Pakistan Shaheens defeated Sri Lanka A by five runs in the second semi-final at the West End Park International Cricket Stadium in Doha on Friday to book a place in the 2025 Rising Stars Asia Cup final.
The green jerseys restricted Sri Lanka to 148/9 after posting 153/9 on the scoreboard, winning the game by a narrow margin of five runs.
They will play Bangladesh A, who have already qualified for the final, at the same venue on Sunday.
Set to chase 154, Sri Lanka A could muster 148/9 in their 20 overs despite Milan Rathnayake’s valiant batting at the back.
Sri Lanka A got off to a flying start as they amassed 29 runs in the first two overs, courtesy Lasith Croospulle’s impressive cameo of 27 runs from just seven deliveries, comprising three sixes and two fours.
Shahid Aziz gave the Shaheens the much-needed breakthrough by dismissing the right-handed opener in the second over.
His opening partner Vishen Halambage then recorded one-sided partnerships with Nishan Madushka (six) and Nuwanidu Fernando (five) until he finally fell victim to Sufiyan Muqeem in the eighth over.
Halambage scored 29 off 27 deliveries with the help of three sixes and two fours.
His dismissal sparked a collapse which saw Sri Lanka lose four wickets in quick succession and consequently slip to 99/8 in 13.2 overs.
Rathnayake then took charge of Sri Lanka A’s chase and kept them in the hunt with an anchor knock, which culminated in the final over when eight runs were needed off four deliveries.
