PAK VS SL - Super Fours, 5th Match, Asia Cup, 2023

Anyone who thinks the health of ODI cricket is at peril has clearly never been to Sri Lanka. Well beyond midnight and thousands continue to celebrate in the stadium, and millions all around the world. Celebrating not only a superb Sri Lankan win, but also celebrating the unadulterated emotions that only live sport can bring to life!! Time to catch a break, it won’t be an India-Pakistan final, but Sri Lanka have earned their way here and the defending champs seem in no mood to relinquish their crown. We’ll be back tomorrow and Sunday, but for now this is Saurabh Shankar signing off on behalf of Abhinand Raghavendran and AV Venkatesh.

Kusal Mendis | Player of the Match: Happy with my performance, happy to get to the final. Those two wickets fell down and we were nervous, but with Charith in the middle we had hope. He's done this in one game against Afghanistan. I think we also bowled really well, so happy to be in the final. Wanindu, Lahiru Kumara and Dushmantha are main bowlers, but we have these bowlers who are bowling well. This is a young unit. Thanks a lot to the fans for supporting us, please do so in the final as well.

Dasun Shanaka: We had the game under control, but the loss of wickets took it till the last over. We gave them a chance to come back in the game, but we knew Charith could get us home. We had a discussion before batting and we discussed the mistakes we made in the India game. We gave away wickets in the first 10 overs, and Kusal and Sadeera played brilliant knocks. I think they are the best players of spin in the Sri Lanka squad. And Charith, he showed great character. Special feeling, back to back finals. I must thank the crowds who kept supporting us, and looking forward to the finals.

Stat summary courtesy Shashikant Singh and Roshan Gede

This is only the second time a run-chase has been completed on the last ball in the ODI Asia Cup. (Other instance: India's 3-wicket win against Bangladesh at Dubai in the 2018 Asia Cup Final)

Pakistan pacers in Asia Cup 2023
First three matches: 68.3 overs, 24 wickets at 12.95, SR: 17.1, ER: 4.54
Last two matches: 52.2 overs, 3 wickets at 116.33, SR: 104.6, ER: 6.66 (all three wickets to Shaheen Afridi)

Closest margin of victory in ODI Asia Cup (by wickets): 
1 wicket - PAK vs IND, Mirpur 2014
2 wickets - SL vs IND, Fatullah 2014
2 wickets - SL vs PAK, Colombo 2023*

Highest successful chases by Sri Lanka in Asia Cup (ODIs)
265 v India, Fatullah 2014 
261 vs Pakistan, Mirpur 2014
252 vs Pakistan, Colombo (RPS) 2023* 
240 vs India, Colombo (RPS) 1997

Most appearances in Asia Cup Finals (ODI+T20I)
12 - Sri Lanka  
10 - India  
5 - Pakistan 
3 - Bangladesh

Babar Azam: In the end, we decided to bowl our best bowlers. That's why I decided to bowl Shaheen the second last over and then we believed in Zaman Khan for the final over. SL played really well, they played better cricket than us, that's why they won. We weren't up to the mark with our bowling and fielding, that's why we lost. (One major factor that could have been different) In the middle overs, we are not bowling well. That partnership (between Mendis and Samarawickrama) cost us. We are starting well, we are finishing well, but we are not taking wickets in the middle overs.

Charith Asalanka: I just thought how can I get two to hit in the gap and run hard because it's a big field. I told Matheesha to run very hard and we'll try to get two runs. Two things was in my mind. I thought he's going to bowl a bouncer, otherwise a yorker. He tried a slower ball and it worked for my side. I am very excited, still excited about that. Kusal and Sadeera played really well, they laid the platform. I planned to finish the game, that's the role in my side. Definitely yes (best ODI knock), I think I can rank this innings second place in my book,

01:07 Local Time, 19:37 GMT, 01:07 IST: It's 7 minutes past one in Sri Lanka but the party is going to drag on late into the morning. A last ball thriller in this virtual semi-final and Sri Lanka are through to another Asia Cup final. Charith Asalanka is the hero in the end, as he sent a whole stadium into delirium with the most nonchalant of flicks behind square. Pakistan were a bit shaky to begin the innings, but a Shadab Khan run out sprang them into action. Both openers were gone pretty early, but Lanka bossed the middle phase with Sadeera Samarawickrama and Kusal Mendis. The duo added 100 runs for the third wicket, as Pakistan seemed devoid of ideas. Iftikhar Ahmed chanced his arm and ended up breaking the partnership, and then dismissing Kusal Mendis as well as Shanaka. Pakistan were done and buried, but they sprang back to line at the death as Shaheen Afridi bowled a superb penultimate over, claiming two wickets and conceding just four. The final over responsibilities were placed upon debutant Zaman Khan, but today was Asalanka's day to be a hero. Looking back, Pakistan would probably rue missing some half chances, and some tepid captaincy and bowling in the middle phase. Over to the presentations...

Zaman Khan to Asalanka, 2 runs, Sri Lanka through to the final!! It was the last ball of a virtual semi-final, the whole nation had eyes on him and Charith Asalanka shimmies in and clips this full delivery behind square like he was playing a net session in his backyard!! How cool was the southpaw in this crunch situation... What a thriller at RPS!!

Big meeting before this final ball. All on Zaman Khan!! Long-on is back, point is back. SL need 2 runs, 1 for a tie ... and ... Super Over

Dhrumil Shah: "It's not over till it's over."

Zaman Khan to Asalanka, FOUR, full outside off, Asalanka looks to swing across the line and outside-edges it between the keeper and short third. Runs away for four... Streaky but nobody at RPS cares about how they get those runs!!

Matheesha Pathirana, right handed bat, comes to the crease

Zaman Khan to Pramod, out Pramod Run Out!! How the turntables!! A full, slow delivery outside off, another swing and a miss. Madushan waits in his crease and only runs after Asalanka has fully crossed over. Rizwan misses in his throw, but Zaman Khan gathers, takes all the time in the world and then takes out the non-striker's stumps... Pramod run out (Rizwan/Zaman Khan) 1(3)

Zaman Khan to Pramod, THATS OUT!! Run Out!!

Zaman Khan to Asalanka, 1 run, slower full delivery, Asalanka inside edges it back onto his boots towards covers. Takes the single and suddenly Pakistan are in the driver's seat!!

Zaman Khan to Asalanka, no run, 135 clicks, full and angling away outside off, a swing and a miss for Asalanka. A dot ball is gold dust at this stage!!