmantha Chameera for 13, with the score at 80 for five in 11.1 overs..
Talat and Nawaz then steadied Pakistan’s innings stitching an unbeaten 58-run stand off 41 balls to take Pakistan over the line. The duo came together with Pakistan requiring 54 off 53 balls, which later became 47 off 42 balls.
From the 14th over onwards, Nawaz took the charge hitting Hasaranga for consecutive fours before launching Thushara for another boundary on first ball of 15th over. The subsequent over went for just four runs before Talat again hit Hasaranga for two fours ransacking 12 runs off the 17th over.
With 14 needed off 18 balls, Nawaz sealed the game in next six balls striking Chameera for three sixes.
Earlier, Shaheen gave Pakistan a head start dismissing Kusal Mendis for a golden duck in the opening over, t taking his tally of first over-T20I wickets to 21 - just one shy of of Oman’s Bilal Khan (22) who sits at the top of list.
Shaheen struck again to removePathum Nissanka in the third overleaving Sri Lanka reeling at 18 for two in 2.2 overs. Kusal Perera (15, 12b, 1x4, 1x6) and skipper Charith Asalanka (20, 19b, 2x4s, 1x6) briefly steadied the innings with a 25-run stand before Haris Rauf accounted for Perera to reduce Sri Lanka to 53 for three by the end of the powerplay.
Player of the match Talat then struck twice in successive deliveries, removing Asalanka and Dasun Shanaka as Sri Lanka slid to 58 for five in 7.3 overs.
Kamindu Mendis (50, 44b, 3x4s, 2x6s) combined with Wanindu Hasaranga (15, 13b, 2x4s) to add 22 for the sixth wicket, but Abrar Ahmed broke the partnership by bowling Hasaranga out with the first ball of the 13th over. Kamindu then added 43 off 39 with Chamith Karunaratne (17, 21b, 2x4s) as Sri Lanka posted 133-8 in their 20 overs.
For Pakistan, Shaheen picked up 3-28, while Talat impressed with 2 for 18 from three overs. Haris Rauf dismissed two batters.
Scores in brief:
Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by five wickets at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Sri Lanka 133-8, 20 overs (Kamindu Mendis 50, Charith Asalanka 20; Shaheen Shah Afridi 3-28, Hussain Talat 2-18, Haris Rauf 2-37)
Pakistan 138-5, 18 overs (Mohammad Nawaz 38 not out, Hussain Talat 32 not out, Sahibzada Farhan 24; Maheesh Theeksana 2-24, Wanindu Hasaranga 2-27)
Player of the match – Hussain Talat (Pakistan)
Pakistan’s next fixture in Super Four Stage: v Bangladesh on Thursday, 25 September at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium
