MUSCAT: Sri Lanka ‘A’ beat Pakistan Shaheens by seven wickets in the first semi-final of the ACC Men’s T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup at the Oman Cricket Academy Ground on Friday.

Chasing 136 to win, Sri Lanka ‘A’ achieved the target in the 17th over. For the winning team, Ahan Wickramasinghe returned undefeated on 52 off 46 balls, which included four fours and a six. Wicket-keeper-batter Lah­i­ru Udara, opening the innings, scored a quick-fire 43 off 20 balls, hitting two fours and four sixes.

Earlier, opting to bat first, Shaheens managed to score 135-9 in their 20 overs. Opening batter Omair Bin You­suf was the top run-getter for the side scoring 68 off 46 balls, which incl­uded five fours and four sixes.

Haider Ali (14 off 15), Mohammad Im­r­an Jr (13 off 12, two fours) and Ara­fat Minhas (10 off eight, one four) were the other batters to reach double figures.

For Sri Lanka ‘A’, Dushan Hemantha bagged four wickets for 21 in four overs, while Eshan Malinga and Nipun Ransika took two wickets apiece.

Scores in brief:

PAKISTAN SHAHEENS 135-9 in 20 overs (Omair Bin Yousuf 68; Dushan Hemantha 4-21, Nipun Ransika 2-21, Eshan Malinga 2-28); SRI LANKA ‘A’ 137-3 in 16.3 overs (Ahan Wickra­masinghe 52 not out, Lahiru Udara 43).

Published in Dawn, October 26th, 2024