Pakistan Shaheens beat Sri Lanka A in Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 2nd semi-final
Shaheens won by 5 runs
Catch the match report
Pakistan A defeated Sri Lanka A in the 2nd semi-final of the ACC Men's Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 by 5 runs. The Shaheens defended a low total of 154 successfully and they will be going head-to-head with Bangladesh A in the final on Sunday, November 23.
Sri Lanka A had won the toss and chose to bowl first. Pakistan A, who are yet to lose a match in the tournament, had a terrible outing with the bat, scoring just 153 runs in the 1st innings.
Openers Muhammad Naeem (16 off 15) and Maaz Sadaqat (23 off 11) did not have the best of starts as the duo's opening stand was broken at 30 runs.
Following batters Yasir Khan (6 off 7), Mohammad Faiq (7 off 3) and Irfan Khan Niazi (6 off 7) shared just 19 runs between them. If it wasn't for Ghazi Ghori's 39 off 36, Saad Masood's 22 off 25 and Ahmed Daniyal's quickifre 22 off 8, the Shaheens could not have even posted 153.
In response, Lasith Croospulle and Vishen Halambage got off to a cracking start before the former lost his wicket in the 2nd over after a blistering 27 off 7.
Halambage followed suit in the 4th over for 29 off 27. Then began the Lankan middle-order collapse, which saw Madushka, Fernando, Arachchige, Wellalage and Ramesh Mendis share just 18 runs between them.
It was only due to Milan Rathnayake's 40 off 32 that Sri Lanka A reached as far as 148 before losing it all in the final over.
This victory will take the Shaheens through to the final with an unbeaten record.
Pakistan A Vs Sri Lanka A, Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 2nd Semi-Final: Toss Update
Sri Lanka A won the toss and chose to bowl first in the 2nd semi-final against Pakistan Shaheens.
Pakistan A Vs Sri Lanka A, Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 2nd Semi-Final: Playing XIs
Shaheens XI: Mohammad Naeem, Maaz Sadaqat, Ghazi Ghori (WK), Yasir Khan, Irfan Khan (C), Mohammad Faiq, Saad Masood, Ahmed Daniyal, Shahid Aziz, Sufiyan Muqeem and Ubaid Shah
SL-A XI: Nishan Madushka (WK), Vishen Halambage, Lasith Croospulle, Nuwanidu Fernando, Sahan Arachchige, Ramesh Mendis, Dunit Wellalage (C), Milan Rathnayaka, Pramod Madushan, Traveen Matthew and Garuka Sanketh
Pakistan A Vs Sri Lanka A, Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 2nd Semi-Final: Squads
Sri Lanka A Squad: Nishan Madushka (WK), Vishen Halambage, Lasith Croospulle, Nuwanidu Fernando, Sahan Arachchige, Ramesh Mendis, Dunith Wellalage (C), Milan Priyanath Rathnayake, Pramod Madushan, Garuka Sanketh, Traveen Mathew, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Ahan Wickramasinghe, Isitha Wijesundera, Sohan de Livera
Pakistan A Squad: Mohammad Naeem, Maaz Sadaqat, Ghazi Ghori (WK), Yasir Khan, Mohammad Faiq, Irfan Khan (C), Arafat Minhas, Muhammad Shahzad, Shahid Aziz, Ahmed Daniyal, Sufiyan Muqeem, Khurram Shahzad, Mubasir Khan, Saad Masood, Ubaid Shah, Mohammad Salman Mirza
