PAK vs SL Ball by Ball Commentary

FOUR! Hammered away. Sri Lanka win by 8 wickets and book their place in the final, where they will meet Pakistan again. This is dragged down from around the wicket by Sadaqat, on off. Rathnayake rocks onto the back foot in a flash and makes room for himself. Spanks it through covers and it races away to the fence. Smiles and handshakes all around in the Lankan camp as they celebrate sealing their place in the final.

Loopy slower one, very full. Mendis leans across to unleash the cover drive but the ball dips on him and sneaks under the blade.

Wide. Dug in short, this is well wide on off. Mendis thinks about going after it but then lets it be. The scores are level!

At 132.3 kph, skidding through, on a short of a good length. Mendis swivels for the pull but gets an inside edge and gets hit around the box. A slight grimace from Kamindu, but he is happy to carry on without needing any medical assistance.

Low full toss, on off. Rathnayake makes room and smashes it to deep cover for another single.

Across off, on a back of a length. Mendis stands tall on top of the bounce and angles it wide of point for one. Sri Lanka need 3 more runs.

Angled in at the hips. Rathnayake nurdles it behind square leg and takes a single.

Half a shout for LBW, but the umpire is unmoved. With nothing to lose, Shaheen Afridi takes the review. Tailing back in, on a good length, on middle. Rathnayake clears the front leg and collapses his back knee for the big hit. Squeezes it out down to mid on. It has come right off the middle of the bat, with the pad well away from the ball.

Offers a bit of flight, on middle and leg. Mendis tucks it beside the strip on the leg side.

Slows it down, it is fuller as well, on middle. Kamindu brings his bat out in front to block it out.

On a good length, on off. Mendis stabs it down on the off side.

Flatter and shorter, on off. Rathnayake punches it to deep point for one.

Flighted delivery, slower through the air but the line is a little too straight, down leg. Mendis shuffles across and plays the lap down to deep fine leg. Haris Rauf covers good ground to his left and gets low to prevent the boundary, saving a run for his side.

FOUR! Nicely done! A bit of air given, on a length, on off and middle. Mendis walks across the stumps and gets low to be able to get under the ball. He brings out the scoop and plays it over the keeper's head for a boundary. The 100 is up for Sri Lanka, and they need 9 more runs.

A lot fuller at the sticks. Rathnayake goes back to a ball he was better off being forward to but manages to tap it to mid off.

On top of the off stump. Rathnayake lets the ball come on and punches it to the right of deep point for a couple of runs more.

Moving back in off the seam, on a back of a length, on middle. Rathnayake defends it from the crease.

Pushes the length up, on off. Rathnayake knocks it with a straight bat to mid off.

Straightening off a good length, on off. Rathnayake is squared up in defense but manages to keep it out.

Naseem hits the good length, just outside the off stump. Rathnayake presses forward and plays a punchy drive to the right of deep cover for a couple of runs.

Shorter and on middle. Rathnayake hangs back and turns it square on the leg side for a single. Sri Lanka require 17 more runs.

Speared in on a good length, on middle. Rathnayake pushes it to cover.

Direct hit! Floated up, on middle. Mendis advances and checks his drive to mid-wicket. Pavan Rathnayake is backing up at the non-striker's end. Shaheen Afridi gets low and gathers the ball before scoring a direct hit at the bowling end. Rathnayake dives to get home and the ball deflects away off the sticks, allowing a single to be taken. A quick check upstairs and Pavan is found to be safe.

Shorter and on middle. Rathnayake knocks it off the back foot to long on for one.

Full and in line with the off stump. Mendis dances down the track and has a swing at it. Slices it off the outer half through point for a run.

Tossed up, on middle. Mendis uses his feet and blocks it out.

Bumper over off, Rathnayake sways away from the line of the ball.

FOUR! Nearly went the distance. Banged in short by Shaheen at pace, on off. Rathnayake backs away towards the leg side and gets his hands high to connect with the pull. Smokes it to the left of deep square leg. One bounce and over the ropes. 21 more needed for Sri Lanka to reach the final.

Pace taken off, on a back of a length, on off. Mendis waits on it before steering it behind point for a single.

DROPPED! These return catches are never easy but Shaheen Afridi will feel that he should have taken this. Low full toss, on middle. Mendis could have hit this anywhere but he ends up chipping it back to the bowler tamely. Afridi sticks out the left hand on his follow-through but the ball does not stick in his grasp. It clips his fingertips and rolls past the stumps.

Nails a yorker and it tails back in, on middle. Mendis jams it out back to the bowler.

Pushed across the right-hander, on a good length. Pavan slaps it to deep point and crosses over.

Fired in full, on off. Kamindu leans across to play it back to the bowler.

On a length, on off. Mendis pushes it to cover.

Slower and on a good length, a bit of turn, on off. Rathnayake glides it to backward point. There is a bit of hesitation but the batters eventually cross over.

A bit short, on middle. Rathnayake nudges it to mid-wicket.

Shorter and on middle, that is punched off the back foot to long on for a single.

Darted in, on a length, on middle. Rathnayake mows it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Full and on middle. Mendis clips it to mid-wicket.

SIX! Taken at deep square leg, but the fielder has stepped on the boundary cushions. It has been that kind of a day for Pakistan. That brings up a FIFTY FOR MENDIS. First half-century of this tour for Kamindu, and this will give him plenty of confidence. Afridi goes into the wicket on off. Kamindu swivels for the pull and skies it a long way up towards deep square leg. The fielder settles under the skier to take the catch but is not aware of how close he is to the boundary cushions. He takes the catch and trods onto the advertising cushions with the ball in his hand.

Given LBW but successfully overturned by Mendis! Yorker attempted by Shaheen, but it comes out as a low full toss, tailing back in towards the pads. Mendis misses out on the flick and gets hit low on the front pad. A prolonged appeal and the finger is raised. That seemed to be going down leg, and Kamindu takes the review. The replays indicate that even the impact could be outside the line here. Flat line on UltraEdge, but the Ball Tracking has the ball going past the leg stump. The on-field decision is overturned.

Fuller and on off. Mendis plays a punchy drive but picks out the man at cover.

Wide! Banged in short but down leg. Kamindu lets it through to the keeper.

On a hard length, on middle. Kamindu tries to nudge it away but gets a soft leading edge to cover.

Short and wide on off. Rathnayake takes a step back in the crease and spanks it to deep cover. They cross.

Angled in on a good length, on the pads. Rathnayake nurdles it behind square leg and turns the strike over.

Slower and fuller, on middle. Kamindu steps out and works it to long on for a run.

Fired in on a good length, on middle. Kamindu pushes it to mid-wicket.

Dropped short, on middle. Rathnayake punches it to long on for a single.

Shorter and pushed through, on middle. Rathnayake tucks it to mid-wicket.

Flighted delivery, on off. Rathnayake reaches out and strokes it to cover.

Full, angling outside off, Kamindu Mendis shoulder arms at it.

FOUR! Magnificent! Back of a good length, over middle. Kamindu Mendis rocks back and pulls it to deep backward square leg for four runs.

Oh, that one stays low! Good-length delivery at pace, spraying it outside off. Kamindu Mendis tries to punch it through cover, but the ball skids through and beats the inside edge.

Pitches it up, fuller, shaping it away from the batter, Kamindu Mendis tries to push it to cover, but it zips past the outside edge.

FOUR! Class written all over it. Fuller in length, angled across off. Mendis presses onto the front foot and plays a punchy drive on the up. Threads the gap at cover and picks up a boundary.

On a good length, on off. Mendis taps it to cover.

At the sticks, on a length. Pavan lunges to defend.

OUT! PLAYED ON! Oh my word, how unfortunate is that? All Kusal Mendis can do is smile and walk off the field. Good-length delivery, pitching on middle stump, sliding on with the arm. Kusal makes room and makes room to stab it down. The ball bounces off the face of the bat and, on its way up, it catches the back of the bat. It drops to the ground and trickles to hit the off stump with enough force to dislodge the bail. One of the strangest dismissals you will ever see.

FOUR! Nicely played! Minhas fires it quicker, pitching it short, on middle. Kusal Mendis opens his stance and heaves it over mid-wicket for a boundary.

Short of a length, over off, Kusal Mendis pats it to cover.

Fuller, on off, Kamindu Mendis tucks it to mid-wicket for a single.

Short, on middle, Kamindu Mendis defends it back to the bowler.

FOUR! Excellent shot! Full in length, over middle and leg. Kusal Mendis brings his wrists into play to flick it towards the left of the short mid-wicket fielder for four runs.

Full, outside off, shaping away, slower as well. Kusal Mendis tries to push it toward the off side from his front foot, but it nips away pretty late to beat the outside edge of the bat.

Full-length delivery, just outside off, Kamindu Mendis tries to drive it to cover, but gets the inside edge as the ball goes past mid-wicket. The deep square leg fielder sprints to his left and slides to cut it off for three runs.

Change of pace from Rauf, pitching it on middle and angling it away, just outside off. Kamindu Mendis tries to pull it away, but gets beaten on the inside edge.

Pitches it up, on off, Kamindu Mendis blocks it to mid off.

Fuller, on off, Kamindu Mendis defends it to mid off.

Short, over the stumps, Kusal Mendis sways away to make a leave.

OUT! CAUGHT! Shaheen Afridi strikes and also gives a bit of a send-off to Avishka Fernando. Short of a length, wider of off stump, springing up off the deck. Avishka attempts the pull, but ends up hitting it from the toe-end of the bat straight towards mid-wicket. Fakhar Zaman moves smartly to his left to hold a neat reverse-cup catch. Sri Lanka are 50/1, chasing 111 runs.

Bumper, over middle, Avishka Fernando ducks under this delivery.

Slower one, a touch fuller, angling outside off. Avishka Fernando tries to push it away, but gets beaten on the outside edge.

On a nagging length, angling away from the batter. Avishka Fernando tries to pull, but chops it down towards the left of the bowler.

Fuller, around middle, Avishka Fernando chips it over mid on for a brace. The 50 is up for Sri Lanka.

FOUR! Hat-trick of boundaries! Full-length delivery, outside off, Kamindu Mendis chips it beautifully over cover for four runs. 12 runs from the first over of Haris Rauf!

FOUR! More runs! Fullish, angling in, down the leg side. Kamindu Mendis clips it toward the right of deep fine leg for a boundary.

FOUR! Up and over! Just a shade behind the good length, just outside off. Kamindu Mendis stays deep inside the crease and lofts it over mid on. The timing of the shot is not proper, but it's enough to clear the sub fielder, Ghazi Ghori, at mid on. Ghazi turns around and gives chase but fails to flick it to keep the ball in play.

Full-length delivery, outside off, Kamindu Mendis drives it yet again to mid off.

Fuller once again, outside off, Kamindu Mendis drives it to mid off.

Haris Rauf comes from around the wicket to the left-hander. Pitching it fuller, outside off. Kamindu Mendis leans on it and blocks it down.

Bumper now, over middle. Avishka Fernando ducks underneath.

On middle and leg, pitching it on a good length, Avishka Fernando pulls it straight to backward square leg.

Good length, nipping down the leg side. Kamindu Mendis glances it to the left of deep fine leg, where the fielder fumbles a bit, but that costs nothing to Pakistan.

On a nagging length, outside off, Avishka Fernando shuffles across and pulls it across to deep backward square leg for one.

Full, on middle, Avishka Fernando flicks it to mid-wicket.

FOUR! Nicely picked up! Shaheen serves it on a good length, outside off, shaping it away from the batter. Avishka Fernando hangs deep inside the crease and pulls it over mid-wicket for a boundary.

Good length, wide outside off. Mendis makes a leave.

FOUR! All these runs might not have come if Saad Baig had pouched the catch in the first over. On a nagging length, angling across the batter. Kamindu Mendis slaps it hard through point for another boundary.

SIX! Oh, delightful! Fires it fuller, angling in, around middle and leg. Kamindu Mendis flicks it away with the angle and clears the deep backward square leg fence with ease. A ball boy near the advertising boards casually sticks out his left hand and plucks the ball out of the air. As cool as you like!

Pushes his length fuller, does Naseem, on middle. Kamindu Mendis nudges it to square leg.

On a nagging length, around middle, Kamindu Mendis clips it wide of deep square leg for a brace.

Just behind the good length, over off. Avishka Fernando tucks it with soft hands toward the left of the deep fine leg fielder. The batter sprints hard for the first two runs and gets the third with ease.

Hard length, outside off, Kamindu Mendis mistimes his punch to cover.

Bangs hard onto the deck, just outside off, Kamindu Mendis sways away and lets it travel to the keeper.

Back of a length, outside off, Kamindu Mendis punches it to cover, opening the face of the bat.

Angling way outside off, pitching just behind good length. Avishka Fernando pushes away from his body to cover-point for a single.

Back of a length, over off, Avishka Fernando lifts his front leg up and pulls it gently to square leg.

WIDE! On a length, angling down the leg side. Avishka fails to connect his flick and the umpire gives it wide.

FOUR! Outstanding from Avishka Fernando! Fuller in length, on the middle stump. Avishka Fernando leans on it and just gives it a mere push toward the left of the bowler for four runs.

A touch fuller, outside leg, Kamindu Mendis misses on his flick.

FOUR! Excellent timing on that shot! Much fuller, aiming at the pads of the batter, trying to trap him in front. Kamindu Mendis rolls his wrists and plays the pick-up shot, way over mid-wicket for four runs.

Just a shade behind the good length, around off, Kamindu Mendis opens the face of the bat and fends it to backward point.

Off the outside edge! On a length, outside off, Avishka Fernando tries to punch it away from his body, but gets nicked off the outside edge, toward the left of point for a single.

Fuller in length, outside off, Avishka Fernando fends it down the deck.

Slightly uppishly, but safe! Pitches it fuller, outside off. Kamindu Mendis drives it toward the left of Maaz Sadaqat in the short cover region. Maaz dives and parries it away towards mid off. They cross.

BYE! Swinging down leg but it stays within the guideline. Mendis misses out on the tickle. Saad Baig dives to his right and gets a hand on it to prevent the ball from racing away. The batters cross over for a bye.

Back of a length, around the hips of the batter. Avishka Fernando misses his flick and it brushes off the thigh pad, toward short fine leg for a leg bye.

Pitches it up, around the pads of the batter. Kamindu Mendis clips it to deep square leg for one.

DROPPED! That should have been taken, especially when you have such a low target to defend. Just a shade behind the good length, pitching it closer to the off stump and swinging it away. Kamindu Mendis tries to defend it half-heartedly and gets nicked off the outside edge. The ball flies to the left of the keeper, Saad Baig, who is late to react. He stretches his left hand out, but the ball clips his fingertips and drops to the ground.

Good-length delivery, just outside off, nipping it away. Kamindu Mendis lunges and lets it travel to the keeper.

A dot to begin with! Shaheen Afridi comes from over the wicket and bowls a touch fuller, pitching it just outside off, swinging away. Kamindu Mendis makes a leave at it.