Madushanka's five-wicket haul takes Sri Lanka into the final
Sri Lanka CricketNews article
Restricting Pakistan to 110 in the face of a superb bowling spell from Dilshan Madushanka, Sri Lanka romped to an eight-wicket win in the one-day international played in Lahore today (27) and booked their place in the grand final of the tri-nation cricket series.
The victory erased the bitter memory of five successive defeats Sri Lanka had suffered against Pakistan, and it also set up another meeting with Pakistan in the grand final. Meanwhile, the result ended England's hopes of reaching the final.
Batting first, Pakistan were bowled out for just 110 in 26.3 overs. Left-arm quick Dilshan Madushanka, who crippled the Pakistan batting line-up, claimed 5 wickets for 34 runs to record the best bowling figures of his one-day international career.
This was the second lowest total Pakistan have been restricted to in a one-day international at home, and also the third lowest they have recorded against Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka are also the team responsible for Pakistan's lowest total at home.
Babar Azam was Pakistan's top scorer with 29 off 33 balls, and apart from him only three other batters managed to get past 10. The 27-run stand between Arafat Minhas and Hasan Nawaz for Pakistan's seventh wicket was the innings' highest partnership.
Madushanka broke that stand, sending down a sharp short ball that climbed on Minhas and took the shoulder of the bat, with Kusal Mendis holding the catch to give Sri Lanka another successful step forward. Hasan Nawaz was dismissed soon after as the Sri Lankan bowlers tore through the rest of the Pakistan innings.
Sahan Arachchige, who gave Madushanka fine support, took two wickets, while Asitha Fernando, Eshan Malinga and Dunith Wellalage claimed one each. Maaz Sadaqat fell to a sharp inswinger from Asitha, while Babar Azam too had to end his innings to a Malinga delivery.
Pakistan's poor shot selection and the excellent work of the Sri Lankan fielders also stood out in the match. Helpless against Madushanka's bowling, the Pakistan batters lost their last wickets in a heap and were held to a low total. Last man Shaheen Shah Afridi gave the crowd some cheer with a few blows, but fell as Madushanka's fifth wicket.
Sri Lanka needed little effort in the chase. They reached 111 for the loss of just 2 wickets in 18.1 overs and passed the target comfortably. The entire match lasted only 43.4 overs and finished even before the floodlights had been on for long.
Kamindu Mendis, the chief architect of Sri Lanka's win, remained unbeaten on 62 off 60 balls, decorating his innings with fours and sixes. Pavan Rathnayake, who gave him good support, finished the job with an unbeaten 23 off 26 balls.
The two wickets Sri Lanka lost were those of Avishka Fernando and Kusal Mendis. Avishka gave a catch to the fielder at midwicket off a short ball from Shaheen Shah Afridi, while Kusal was unlucky to lose his wicket to a delivery from Arafat Minhas.
Kamindu Mendis had some luck too when the wicketkeeper dropped a catch off him early in his innings. Later, as he approached his half-century, the fielder did take the catch he offered, but it did not stand because the fielder's foot touched the cushion at the boundary rope.
This was the second time Madushanka has taken five wickets in a one-day international. He had previously achieved the feat against India at the 2023 World Cup. Madushanka, who was among the leading wicket-takers in that tournament, was unable to sustain his form because of subsequent injuries, but his return to his best in a World Cup year is a positive sign for Sri Lanka.
In control from the start of the match to the finish, Sri Lanka also built the confidence they need heading into the grand final. Ahead of the final showdown against Pakistan, the form of the Sri Lankan bowlers and Kamindu Mendis's batting will be a huge source of strength for the team.
Pakistan 110 all out in 26.3 overs – Babar Azam 29, Shaheen Afridi 15, Arafat Minhas 10, Hasan Nawaz 17, Dilshan Madushanka 34/5, Sahan Arachchige 24/2, Asitha Fernando 34/1, Eshan Malinga 08/1, Dunith Wellalage 04/1)
Sri Lanka 114 for 2 in 18.1 overs – (Kamindu Mendis 62*, Avishka Fernando 16, Kusal Mendis 08, Pavan Rathnayake 23*, Arafat Minhas 23/1, Shaheen Afridi 29/1)
Based on Sri Lanka Cricket reporting