Pakistan In Asia Cup Finals

Pakistan knock out Sri Lanka from Asia Cup with a thumping win!
Pakistan 189 for 3 (Misbah 72*, Akmal 77) beat Sri Lanka 188 (Sangakkara 71, Tharanga 57, Cheema 4-43) by six wickets

Pakistan have knocked out Sri Lanka from the Asia Cup by defeating them by a crushing margin of 6 wickets with as many as 61 balls to spare. The Lankans with two straight defeats have no chance of making it to the finals with that.

It was a decent start for Pakistan although a slow one from its openers. Just when Nasir Jamshed was trying to open up his shoulders and play some shots came the breakthrough for Sri Lanka in the 9th over. It was a quick 141 kmph bouncer from Suranga Lakmal that forced Nasir Jamshed (18) to miscue a pull towards mid on with Pakistan at 29 for 1. Leg spinner Seekkuge Prasanna provided some hope when he lured the other opener Mohammad Hafeez (11) into an expansive square drive to have him caught at point with Pakistan at 31 for 2 in 11.2 overs.  

Umar Akmal Makes  77Runs  

 Sri Lanka forced their way back into the match when Younis Khan (2) played a rash flick shot to an inswinger from Suranga Lakmal which was caught by a forward diving Farveez Maharoof at mid on. Pakistan were in trouble at 33 for 3 when Umar Akmal joined Skipper Misbah-ul-Haq. The Pakistani duo defied the Sri Lankan bowling comfortably to steady the innings once again. Soon they got their side cruising towards an easy victory with Lasith Malinga proving to be ineffective.

With Pakistan just a hit away from a victory, Umar Akmal lost his wicket trying to finish the match in style but only to miscue Maharoof to mid on. Umar Akmal by then had played an entertaining knock of 77 from 72 balls with 7 fours and 2 sixes while putting up a match-winning stand of 152 runs with his Skipper.

Misbah-ul-Haq remained unbeaten on 72 (from 93 balls with 9 fours and a six) to steer his side to victory in just 39.5 overs. Pakistan with this have picked up a bonus point and are already into the Finals of the Asia Cup 2012 with one more game to go.
Misbah (Mr.Tuk Tuk ) Makes 72*

Aizaz Cheema finished with figures of 4 for 43 in 9 overs, Umar Gul with 2 for 20 in 8 overs and Saeed Ajmal with 3 for 27 in 8.4 overs to destroy the strong Sri Lankan batting.
Fast bowler Aizaz Cheema who dismissed the big three of the Sri Lankan batting – Jayawardene, Dilshan and Sangakkara got the Man of the Match award.
Aizaz Cheema