In the first semi-final of the ACC Men’s Emerging Asia Cup, Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka by 60 runs to reach the final.
In the match played at the Colombo Cricket Stadium, the captain Mohammad Haris won the toss and decided to bat first. The national team scored 322 runs in the allotted 50 overs.
On behalf of Pakistan, Umar bin Yusuf played a brilliant innings of 88 runs, while captain Muhammad Haris scored 52 runs and Mubaser Khan scored 42 runs. Among other players, Saeem Ayub scored 22 runs, Sahibzada Farhan scored 12 runs, Tayyab Tahir scored 26 runs, Qasim Akram scored 8 runs, Imad Butt scored 7 runs, while Muhammad Wasim Jr. scored 24 runs.
For Sri Lanka, Lahiru Samarakun, Pramod Madhushan and Chamika Karunaratne took 2 and 2 respectively while Dinoth Velange took one wicket.
In the second innings, Sri Lanka lost three wickets for 33 runs. At this stage, openers Oshka Fernando and Sahan Arachige added 124 runs in the fourth wicket partnership.
Oshka Fernando scored 97 runs with the help of 12 fours and 2 sixes and was stumped by Haris off the ball of Sufyan Moqim.
Sahan Arachige also failed to score a century just three runs short and scored 97 runs with the help of twelve fours and one six and was bowled by Mubaser Khan.
Pakistan’s Arshad Iqbal took 5 wickets for 37 runs in 7.4 overs. Mubaser Khan and Safian Muqim took 2, 2 while Imad Butt dismissed a batter.
It should be noted that Pakistan faced a humiliating defeat by India in their last group match