ABU DHABI – All-rounder Hussain Talat delivered a match-winning performance with both ball and bat as Pakistan carved out a hard-fought five-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 Super Four clash at Zayed Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
Chasing the 134-run target, Pakistan recovered from a mid-innings slump to seal the win with 12 balls to spare. Hussain Talat (32 not out) and Mohammad Nawaz (38 not out) held their nerve in a 58-run stand for the sixth wicket, steering the Green Shirts safely home.
Earlier, Pakistan’s pursuit began brightly as Sahibzada Farhan (24 off 15) and Fakhar Zaman (17 off 19) powered the score to 45 inside the powerplay. But Sri Lanka’s spinners struck back in style, Maheesh Theekshana removed both openers in one over, before Wanindu Hasaranga dismissed Saim Ayub and skipper Salman Ali Agha in quick succession, leaving Pakistan reeling at 57/4.
A brief resistance from Mohammad Haris (14) ended when Dushmantha Chameera rattled his stumps, but the decisive, unbeaten Nawaz–Talat partnership carried Pakistan over the line. Nawaz, who top-scored with a fluent 38 off 24 balls laced with three sixes and as many fours, played the aggressor, while Talat anchored the innings with his composed knock.
Earlier, put into bat, Sri Lanka could only muster 133/8 in their 20 overs despite a fighting half-century from Kamindu Mendis (50 off 44, 3x4s, 2x6s). Their innings collapsed to 58/5 inside eight overs after a fiery opening burst from Shaheen Afridi (3/28) and a double strike from Hussain Talat in his first over.
Wanindu Hasaranga (15) offered brief support before falling to Abrar Ahmed, while Kamindu fought a lone battle until Shaheen dismissed him in the penultimate over. Besides Shaheen and Talat’s two-for, Haris Rauf chipped in with two wickets, and Abrar claimed one. For Sri Lanka, Theekshana and Hasaranga picked up two wickets apiece, while Chameera got one.
Scores in Brief
PAKISTAN 134-5 in 18 overs (Mohammad Nawaz 38*, Hussain Talat 32*, Farhan 24; Theekshana 2-20, Hasaranga 2-25) beat SRI LANKA 133-8 in 20 overs (Kamindu Mendis 50, Hasaranga 15; Shaheen Afridi 3-28, Hussain Talat 2-19, Haris Rauf 2-29) by 5 wickets.
