Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2024: Three reasons why Pakistan A lost semi-final against Sri Lanka A

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Pakistan A lost to Sri Lanka A by seven wickets in the first semi-final of the ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2024 on Friday, October 25 at the Al Amerat Stadium in Oman.

Winning the toss and electing to bat first, the Pakistan Shaheens posted a total of 135/9 in the first innings. However, their bowling department failed to prevent Sri Lanka A from chasing down the target, who reached 137/3 with 21 deliveries remaining.

The Shaheens failed to recreate their form from last year, where they finished as the champions. Instead, their campaign ended with a heartbreaking loss against the Sri Lankans in the semi-final stage.

Let’s have a look at the reasons why Pakistan A lost the semi-final match of the Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2024 to Sri Lanka A.

#3. Pakistan A top order flop show except Omair Yousuf

Pakistan A reached the semi-final on the back of some impressive batting performances. The Shaheens posted totals of 175+ runs in all three of their group-stage matches. However, during the crucial semi-final match on Friday, the Pakistani batting top order completely failed to turn up. Other than opening Omair Yousuf, who scored 68 runs from 46 deliveries, the other top-order batters failed to hit even double digits in the match.

Yasir Khan (2), Mohammad Haris (6), and Qasim Akram (0) returned to the pavilion without making any dent in the first-innings total. Haider Ali reached 14 runs before being stumped by the Sri Lanka A wicketkeeper, and the next highest-scorer was bowler Mohammad Imran, who scored 13 runs in the tail end.

As a result of the batters’ no-show, Pakistan A could only post a total of 135 runs, which was never going to be enough on the bouncy pitch at the Al Amerat stadium.

#2. Dushan Hemantha’s bowling form

Few players have had a bigger impact at the Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2024 than Sri Lanka A’s Dushan Hemantha. The leg spinner took four wickets against Pakistan, dismissing the dangerous Omar Yousuf, as well as the middle order batters Haider Ali, Arafat Minhas, and Abdul Samad. He ultimately finished the match with a figure of 4/21.

The 30-year-old spinner has now taken 14 wickets in the tournament, which is almost double that of second-place Ripon Mondal (eight wickets). Other than his wicket-taking prowess, Hemantha has maintained an economy rate of 6.50, which is quite impressive in T20I matches.

#1. Sri Lankan top-order onslaught during powerplay

Unlike their Pakistani counterparts, the Sri Lanka A batters turned up to the pitch on top gear. After an early setback where Yoshadha Lanka was controversially dismissed for obstructing the field, the Lankan top-order picked themselves up and answered with the bat. Opener Lahiru Udara and No. 3 batter Ahan Wickramasinghe built a solid partnership. Udara was dismissed after scoring 43 runs in just 20 balls, including four sixes.

However, Wickramasinghe played a composed innings, scoring a half-century and staying not out till the end at 52 runs from 46 deliveries. This took Sri Lanka A to the cusp of victory, and a 17-run innings from Sahan Arachchige led them to a seven-wicket win with more than three overs remaining.