[1/5] Cricket - Asia Cup - Final - Pakistan v Sri Lanka - Dubai International Stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates - September 11, 2022 Sri Lanka players celebrate with the trophy after winning the Aisia Cup REUTERS/Christopher Pike Acquire Licensing RightsCOLOMBO, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka kept their Asia Cup title defence alive as they beat Pakistan by two wickets in an edge-of-the-seat thriller on Thursday to book their place in Sunday's final against India.
Electing to bat in the rain-marred contest, Pakistan posted 252-7 in 42 overs following half-centuries by Mohammad Rizwan and Abdullah Shafique.
Kusal Mendis kept Sri Lanka's chase on track but it was Charith Asalanka's unbeaten 49 which helped them clinch the last ball thriller.
Electing to bat, Pakistan lost Fakhar Zaman early while skipper Babar Azam (29) fell just when he was looking set.
Shadab Khan caught Pathum Nissanka off his own bowling and then ran out Kusal Perera to peg back Sri Lanka but the collapse Pakistan wanted did not materialise.
Persons:
Christopher Pike, Mohammad Rizwan, Abdullah Shafique, Kusal Mendis, Sri Lanka's, Charith, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Samarawickrama, Shaheen Afridi, Iftikhar, Dasun Shanaka, Afridi, Zaman Khan, Asalanka, Amlan Chakraborty, Pritha Sarkar
Organizations:
Asia, United Arab Emirates, Sri, Aisia, REUTERS, Rights, India, Thomson
Locations:
Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Dubai, United Arab, India, New Delhi