Asia Cup 2023: 'Sri Lanka always find players who step up' — experts, fans hail SL team for reaching final

Sri Lanka stunned Pakistan with a last-ball win on Thursday in Asia Cup 2023 to set up a final against India. Kusal Mendis produced an outstanding 91 and Charith Asalanka a gutsy unbeaten 49 as defending champions Sri Lanka overcame Pakistan by two wickets in a dramatic Super Four match at Colombo.

Fifties by Abdullah Shafique (52) and Mohammad Rizwan (86 not out) had led Pakistan to a competitive 252 for 7 off 42 overs after electing to bat on another rain-affected day. But Sri Lanka replied in kind through Mendis and Asalanka as they inched past the target off the last ball of the match, also spoiling the possibility of an Indo-Pak summit clash.

The final will be played on Sunday.

The manner in which Sri Lanka mounted their chase was quite remarkable, even considering the fact that Pakistan were without injured pacers Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf.

The home fans were ecstatic as cricket followers and experts on X (formerly Twitter) hailed the Sri Lankan side for reaching the Asia Cup final for a record 12th time.

For everyone who’s not used to this – every time an India-Pakistan final looks possible in the Asia Cup, Sri Lanka do something like this.

Script hasn’t changed in 40 years. #PAKvsSL

— Danyal Rasool (@Danny61000) September 14, 2023

Didn’t realise that Pakistan will turn out to be the third best team in Asia. Well played, Sri Lanka.