END OF OVER:
20 | 15 Runs | SL: 170/6 | RR: 8.50

  • Bhanuka Rajapaksa71 (45b)
  • Chamika Karunaratne14 (14b)
  • Naseem Shah4-0-40-1
  • Mohammad Hasnain4-0-41-0

Game on, folks. Make no mistake. Time now for Pakistan to show that they can absorb the pressure, otherwise, Sri Lanka are favourites to clinch this match according to ESPNcricinfo's Forecaster which gives them a 56% chance of victory at the halfway stage. Danyal will be back to kickstart the 2nd innings.

Naseem Shah says, "We should've restricted Sri Lanka to around 120. It was swinging and seaming early on, but the wicket got better as the game progressed."

Murad Syed: "What a reliable batting line up by SL! You guys proved "team work is dream work"! Good luck with bowling now. Hoping to watch good batting by PK!"

JOYDEEPSINGHGIL: "What a comeback by Sri Lanka From 58/5 in 8.5 and in next 11.1 overs 112 runs on 2 wickets "

7.48pm From 58 for 5, Sri Lanka have climbed to 170 for 6. This was an innings to remember. Pakistan's seamers with the early domination, the Hasaranga cameo, the Karunaratne anchoring and of course the Rajapaksa blitzkrieg. His 71 in 45 balls has given their bowlers something significant to bowl at. Remember, this is a final, and the pressure of a chase in a final is a whole different #BallGame.

ARM: "Take a bow, Rajapaksa! Regardless of the result, SL should feel proud of how they've fought back with the bat. "

19.6
6
Naseem Shah to Rajapaksa, SIX, momentum with Sri Lanka! And the tournament's official hosts finish on 170 for 6! What a finish for Sri Lanka as this full ball outside off is smeared over deep extra cover! Flat six, 10 off the last two, Pakistan need 171 to win, and the Sri Lankans will be absolutely delighted with how the innings has ended.
19.5
4
Naseem Shah to Rajapaksa, FOUR, cute shot! Full on middle and leg. Rajapaksa moves to the off side, gets low, and plays a paddle behind the keeper for four! Lands an inch or two inside the boundary line.
19.4
0
Naseem Shah to Rajapaksa, no run, short ball, slower ball on middle. Rajapaksa waits for it to get to him to try and ramp it over Rizwan, but misses
19.3
2
Naseem Shah to Rajapaksa, 2 runs, another double. And 160 is breached. Full ball, almost a yorker on middle. Gets the bat down and ends up squirting the shot through to deep square leg
19.2
2
Naseem Shah to Rajapaksa, 2 runs, gets back on strike with some hard running. Slower ball on leg. Swings across the line, and gets a top edge. Lands safely in front of deep backward square leg. Fielder throws it back in

Shadab is doing some neck exercises on the boundary line. Pakistan may even need the batter in him tonight.

19.1
1
Naseem Shah to Karunaratne, 1 run, hands the strike over to Rajapaksa. Swings across the line to this length ball, and hits it to deep square leg

Naseem for the final over.

END OF OVER:
19 | 8 Runs | SL: 155/6 | RR: 8.15

  • Bhanuka Rajapaksa57 (40b)
  • Chamika Karunaratne13 (13b)
  • Mohammad Hasnain4-0-41-0
  • Haris Rauf4-0-29-3

Shadab is still on the floor. Pakistan fans groaning in the crowd. Hope the fielder is okay, but these six runs will be very crucial in the context of the game. Not a good day as a fielder for Shadab today. Got hit near his left ear early in the game, then dropped a catch in the previous over, and now another drop (and hopefully not) a prospective injury. Good to see him stand up and walk out of the field on his own though. Here's hoping, once again, it is nothing serious. These kind of injuries are in the "concussion injuries" territory

18.6
6
Mohammad Hasnain to Rajapaksa, SIX, two fielders collide, and even better for Sri Lanka, this has gone over the ropes! Shadab is lying down on the floor, Asif Ali the other man. Good length on middle stump. Rajapaksa swiped this across the line. Shadab at deep midwicket runs to his right. Asif at long on runs to his left. Both get under it. Shadab's head crashes into Asif's elbow, ball hits Asif's palm, and the momentum makes the ball pop out of his hands. Over the ropes.
18.5
0
Mohammad Hasnain to Rajapaksa, no run, top over so far from Hasnain as the keeps varying his pace. Only 132kph, this length ball on leg. Rajapaksa moved to the off side to play a cute paddle, but was deceived by the lack of pace
18.4
0
Mohammad Hasnain to Rajapaksa, no run, swing and miss. Back of a length ball on leg. Rajapaksa gets in position to swipe this short ball across the line, but the ball goes over the blade, and through to Rizwan.
18.3
0
Mohammad Hasnain to Rajapaksa, no run, back of a length on leg stump. Guides a cut to backward point, but fielder hovering there
18.2
1
Mohammad Hasnain to Karunaratne, 1 run, sticks with the slower ball. Good length on off and angling into leg. He swivels to pull, but misses. Hits his body, rolls to the keeper's left

Umair: "2009 T20 WC that Pakistan won against Sri Lanka in final was almost the same picture. Pakistan taking early breakthroughs, Sangakara playing heroics and giving a good total to defend. Although teams are very different in every aspect, but it was not too different."

18.1
1
Mohammad Hasnain to Rajapaksa, 1 run, fullish ball on leg stump but angling across to off. Slapped to cover's right, albeit mistimed. 124kph

Rajapaksa on strike.

END OF OVER:
18 | 11 Runs | SL: 147/6 | RR: 8.16

  • Bhanuka Rajapaksa50 (35b)
  • Chamika Karunaratne12 (12b)
  • Haris Rauf4-0-29-3
  • Naseem Shah3-0-25-1

Vijay: "Srilanka have done well here!! They have forced Babar to bowl out Haris. Both Naseem and hasnain have been inconsistent and erratic in the final overs....If bhanuka stays there he could maximize those two overs. SL can look to post 175 from here!"

17.6
1
Haris Rauf to Rajapaksa, 1 run, back of a length on off. Guided with soft hands to backward point. Fifty in 35 balls! What a cruclal innings, and earns a hug from Chamika too. Rauf bowls out at 3/29.
17.5
1
Haris Rauf to Karunaratne, 1 run, fullish outside off. Tapped towards cover for a single
17.4
3
Haris Rauf to Rajapaksa, 3 runs, around the stumps. Full, slow ball on off. Rajapaksa goes for a big shot, but ends up skying the shot high up. Massive air time since the ball has gone high into the night sky, and Shadab settles under it at long off. Tries to take a reverse cup catch, but the ball hits his finger and goes behind him thereafter. Lucky him that doesn't go for four, however it will go down as a dropped catch

Shafi khoso: "Just loving the way islanders are batting.. "

Sheel: "SL have shown great tenacity. Shows the importance of All Rounders in T20 format!"

17.3
1
Haris Rauf to Karunaratne, 1 run, full ball just outside off. Driven to cover, hit quite hard, so has to hurry to the other end. But he's safe since it isn't a direct hit
17.2
4lb
Haris Rauf to Karunaratne, 4 leg byes, over the stumps. Slower ball, fullish on off. Karunaratne misses the flick, but the ball hits him on the thigh-guard and rolls past the diving Hasnain at short fine leg!
17.1
1
Haris Rauf to Rajapaksa, 1 run, around the stumps. Back of a length outside off. Cut to deep third, where Naseem cleans up

51 runs off the last five overs. Rauf.

END OF OVER:
17 | 16 Runs | SL: 136/6 | RR: 8.00

  • Chamika Karunaratne10 (9b)
  • Bhanuka Rajapaksa45 (32b)
  • Naseem Shah3-0-25-1
  • Mohammad Nawaz1-0-3-0

16 off that over.

Afeef: "Naseem will look to repay SL with 2 sixes of his own"

16.6
6
Naseem Shah to Karunaratne, SIX, bring out your best golf club! In the slot on middle stump. Chamika clears the front leg and absolutely creams a lofted shot over wide long on. Well into the stands, and the Sri Lanka flags are out in the crowd!
16.5
1
Naseem Shah to Rajapaksa, 1 run, full outside leg. Rajapaksa makes room offering all three stumps to the batter before driving to deep extra cover
16.4
6
Naseem Shah to Rajapaksa, SIX, breaks his wrists and deposits a six over deep backward square leg! Fullish on leg. And he plays the shot behind square with an awesome pick-up shot off his pads. Picked the slower ball well too
16.3
1
Naseem Shah to Karunaratne, 1 run, good length ball angling into middle. Turned off his hips to square leg for a single

Pakistan 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st22Mohammad RizwanBabar Azam
2nd0Mohammad RizwanFakhar Zaman
3rd71Mohammad RizwanIftikhar Ahmed
4th9Mohammad RizwanMohammad Nawaz (3)
5th8Mohammad RizwanKhushdil Shah
6th1Asif AliKhushdil Shah
7th1Khushdil ShahShadab Khan
8th8Shadab KhanHaris Rauf
9th5Naseem ShahHaris Rauf
10th22Mohammad HasnainHaris Rauf

Men's T20 Asia Cup

Super Four
TeamMWLPTNRR
SL33060.701
PAK3214-0.279
IND31221.607
AFG3030-2.006
Group A
TeamMWLPTNRR
IND22041.096
PAK21123.811
HKG2020-4.875
Group B
TeamMWLPTNRR
AFG22042.467
SL2112-2.233
BAN2020-0.576