After a nail-biting finish, Sri Lanka has defeated Pakistan in the Super Four match to reach the final of the Asia Cup 2023.

Sri Lanka won the match on the last ball as they chased down 253 against the green shirts.

Debutant Zaman Khan remained unable to defend eight runs in his last over.

The final of Asia Cup 2023 will be played between India and Sri Lanka on Sunday.

Mohammad Rizwan's brilliant undefeated 73-ball 86 and Iftikhar Ahmed's enterprising 40-ball 47 powered Pakistan to 252-7 against Sri Lanka in the Super Four match at R.Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Thursday.

Death overs blitz propel Pakistan to 2️⃣5️⃣2️⃣-7️⃣ ⚡

Over to the bowlers after the innings break 🎯#PAKvSL | #AsiaCup2023 pic.twitter.com/5M5iIcFrXh
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) September 14, 2023

Matheesha Pathirana continued to trouble the batters and flummoxed Mohammad Haris (3 off 9) who remained clueless and deceived by the good-length ball.

Double Trouble!

Pathirana strikes twice, leaving Pakistan in a precarious situation. 😟#AsiaCup2023 #PAKvSL pic.twitter.com/7x7vV6Pyzz
— AsianCricketCouncil (@ACCMedia1) September 14, 2023

Pathirana bagged the all-important wicket of Abdullah Shafique, who was looking brilliant and went on to score his maiden half-century in the ODIs. In his 69-ball 52, Shafique smashed three boundaries and two sixes.

Another one bites the dust!

PAK: 108/4 (24)#AsiaCup2023 #PAKvSL
— AsianCricketCouncil (@ACCMedia1) September 14, 2023

Pakistan skipper Babar Azam was looking good for his 35-ball 29 before he was undone by dangerous Dunith Wellalage.

Wellalage gets the big fish! Babar Azam has to walk back!

PAK: 73/2 (16)#AsiaCup2023 #PAKvSL
— AsianCricketCouncil (@ACCMedia1) September 14, 2023

Mohammad Rizwan joined Abdullah Shafique.

Fakhar Zaman once again failed to show any resistance with the bat and was undone by Pramod Madushan on 11-ball 4.

Pramod Madushan's inclusion in the playing XI for this pivotal match pays off instantly as he sends back the dangerous Fakhar Zaman in his second over! 😍#AsiaCup2023 #PAKvSL pic.twitter.com/aDPFlqdl96
— AsianCricketCouncil (@ACCMedia1) September 14, 2023

SRI LANKA'S INNINGS

Kusal Perera (17 off 8), who was inducted into the Sri Lanka playing XI, turned out to be unlucky and was run out by Shadab Khan.

From despair to delight: Kusal Perera's run out drastically shifted the momentum towards the fielding side! 👊#AsiaCup2023 #PAKvSL pic.twitter.com/gnIzUP4rKo
— AsianCricketCouncil (@ACCMedia1) September 14, 2023

Pathum Nissanka, who was looking good for his 44-ball 29 was caught by Shadab Khan.

Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat in the crucial Super Four match against Sri Lanka at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Thursday.

Sri Lankan captain Dasan Shanaka said he would have opted to bowl first anyway because of the outfield conditions.

The match had been reduced by five overs, and the powerplay was nine overs. But due to another spell of rain, overs were further shortened. Pakistan had 42 overs to post a target against Sri Lanka.

Pakistan wins the toss and elects to bat first in Colombo!

Pakistan have made 5 changes to their XI for this high-voltage fixture!

Can the Sri Lankan seamers make the best use of the conditions? Or will the Pakistan openers start strongly?

#AsiaCup2023 #PAKvSL pic.twitter.com/vjQ747K2QR
— AsianCricketCouncil (@ACCMedia1) September 14, 2023