In a tense Asia Cup Super 4 encounter, Pakistan edged past Sri Lanka by 5 wickets in a low-scoring thriller held in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. The victory keeps Pakistan's hopes of qualifying for the final alive.

Sri Lanka, after winning the toss, were restricted to a modest 133/8 in their 20 overs. Kamindu Mendis top-scored for Sri Lanka with a composed 50 off 44 balls. Shaheen Shah Afridi spearheaded Pakistan's bowling attack, claiming three crucial wickets for 28 runs. Hussain Talat also made a significant impact with the ball, taking two wickets. Sri Lanka's innings struggled to gain momentum, with wickets falling at regular intervals, preventing any substantial partnerships.

In pursuit of 134, Pakistan's chase was anything but straightforward. They got off to a brisk start, with Sahibzada Farhan making up for a clumsy Fakhar Zaman. However, a sudden collapse saw them slump to 57/4, with Wanindu Hasaranga causing trouble. Hasaranga dismissed Saim Ayub and skipper Salman Agha, putting Pakistan under immense pressure. At 80/5, with 54 runs still needed, the game hung in the balance.

Hussain Talat (32 not out off 30 balls) and Mohammad Nawaz (38 not out off 24 balls) then displayed remarkable composure to guide Pakistan home. They forged an unbeaten partnership, collecting the remaining runs with two overs to spare. Nawaz sealed the victory in style, hitting Dushmantha Chameera for a six.

Despite the win, Pakistan's captain, Salman Agha, acknowledged that it wasn't a perfect game, pointing to the loss of quick wickets. He praised the team's overall performance and the batters' hard work. Sri Lanka's captain, Charith Asalanka, lamented the early loss of wickets, which made it difficult for his team to recover. He did, however, praise Wanindu Hasaranga'ssuperstar performance.

Hussain Talat was named Player of the Match for his all-round performance.

With this victory, Pakistan now has one win in the Super 4 stage, while Sri Lanka have suffered two consecutive defeats. Pakistan will face Bangladesh in their next match, while Sri Lanka's road to the final looks increasingly difficult.