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DOHA: Pakistan Shaheens marched into the final of the ACC Asia Cup Rising Stars Championship after grinding out a tense five-run win over Sri Lanka A in the second semi-final at West End Park International Cricket Stadium on Friday.
The hard-fought victory sets up a title clash against Bangladesh A at the same venue on Sunday.
Defending a modest 154, Pakistan Shaheens leaned heavily on their spin duo of Sufiyan Muqeem and Saad Masood, who combined to choke Sri Lanka A’s chase and shared six wickets between them.
Despite a late surge from Milan Rathnayake, Sri Lanka A were bundled for 148 on the final ball of their innings.
Sri Lanka A looked dangerous early on, racing to 29 in just two overs as Lasith Croospulle launched a whirlwind assault, smashing 27 off seven balls with three sixes and two fours.
Shahid Aziz dismissed him to stem the momentum, but the visitors maintained a tempo through Vishen Halambage, who scored 29 off 27 before becoming Muqeem’s first victim.
Halambage’s wicket opened the floodgates. Sri Lanka A unravelled in the middle overs, losing wickets in clusters and slipping from a position of control to 99-8 in the 14th over.
With the match seemingly drifting away, Milan Rathnayake engineered a spirited fightback.
He carried the chase deep, lifting his side from the brink and leaving Sri Lanka A needing eight off the final four deliveries.
But the Shaheens’ bowlers held their composure, closing out the final moments to seal a narrow but vital win. Rathnayake finished with a valiant 40 off 32, striking five fours and a six.
For Pakistan, Muqeem and Masood claimed three wickets each, while Ahmed Daniyal, Shahid Aziz and Ubaid Shah contributed one apiece.
Earlier, after being asked to bat, Pakistan Shaheens posted 153-9 in an innings marked by bursts of momentum and an untimely collapse.
Openers Mohammad Naeem (16 off 15) and the in-form Maaz Sadaqat (23 off 11) provided a bright start with a rapid 30-run partnership.
But once the pair fell in quick succession, Pakistan lost their footing, crashing to 62-5 inside eight overs.
A much-needed recovery came through Saad Masood and Ghori, who stitched together 47 runs for the sixth wicket to stabilise the innings.
Masood’s patient 22 off 25 ended in the 16th over, but Daniyal’s explosive cameo, 22 off just eight deliveries, featuring three sixes, gave the Shaheens crucial late runs.
Ghori anchored the innings till the end, remaining unbeaten on 39 off 36 with two fours and a six, guiding the side to a defendable total.
For Sri Lanka A, Madushan starred with the ball, claiming four wickets, while Traveen Mathew picked up three. Rathnayake and Dunith Wellalage added a wicket each.
READ: Bangladesh A edge India in Super Over to reach Asia Cup Rising Stars final
