Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Highlights, Asia Cup 2025: Watch Video

By Rohit - Sep 24, 2025 12:49 AM
Last updated on Sep 24, 2025 12:52 AM

The Asia Cup 2025 Super Four clash between Pakistan and Sri Lanka turned out to be a gripping contest filled with twists, collapses, and ultimately a display of resilience. In a must-win encounter at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, Pakistan emerged victorious by 5 wickets, chasing down 134 with 12 balls to spare. The heroes of the night were Mohammad Nawaz and Hussain Talat, who held their nerve during crunch moments to take Pakistan home and keep their hopes alive in the tournament.

Final Scorecard Snapshot

• Sri Lanka: 133/8 in 20 overs
• Kamindu Mendis 50
• Shaheen Afridi 3/28, Hussain Talat 2/18

• Pakistan: 138/5 in 18 overs
• Mohammad Nawaz 38*
• Hussain Talat 27*
• Hasaranga 2/25, Theekshana 1/23

Result: Pakistan won by 5 wickets (with 12 balls remaining).

Sri Lanka’s Struggles with the Bat

Electing to bowl first after winning the toss, Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha relied on his strike bowlers to provide early breakthroughs—and they did not disappoint. Shaheen Afridi was on the money right from the start, dismissing Sri Lankan opener Kusal Mendis for a golden duck. His fiery spell rattled the top order as he picked up three crucial wickets, keeping the pressure on Sri Lanka throughout.

The Lankans found themselves in early trouble at 25/3, with Shaheen and Hussain Talat sharing the spoils. Talat’s double strike in one over was particularly damaging, breaking the backbone of the middle order. Sri Lanka needed someone to stabilize the innings, and Kamindu Mendis rose to the occasion.

Mendis crafted a composed half-century, anchoring the innings amidst the flurry of wickets. His knock of 50 was laced with smart rotation of strike and timely boundaries, but with little support from the other end, Sri Lanka could only post 133/8 in their 20 overs.

Key contributors like Wanindu Hasaranga and Dasun Shanaka failed to make an impact, while Pakistan’s bowlers—Afridi (3/28) and Talat (2/18)—ensured their opponents never broke free.

Pakistan’s Strong Start in the Chase

Chasing a modest 134, Pakistan needed a solid opening partnership to ease the nerves of a faltering middle order, and that’s exactly what they got. Fakhar Zaman and Sahibzada Farhan came out with positive intent.

Farhan, in particular, took the aggressive route, striking boundaries at will to put Sri Lanka’s bowlers under immediate pressure. In just 5 overs, Pakistan had raced to 43/0, with Farhan playing the role of aggressor and Fakhar anchoring the other end. This foundation set the tone for Pakistan’s pursuit of the target.

However, Sri Lanka’s spinners soon changed the complexion of the game.

Hasaranga and Theekshana Fight Back

Abrar cleans up Hasaranga and does Hasaranga’s trade mark celebration ?#PAKvSL #AsiaCupT20 pic.twitter.com/bw1SaClewe

— Nibraz Ramzan (@nibraz88cricket) September 23, 2025

When Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana were introduced into the attack, the dynamics of the game shifted. Using the spin-friendly Abu Dhabi surface, both spinners bowled tight lines and lengths, picking up wickets at crucial junctures.

Also Read: PAK vs SL T20 Head to Head records and Playing 11

Hasaranga removed Pakistan skipper Salman Agha LBW for just 5, while Theekshana dismissed Saim Ayub, ensuring that Pakistan’s middle order remained under pressure. In a span of a few overs, Pakistan collapsed from a comfortable 43/0 to 71/4 by the 10th over, opening the door for Sri Lanka.

The mini-collapse had echoes of Pakistan’s earlier matches in the tournament, where their middle order failed to capitalize on strong starts. Sri Lanka’s spinners tightened the screws, conceding very few runs and pushing the required rate upwards.

Nawaz and Talat to the Rescue

At 87/5 in 13 overs, Pakistan looked shaky. Theekshana and Hasaranga had spun a web of control, and Sri Lanka were just one breakthrough away from seizing the game. Enter Mohammad Nawaz and Hussain Talat.

The duo showcased remarkable composure under pressure. Instead of going into a shell, they rotated strike effectively and punished loose deliveries. Talat, who had already impressed with the ball earlier, shifted gears with the bat, hitting boundaries off Hasaranga to ease the tension.

Nawaz, known for his ability to clear the ropes, bided his time before launching an assault. In the 18th over, he smashed Dushmantha Chameera for three sixes, effectively sealing the contest in Pakistan’s favor. Their unbroken partnership ensured Pakistan crossed the finish line with 12 balls to spare, finishing at 138/5.

Turning Points of the Match

1st Innings- Abrar imitating Hasaranga’s celebration style. ?

2nd Innings- Hasaranga gave it back bu imitating Abrar’s Celebration ?#asiacup #slvspak #hasaranga #abrar #celebration pic.twitter.com/oPFSmhkFRZ

— Possible11 (@Possible11team) September 23, 2025

• Shaheen Afridi’s early strikes: Removing both Sri Lankan openers in the powerplay set the tone for Pakistan’s dominance.
• Hussain Talat’s double strike: His consecutive wickets in the middle overs triggered a collapse that Sri Lanka couldn’t recover from.
• Hasaranga and Theekshana’s spin choke: The spinners brought Sri Lanka back into the game with three quick wickets.
• Nawaz’s big hitting: His three sixes off Chameera in the 18th over killed any hopes of a Sri Lankan comeback.

Points Table Implications

This win was critical for Pakistan, who had entered the match at the bottom of the Super Four standings. With both India and Bangladesh tied on two points and Sri Lanka also struggling after their loss to Bangladesh, this victory brings Pakistan back into contention for the final.

India, led by Suryakumar Yadav, currently top the table with a superior net run rate, but the battle for the second finalist spot is now wide open. Pakistan’s boosted net run rate from this win could prove decisive in the days ahead

Also Read: Asia Cup 2025: Who Will Qualify for the Final?

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