SL VS PAK - 12th Match, Group B, ICC Champions Trophy, 2017

A plot of Mickey Arthur's expressions today versus time would sum up Pakistan, and this chase, for you. They were reluctant, even nervous, until Sri Lanka's (mis)fielding charitably shoved them over the line. So they now take on England at Cardiff in the first semifinal. And India then take on "arch-rivals" Bangladesh in the other. Champions Trophy is alive, again, and Sarfraz's zero Kelvin nerves have forced it. Do join us for the matches. Today was fun. This is Pratyush Sinha exiting the comm. box with Pradeep, Akshay Maanay, Venkatesh, Sriram and Kumar Abhisekh Das. Go, catch a breath, charge your phones, ta-ta!

Mathews - captain, SL: "Bit of a see-saw game. Credit to Pakistan. They held their nerves towards the end. It was bit of a funny wicket. Was stopping a bit. We hadn't got the runs on the board but we knew we could bowl well and restrict them. The bowlers were brilliant. Pakistan batted brilliantly, but unfortunately we dropped a few catches. Proud of the boys. Even though we had 236 to defend, we gave it our all. Proud of the bowlers. The tournament was quite good. Even in the first game, we had our chances but we collapsed in the middle. Even today, we got our way to a good position at 160 for 3, but lost our way. In a big tournament like this, the boys held it well."

Sarfraz Ahmed - MoM | captain, Pakistan: "I can't believe it. Unbelievable feeling. Thanks to Amir, he played really well. I told him to play his game and not to worry about the scoreboard. Even if we go 3-4 runs per over, if we go close to 30 runs, we will win. I think it was a tough chase. Amir was playing confidently, but I was feeling the pressure. It (dropped catches) is part of the game. All credit goes to the bowlers. First three overs, there was some movement but after the sun came out, wicket played better. Zaman played a great innings for us and he's a great prospect for Pakistan. I think England is a tough team. We have to play positive cricket against England (talking about the semifinal match-up)"

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Sarfraz Ahmed is the first Pakistan captain to win Man of the Match award in Champions Trophy.

Three Asian sides in the semifinals of an ICC event:
WC 2011: Ind, SL & Pak
CT 2017: Ind, Ban & Pak

Fourth time PAK has progressed to semifinals of ICC CT - they lost on all the three previous instances.
--by 4 wickets v NZ, Nairobi, 2000
--by 7 wickets v WI, Rose Bowl, 2004
--by 5 wickets v NZ, Joburg, 2009

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Babar Azam and Hafeez departed almost together. If Azhar Ali's wicket looked a serious blow, Malik's wicket had Pakistan on the mat. Sarfraz was there, watching it all from the non-striker's end. Took over to reign in a partnership with Amir, who was superb today, and took Pakistan home. Sri Lanka, it has to be said, plotted their own ouster. Sarfraz, at the most crucial of times, was dropped twice. Both off Malinga and then there were gazillion overthrows, and missed run-out chances.

Murthy: The Cricbuzz ad that says "Catches win matches" should be played on the giant screen for Sri lanka. - To add further salt on their wounds?

Harsha Bhogle: Absolutely spot on is Michael Atherton. Thrilling game but not the best cricket on view.

Harsha Bhogle: Who would have thought they had a chance after the India game! But there's never a "The End" to Pakistan. Can win anything, can lose anything!

06:30pm local: Now Pakistan produce such games. They are known for run-chases meant to test your cardiac strength. This was another. They looked favourites after their pace triumvirate had Sri Lanka's semifinal hopes in a pickle. 167/7 to 236 all-out wasn't quite a recovery but Pakistan were favourites. And they were more so when Fakhar Zaman spanked a 36-ball 50 at the top, officially capping his team's miseries at the top. Then was the time for Pakistan to play Pakistan again.

Harsha Bhogle: Was always Pakistan's game. But will need to play very differently against England.

Malinga to Sarfraz, FOUR, take a bow, Sarfraz. He's running around, pumping fist, breathing fire. He has ushered Pakistan into the most unlikeliest of semifinals ever. Gets a short ball that's been dropped slow outside off. Waits. Waits some more. Licks his lips. Sees a win in sight. And taps it uppishly through third man. It runs away. The ball runs away and takes Sri Lanka with it

Harsha Bhogle: Malinga's great strength was bowled and lbw. With reduced pace, has to rely on fielders and has been let down very badly

Malinga to Sarfraz, 2 runs, now a highish full toss. He's trying to bowl slow but it's not coming out right. Tucked round the corner. Pakistan a boundary away! This is now the highest 8th wicket p'ship in CT

Malinga to Sarfraz, 2 runs, a slow yorker dipping in front of leg-stump - with off and middle visible - and Sarfraz has just got it out. Waits for the dip and times it round the corner. And then runs two. They run two, again!

Malinga to Amir, 1 run, gets tall and opens the bat to backward point. Tap-and-run

Malinga to Amir, wide, wide for height. Square leg umpire signalled it to Oxenford. Short, loopy but too high. Dropped too short in anticipation. In trying to make things happen. Just 9 needed

Malinga to Sarfraz, 1 run, yorker length but drifing down at 129ks. Sarfraz is falling over but makes time to squeeze this out round the corner. Add some pace to that ball and Sarfraz would be pulling his socks out in the dressing room by now

Lasith Malinga [9.0-2-41-1] is back into the attack

There's a silly mid-on here for the slower delivery that Sarfraz survived

Pakistan don't have to look too far away to botch this. Bangladesh. Chinnaswamy.

Gunaratne to Amir, FOUR, promote Amir up the order. He's nailed a drive here. Dropped outside off and he's reached out on front foot and opened the shot through cover-point, brilliantly finding the placement. 11 off 36 needed