Mishara 76 gung-ho, Chameera 4/20 grab

By Srian Oveyesekere

Sri Lanka stormed into the Tri Series finals by a dramatic 6-run triumph over host nation Pakistan for a remeet cup decider tomorrow on two outstanding batting and bowling performances by opening batsman Kamil Mishara who slammed 76 off 48 balls and quick Dushmantha Chameera a 4 for 20 Player of the Match haul in a 7 for 178 decimation on the high of 184 for 5 off 20 overs yesterday at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium after being put into bat.

Mishara took control following a 1 for 16 loss of Pathum Nissanka for 8 in a 66-run second wicket bonding off 66 balls together with Kusal Mendis who made a measured 40 off 23 balls tucked into 6 boundaries and a six, going on to add a further 57;for the fourth wicket off 37 with Janith Liyanage a run a ball undefeated 24 (2×4, 1×6) after Kusal Janith Perera’s yet another disappointing tour run of 6. Mishara was fourth out after 16.5 overs with Sri Lanka on a handsome 153 for 4 as skipoer Dasun Shanaka propped it up with a swift 17 off 10 with 2 boundaries and a six adding 31 off 19 balls with Liyanage for the fifth wicket before being run out in the final over.
It was the ideal platform for right-armer Dushmantha Chameera who speared through the Pakistan frontline in raising a long injury plagued comeback as he started the slide having Zada Farhan caught by Liyanage for 9 and the prize wicket of Baba Azam leg before wicket for a second ball duck after a supportive 2-wicket Eshan Malinga had clean bowled Saim Ayub for 7 before bowling Fakhar Zaman for 1 aa Pakistan groped on 99 for 5 after 12.2 overs after Wanindu Hasaranga had Usman Khan caught by Shanaka for a plucky 33 off 23.

Pakistan resisted through a fighting unbeaten 63 by skipper Salman Agha with Mohammad Nawaz joining in a 16-ball 27 whom Malinga claimed caught by Hasaranga as Pakistan lost the battle.

Sri Lanka 184 for 5 (Mishara 76, Mendis, 40, Abrar 2-28) beat Pakistan 178 for 7 (Salman 63, Usman 33, Chameera 4-20, Malinga 2-54) by six runs