OMAN: The hopes of Pakistan Shaheens to reach the finals of the Emerging Asia Cup were extinguished on Friday as Sri Lanka A secured a decisive seven-wicket victory at the Oman Cricket Ground.
Opting to bat first, the Shaheens struggled to find form, finishing with a modest total of 135 for 9 in their allotted 20 overs. The batting lineup faltered, with only Omair Yousuf making a notable contribution, scoring a brilliant 68 runs off 46 balls, including five boundaries and four sixes. The rest of the team struggled to provide support, with Yasir Khan (2), Mohammad Haris (6), Qasim Akram (0), Haider Ali (14), Arafat Minhas (10), Abdul Samad (0), Abbas Afridi (9), and Mohammad Imran (13) all falling short of expectations. Sufiyan Muqeem (4) and Shahnawaz Dahani (0) remained unbeaten, but their efforts were insufficient to boost the total.
For Sri Lanka A, Dusan Hemantha was the standout bowler, claiming four wickets for just 21 runs. Nipun Ransika and Eshan Malinga also contributed with two wickets each, taking 2 for 21 and 2 for 28, respectively.
Sri Lanka A chased down the target comfortably, completing their victory in the 17th over, showcasing their batting prowess and effectively ending the Shaheens’ tournament aspirations. Earlier in the tournament, the Shaheens had secured two victories, but their lackluster performance in this crucial match proved costly.
