LAHORE: A sensational six-wicket haul from fast bowler Mohammad Hasnain lifted Pakistan to a 90-run win over Sri Lanka in the ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup at the Sheikh Kamal International Cricket Stadium in the Bangladesh city of Cox’s Bazar on Saturday.

Chasing a modest 184-run target, Sri Lanka were blown away by a fiery spell from Hasnain who took six wickets for 19 runs in seven overs.

Khushdil Shah and Umar Khan also took two wickets apiece for 14 and four runs, respectively.

Opener Petum Nissanka was the only Sri Lankan to bat with a degree of confidence. He was easily the top-scorer with 34 from 56 balls.

Earlier, Pakistan were bowled out for 183 in 49.5 overs after being put into bat.

Their top-order fell quickly as the green shirts lost three wickets for 31 runs inside 10 overs. All-rounder Amad Butt who came to bat at No.8, was top-scorer with 44 off 45 deliveries while hitting three fours and as many sixes.

Wicket-keeper/batsman Rohail Nazir (37 off 47 balls, two boundaries)) and all-rounder Khushdil Shah (32 from 47, two sixes and two fours) were other main run-getters for Pakistan.

Seamer Asitha Fernando took three wickets for 28 runs, while Amila Aponso and Kalana Perera bagged two wickets each.

Pakistan, who defeated Afghanistan in their opening fixture on Thursday, will take on Oman in their third match on Monday.

Brief scores:

PAKISTAN 183 in 49.5 overs (Amad Butt 44, Rohail Nazir 37, Khushdil Shah 32; A.M. Fernando 3-28, M.A. Aponso 2-36, K.K.V. Perera 2-45); SRI LANKA 93 in 30.4 overs (P. Nissanka 34, H. Boyagoda 22; Mohammad Hasnain 6-19, Khushdil Shah 2-14, Umar Khan 2-4).

Published in Dawn, November 17th, 2019