Sri Lanka vs Pakistan Highlights, Asia Cup 2022: Hasaranga, Nissanka drive SL to 5-wicket win in Super 4 clash in Dubai

Rizwan's heart was in his mouth! He miscued the shot but it bounced just before Shanaka at mid-off. Rizwan gets a couple of runs to keep the strike.

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Babar and Rizwan open for Pakistan. Madushankastarts off proceedings with the ball. Let's begin!

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Pakistan would look to use the opportunity to get some runs on the board, with Babar leading the way for a big total. Sunday will witness the rise of new champion and the two sides look to outwit each other in the preview of the tournament final.

Players line up for the national anthems. Match referee Andy Pycroft leads the umpiring crew as it enters the field.

Sanjay Manjrekar says it's a replica of the India-Afghanistan surface. It is a good batting surface, but wrist spinners will have a big say on this surface. Excited to see how Usman Qadir fares, but this is a surface where 1,2,3 can get a lot of runs.

Babar Azam says Shadab Khan will be fit for the final, while Naseem Shah is just being rested.

"We would have also bowled first. Two changes - Shadab and Naseem are not playing, Usman Qadir and Hasan Ali are in. Shadab should be fit for the final, we just wanted to rest them to try a different combination before the final," says Babar.

Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan(w), Babar Azam(c), Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Asif Ali, Mohammad Nawaz, Hasan Ali , Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Usman Qadir.

Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis(w), Dhananjaya de Silva, Danushka Gunathilaka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka(c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Pramod Madushan, Maheesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madushanka

Two changes for Sri Lanka: Dhananjaya de Silva comes in for Charith Asalanka, and Pramod Madhusan in for Asitha Fernando.

Pakistan also make two changes as Shadab Khan and Naseem Shah sit out, Usman Qadir and Hasan Ali get a chance before the Sunday final.

Sri Lanka have won the toss and have opted to bowl.

"We'll bowl first. Been lucky with the toss, you never know what will happen. But it's been our charm to bowl first," says Dasun Shanaka.

The 'final' before the final is minutes away as both teams look to iron out flaws before the Sunday blockbuster. The two face each other for the first time in the tournament. Toss coming up shortly... stay tuned for Live updates!

"You can't judge a player by two or three innings. He can straightaway return to form with one or two shots," says Gautam Gambhir on Star Sports about Babar's lean patch in the competition.

Shadab Khan underwent some attention from the physios while batting in the previous game. He is likely to be rested against Sri Lanka, with Usman Qadir replacing him in the eleven. Hasan Ali is likely to get a chance in place of Mohammad Hasnain... stay tuned for toss and playing XIs.

The tournament ends on Sunday and Pakistan skipper Babar Azam looks to end it with a big score. His scores read 10, 9, 14, 0 so far. He will look to get back among the runs in 'final' before the Sunday final.

Mohammad Rizwan, on the other hand, has been consistent with two half-centuries in four games, including 78* and 71 against Hong Kong and India, respectively.

The dead rubber might present a chance to Usman Qadir, who can replace Shadab Khan if Pakistan decide to rest key players. They also have Hasan Ali in the mix.

India tried to squeeze out Sri Lanka but Bhuvneshwar faltered in the 19th over and conceded 14, which comprised two back-to-back boundaries by Shanaka. The SL captain hit an unbeaten 33 off 18 balls and Bhanuka Rajapaksa scored 25 not out to take their side past the finish line. The SL batting unit will be up against a strong bowling line-up with Naseem-Rauf-Hasnain.

“The confidence in the dressing room is great,” Shanaka said after the win versus India. “Pathum and Kusal set the tone brilliantly and (Bhanuka) Rajapaksa and I set up the chase.”

Sri Lanka and Pakistan face each other for the first time in the competition. Pakistan lead the head to head record with 13 wins, while the islanders have 8 under their belt. The teams met previously in 2019, where Sri Lanka won the T20I series 3-0.

Sri Lanka stunned defending champions India as they recorded a six-wicket win in the Super 4 contest earlier this week. 

Half centuries by opening pair of Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka led Sri Lanka to 174-4 for its third straight successful run-chase of 170-plus in the competition. Fans will expect the island nation to do an encore tonight.

Pakistan have appointed former Australian opening batter Matthew Hayden as their mentor ahead of next month's T20 WC in Australia. Hayden served the Pakistan team in a similar role during last year’s T20 World Cup in the UAE, where the Asian side won all its five group games before losing in the semifinals to Australia.

“Hayden brings with him a wealth of knowledge about Australia conditions and I am confident his involvement will significantly benefit our extremely talented cricketers,” PCB chairman Ramiz Raja said in a statement.

Pakistan may have put up a fine show thus far in the competition, but Shadab Khan has warned his Pakistan team that there remains work to do. "I think a good team should not suffer a collapse like this in pressure situations, especially I played a rash shot. I was well set and should have finished the match," said Shadad after the Afghanistan game.

"Like I said at the start of the tournament, we are a good team but not a champion team and that's what is our goal. Hopefully, we will work on this and try not to repeat our mistakes."

Dilshan Madhushanka was brilliant against India with his 3-24. He clean bowled Kohli in his second over and then removed Rishabh Pant and Deepak Hooda in his return spell to thwart India’s hopes of putting up a daunting total.

For Pakistan, Shadab Khan's role remains crucial. He was named man of the match against Afghanistan for 1-27 and 36 with the bat.

Today's dead rubber will present both teams with a chance to fine-tune their skillset and try out new combinations. The spotlight will be on Babar Azam, who has struggled for runs so far in the competition. While he looks to notch up his first big score, Sri Lanka expects runs from their opening duo of Nissanka and Mendis.

Pakistan entered the final after Naseem Shah smashed back-to-back sixes in the last over versus Afghanistan. Needing 11 off the last over and only one wicket in hand, he hit Fazalhaq Farooqi for two sixes to take his team home. Pakistan’s win also ended India’s slim chances to reach the final.

Afghanistan, who won their group games against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, faltered in the Super 4 stage, losing all three games. India also couldn’t make it to the final after losing to Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The focus now shifts to the last Super 4 game, which acts as a dress rehearsal for Sunday's final.

Hello and good evening everyone! Welcome to our live coverage of the final Super 4 clash between Sri Lanka and Pakistan. The game will serve as a dress rehearsal for Sunday's final, which has all the elements of a blockbuster. 

Pakistan entered the final with a thrilling win over Afghanistan, while Sri Lanka stunned defending champions India to record two wins in two games. Sri Lanka and Pakistan now cross paths prior to the much-anticipated final in Dubai... stay tuned for Live updates!