By Srian Obeyesekere
Sri Lanka stormed into the finals of the 2024 Emerging Teams Asia Cup by an emphatic 7-wicket thrashing of Pakistan A in the first semi final by a blow away all-round performance by Dushan Hemantha 4 for 21 back to back Player of the Match highs and Ahan Wickramasinghe 52 following a scorching 43 off 20 by opening batsman Lahiru Udara in chasing down a target of 136 on Friday at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground in Oman.
Pakistan batting first totalled 135 for 9 wickets off 20 overs on a top score of 68 by opening batsman Omari Bin Yousuf whose 4:sixes and alike number of boundaries did not find the desired support from the rest who buckled against Hemantha’s wily spin and Nipun Ransika 2 for 21 and Eshan Malinga 2 for 28.
Sri Lanka”s chase was electrified by Lahiru Udara’s 4 sixes and 2 boundaries while Ahan Wickramasinghe fronted a composed half century off 46 balls hitting 4 boundaries and a six Sahan Arachchige was unbeaten on 17.
Sri Lanka A beat Pakistan Shaheens by seven wickets
Pakistan Shaheens 135-9, 20 overs (Omair Bin Yousuf 68; Dushan Hemantha 4-21, Nipun Ransika 2-21, Eshan Malinga 2-28)
Sri Lanka A 137-3, 16.3 overs (Ahan Wickramasinghe 52 not out, Lahiru Udara 4 cc3)
Player of the match – Dushan Hemantha (Sri Lanka A)
Sri Lanka A storm into Emerging Teams Asia Cup finals trouncing Pakistan A by 7 wickets
By Srian Obeyesekere
Sri Lanka stormed into the finals of the 2024 Emerging Teams Asia Cup by an emphatic 7-wicket thrashing of Pakistan A in the first semi final by a blow away all-round performance by Dushan Hemantha 4 for 21 back to back Player of the Match highs and Ahan Wickramasinghe 52 following a scorching 43 off 20 by opening batsman Lahiru Udara in chasing down a target of 136 on Friday at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground in Oman.
Pakistan batting first totalled 135 for 9 wickets off 20 overs on a top score of 68 by opening batsman Omari Bin Yousuf whose 4:sixes and alike number of boundaries did not find the desired support from the rest who buckled against Hemantha’s wily spin and Nipun Ransika 2 for 21 and Eshan Malinga 2 for 28.
Sri Lanka”s chase was electrified by Lahiru Udara’s 4 sixes and 2 boundaries while Ahan Wickramasinghe fronted a composed half century off 46 balls hitting 4 boundaries and a six Sahan Arachchige was unbeaten on 17.
Sri Lanka A beat Pakistan Shaheens by seven wickets
Pakistan Shaheens 135-9, 20 overs (Omair Bin Yousuf 68; Dushan Hemantha 4-21, Nipun Ransika 2-21, Eshan Malinga 2-28)
Sri Lanka A 137-3, 16.3 overs (Ahan Wickramasinghe 52 not out, Lahiru Udara 4 cc3)
Player of the match – Dushan Hemantha (Sri Lanka A)