Pakistan Shaheens have booked their place in the final of the Rising Stars Asia Cup after a thrilling victory over Sri Lanka A in the second semi-final held in Doha. In a match filled with twists, tension, and standout performances from both sides, the Shaheens held their nerve to clinch a narrow 5-run win and advance to Sunday’s title clash against Bangladesh A.
Pakistan Set a Fighting Total
Pakistan Shaheens, opting to bat first in the high-pressure knockout match, posted 153 for 9 in their allotted 20 overs. The innings started steadily, but Sri Lanka A’s bowlers kept the pressure on with disciplined lines and timely breakthroughs. Despite this, several Pakistani batters made useful contributions that kept the scoreboard moving.
Ghazi Ghori emerged as the top scorer, remaining unbeaten with a valuable 39*. His composed batting in the final overs ensured that Pakistan reached a competitive total. Earlier in the innings, Muazz Sadaqat played a lively knock of 23 runs, while Ahmed Daniyal and Saad Masood added 22 runs each, helping stabilize the innings at crucial moments.
On the bowling side for Sri Lanka A, Pramod Madushan showcased his class by claiming 4 wickets, causing major damage to Pakistan’s middle order. Travin Mathew also bowled impressively, taking 3 wickets and maintaining pressure throughout the innings.
Sri Lanka A Fight Hard in the Chase
Chasing a target of 154, Sri Lanka A put up a spirited fight. Despite losing wickets at regular intervals, they remained in the contest thanks to some resilient batting. Milan Ratnayake stood out with his confident 40-run knock, showing intent and keeping his side in the chase until the later stages.
However, Pakistan Shaheens’ bowlers maintained tight control under pressure. Saad Masood, who had already contributed with the bat, delivered a superb spell and claimed 3 crucial wickets. Sufyan Muqeem also bowled brilliantly, taking 3 wickets of his own and consistently troubling the Sri Lankan batters with excellent variation and accuracy.
Sri Lanka A needed a strong finish, but Pakistan’s disciplined death-over bowling ensured they were restricted to 148 for 9 in their 20 overs—five runs short of the target.
A Hard-Fought Win and a Big Step Toward the Title
This narrow victory demonstrated not only the Shaheens’ skill but also their composure in crunch moments. The match went right down to the wire, and Pakistan’s young stars handled the pressure better, ultimately securing their place in the final.
The team’s all-round performance—dependable batting contributions, sharp fielding, and clutch bowling—suggests that the Shaheens are peaking at just the right time in the tournament.
Final Set for Sunday Against Bangladesh A
With this win, Pakistan Shaheens move into the Rising Stars Asia Cup final, where they will face Bangladesh A on Sunday. Bangladesh A have been strong throughout the competition, and the upcoming final promises to be a thrilling contest between two talented, youth-driven sides.
