Sri Lanka Beat Pakistan, England Eliminated
Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by eight wickets in Lahore on October 27 to reach the tri-series final and knock England out.
Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis won the toss at Gaddafi Stadium and chose to field, and his bowlers made the decision look very good. Pakistan were bowled out for just 110 in 25.3 overs. Left-arm pacer Dilshan Madushanka was the star, finishing with career-best figures of 5/34 from 8.3 overs.
Madushanka struck early, dismissing out-of-form opener Fakhar Zaman for five in the fourth over. Asitha Fernando removed Maaz Sadaqat for eight, and Madushanka then took the wicket of Saad Baig for five. Pakistan never recovered from the poor start. Madushanka later had Haris Rauf caught at first slip by Kamindu Mendis, and he completed his five-wicket haul when Shaheen Afridi top-edged a hook to fine leg. Spinner Sahan Arachchige took 2/24, while Asitha Fernando, Eshan Malinga and Dunith Wellalage took one wicket each.
The chase was a formality. Sri Lanka reached the 111-run target in just 18.1 overs, with eight wickets in hand and 31.5 overs to spare. Openers Kamindu Mendis and Avishka Fernando put on a quick opening stand. Kusal Mendis fell to Arafat Minhas for eight off six balls, but that was one of only two wickets Pakistan took. Kamindu stayed unbeaten on 62 off 60 balls, with eight fours and two sixes, reaching his fifth ODI fifty with a six off Shaheen Afridi. Pavan Rathnayake was not out on 23.
The result sends Sri Lanka into the final. It was their second win in three games in the series. Pakistan, who had already qualified with three wins, will now face them again in the final on Sunday, November 1.
England are the team who suffered. They needed Pakistan to win in order to keep their hopes of reaching the final alive. England have lost successive matches against Sri Lanka and Pakistan from winning positions, including Pakistan's one-wicket win on Sunday that was powered by Shadab Khan's unbeaten 113. Thursday's match between Sri Lanka and England is now a dead rubber.