SL vs PAK (15th Match) – Highlights
Pakistan continued their fine run in the T20 Asia Cup 2025, sealing a comfortable five-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the 15th Super Fours clash at Abu Dhabi. With this win, Pakistan further solidified their chances of reaching the final, thanks to a composed all-round effort led by Hussain Talat, who walked away with the Player of the Match award.
SL, batting first, struggled to gain momentum after losing early wickets. The dangerous Shaheen Shah Afridi struck in the very first over, removing Kusal Mendis for a duck. Pathum Nissanka followed soon after, and the Lankans were reeling at 18 for 2. Kamindu Mendis tried to bring stability with a fighting knock of 50 off 44 deliveries, but he lacked strong partnerships around him. Charith Asalanka made 20 while Wanindu Hasaranga chipped in with a brisk 15, but Pakistan’s bowlers kept striking at regular intervals.
Afridi was the standout performer with figures of 3 for 28, while Hussain Talat and Haris Rauf picked up two wickets each. Mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed was economical, conceding just 8 runs in his four overs and picking up the prized wicket of Hasaranga. Eventually, Sri Lanka managed only 133 for 8 in their allotted 20 overs, a total that always seemed below par on a good batting surface.
PAK chase got off to a brisk start courtesy of Sahibzada Farhan, who smashed 24 off 15 balls with two sixes. However, Sri Lanka clawed back with Maheesh Theekshana removing both Farhan and Fakhar Zaman in quick succession. Saim Ayub and captain Salman Agha fell cheaply as well, and at 57 for 4, Pakistan looked slightly under pressure. But the middle order steadied the ship with Hussain Talat playing a responsible hand. He anchored the innings with an unbeaten 32 off 30 balls, rotating strike and ensuring there were no further hiccups.
The real fireworks came from Mohammad Nawaz, who displayed his aggressive intent with a match-winning knock of 38 not out from just 24 deliveries. His calculated hitting, including three boundaries and three sixes, took the game away from Sri Lanka. Together, Talat and Nawaz added 58 runs for the sixth wicket, guiding Pakistan to victory with 12 balls to spare.
For SL, Hasaranga was once again their most effective bowler, finishing with 2 for 27. Theekshana supported him well with two early breakthroughs, but their efforts were not enough to defend a modest target. Chameera chipped in with a solitary wicket, but overall, Sri Lanka’s bowlers lacked the penetration to keep Pakistan at bay.
This match highlighted Pakistan’s growing depth in both departments. Afridi’s early strikes and Abrar’s miserly spell showcased their bowling arsenal, while Talat’s all-round display underlined the team’s balance. For Sri Lanka, Kamindu’s half-century was the lone bright spot in an otherwise disappointing batting display. They will need to regroup quickly if they are to stay alive in the tournament.
Sri Lanka vs Pakistan Scoreboard
Sri Lanka – 133/8 (20)
Pakistan – 138/5 (18)
Result – Pakistan won by 5 wickets (with 12 balls remaining)
Player of the Match – Hussain Talat
Hussain Talat
SL vs PAK Playing XIs
Sri Lanka | Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Kusal Perera, Charith Asalanka (c), Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Nuwan Thushara. |
Pakistan | Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Salman Agha (c), Hussain Talat, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed. |
