ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup: Sri Lanka A Knock Pakistan A Out Of Semi-Finals

Dushan Hemantha's four-wicket haul and Ahan Wickramasinghe's sensational fifty sealed Sri Lanka A spot in the final and brought an end to defending champions Pakistan A campaign to its unforeseen conclusion in the first semi-final match of the ACC Men's T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2024. Sri Lanka left Pakistan bamboozled with their blitzkrieg and relentless onslaught while chasing a paltry target of 136. Despite losing opener Yashodha Lanka after he obstructed the field, Lahiru Udara and Ahan Wickramasinghe went berserk in the powerplay.

Boundaries came according to their will, and the defending champions looked clueless in their attempts to put a halt to Sri Lanka's high-flying inning.

Fours and sixes became a constant theme in the powerplay as the duo shared the brunt of piling up runs on the board. The 66-run partnership between the duo was enough to take the game away from Pakistan.

The defending champions eventually got their breakthrough in the 9th over after Udara's shot was taken comfortably by Abdul Samad.

With left-arm wrist spinner Sufiyan Muqeem providing the much-needed breakthrough, Pakistan made another push to make a late comeback in the game.

Boundaries became scarce in the next two overs, forcing the pair to gamble on their shots in quest for boundaries. Nuwanidu Fernando took the mantle and sent the ball towards the boundary rope to ease off the nerves.

On the next delivery, Abbas Afridi stung back and ended Fernando's time on the crease. The flow of boundaries became dry, but Sri Lanka didn't break a sweat with the equation completely favouring them.

Wickramasinghe finished the inning with an unbeaten 52 and ensured that Sri Lanka ended on the winning side.

Earlier in the match, Pakistan A won the