Hussain Talat held his nerve to secure a win for Pakistan in the Super Four match against Sri Lanka on Tuesday.
| Photo Credit: AP
On an error-strewn day for specialist batters, the level-headedness of all-rounders Hussain Talat and Mohammad Nawaz saved the day as Pakistan clinched a nervy five-wicket win against Sri Lanka in an Asia Cup Super Four match at the Zayed Cricket Stadium on Tuesday (September 23, 2025).
Talat and Nawaz joined forces with Pakistan struggling at 80 for five and blunted the Lankans by attacking their strike weapon, Wanindu Hasaranga. The leg-spinner had his tail up after bamboozling Saim Ayub and skipper Salman Agha with his googlies.
Also Read | Asia Cup 2025: Please don’t call India-Pakistan matches a rivalry: Suryakumar
With Pakistan needing 47 from 42 balls with five wickets in hand, Nawaz collected consecutive fours in Hasaranga’s third over. Talat added two more boundaries off Hasaranga’s final over to deflate the Islanders.
Pakistan sealed the win with Nawaz smashing three sixes off Dushmantha Chameera in the 18th over and kept its campaign alive, leaving Sri Lanka at the mercy of other teams.
Earlier, after electing to bowl, Pakistan’s pace trio of Shaheen Afridi, Faheem Ashraf and Haris Rauf utilised the bowling-friendly conditions to rock Sri Lanka early. With the ball holding in the surface, Talat’s gentle medium pace also came in handy after the field spread, reducing Sri Lanka to 58 for five inside eight overs.
Afridi accounted for openers Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka, while Rauf sent Kusal Perera back in the final over of the fielding restrictions. Talat’s lack of pace was a blessing in disguise for Pakistan as it resulted in Charith Asalanka and Dasun Shanaka perishing off consecutive deliveries.
Kamindu Mendis and Hasaranga went into damage control mode, adding 22 runs off 28 balls, before the latter was bowled by Abrar Ahmed’s googly.
Kamindu scratched around before reaching his half-century off 43 balls with a miscued pull, and that encapsulated Sri Lanka’s innings, which never hit a higher gear.
The scores
Sri Lanka 133/8 in 20 overs (Kamindu Mendis 50, Shaheen Afridi 3/28) lost to Pakistan 138/5 in 18 overs (Hussain Talat 32 n.o., Mohammad Nawaz 38 n.o.); Toss: Pakistan. PoM: Talat.
Published – September 24, 2025 12:51 am IST