Pakistan kept their Asia Cup dreams alive and kicking on Tuesday, securing a vital five-wicket victory over Sri Lanka that has blown the race for the final wide open. The win puts Pakistan on the board with two crucial points in the Super 4 stage, setting up a thrilling final round of matches.
It was a solid all-around performance from the Men in Green. Spearheaded by Shaheen Afridi’s brilliant three-wicket haul, the Pakistani bowlers restricted Sri Lanka to a modest 133/8. Despite a lone half-century from Kamindu Mendis (50), the Lankans struggled to build momentum against a disciplined attack, with Hussain Talat and Haris Rauf also chipping in with two wickets apiece.
In reply, Pakistan stumbled early, but a match-winning partnership between Mohammad Nawaz and Hussain Talat steadied the ship. The pair calmly guided their team towards the target, wrapping up the chase with a full two overs to spare and keeping their tournament hopes burning bright.
So, what does this all mean for the race to the final? Let’s break down the nail-biting scenarios.
The Virtual Semi-Final
The clearest path for Pakistan now involves beating Bangladesh in their final Super 4 game on Thursday. If, as expected, India also defeats Bangladesh on Wednesday, the Pakistan vs. Bangladesh clash becomes a straight shootout – the winner takes all for a spot in the final.
The Net Run Rate Tangle
But, as is often the case in these tournaments, things could get a lot more complicated. If Bangladesh pulls off an upset against India, then the calculators will come out.
Should Pakistan then beat Bangladesh, and India bounce back to beat Sri Lanka, we’d have a massive three-way tie! Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh would all be locked on four points. In that nail-biting scenario, it all comes down to the dreaded Net Run Rate (NRR) to decide which two teams advance to the summit clash.
There’s even a scenario where Pakistan could lose their final match and still sneak through. If Pakistan loses to Bangladesh, and India loses both of its remaining games (to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka), it would create a three-way tie for second place between Pakistan, India, and Sri Lanka on two points each, again bringing NRR into play.
All eyes now turn to Wednesday’s clash between India and Bangladesh, a match that will set the stage for a blockbuster finish to the Super 4s.