Asia Cup: Pakistan pile up 252/7

Sports Reporter :
Pakistan piled up a fighting total of 252 for the loss of seven wickets in the allotted 42 overs (eight overs were curtailed due to rain) against Sri Lanka in their do-or-die ‘Super Four’ match of the Asia Cup at Ranasinghe Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, the capital city of Sri Lanka on Thursday.

In reply, Sri Lanka scored 47 for the loss of one wicket in 7.2 overs, till filing this report.

Mohammad Rizwan was his team’s most successful batter.

He remained unbeaten with 86. His 73-ball knock was laced with six fours and two sixes.

Pakistan had a unhappy start as opener Fakhar Zaman (4) was bowled out by Pramod Madushan when Pakistan’s score was nine.

Opener Abdullah Shafique and one-down Babar Azam repaired the damage contributing together 64 runs in the second wicket stand before Babar Azam (29) was stumped out by wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis off Dunith Wellalge when Pakistan’s total was 73 for the loss of two wickets.

Opener Abdullah Shafique was caught at the deep square leg by Pramod Madushan off Matheesha Pathirana when Pakistan’s total was 100 for the loss of three wickets.

Shafique hit a respectable 52.

His 69-ball innings was studded with three fours and two sixes.

Second-down Mohammad Rizwan and fifth-down Iftikhar Ahmed mended their innings scoring together 108 runs for the sixth wicket partnership before Iftikhar was caught at the mid-off by Dasun Shanaka off Pathirana when Pakistan’s total was 238 for the loss of six wickets.

Iftikhar made 47 from 40 balls including four fours and two sixes. Pathirana grabbed three wickets instead of 65 runs, while Madushan bagged two wickets at the cost of 58 runs.