Wickets Tumble, Pressure Mounts

The game took an unexpected turn when Samarawickrama was stumped after attempting an ambitious shot. Despite this setback, Asalanka joined Mendis at the crease, holding their ground with a 33-run partnership. 

However, Mendis's departure, courtesy of a stunning catch by Mohammad Haris, triggered a tense procession that brought Sri Lanka from 210-3 to 246-8.

With Shanaka's dismissal, Asalanka continued to battle, but Shaheen Shah Afridi's double-wicket over piled on the pressure. Sri Lanka found themselves needing eight runs from the final over, with just three wickets in hand.

The tension reached its peak when Pramod was run-out in the final over, leaving Asalanka with the responsibility to secure victory. With nerves of steel, Asalanka edged the penultimate ball for a boundary, bringing the equation down to just two runs off the final delivery. 

The Colombo crowd erupted in jubilation as Asalanka elegantly clipped the last ball to secure a stunning win.

Pakistan's Batting Struggles and Resurgence

In the first innings, Pakistan won the toss but struggled early as Fakhar Zaman departed quickly. Abdullah Shafique and Babar Azam steadied the ship with a half-century partnership. However, Pakistan's middle order crumbled, and they found themselves in dire straits at 130-5 before a rain break.

The rescue mission came in the form of Mohammad Rizwan and Iftikhar Ahmed, who orchestrated a brilliant century stand. Their late surge propelled Pakistan to a competitive total, setting up a tantalizing contest that ultimately went in Sri Lanka's favor.

With this remarkable victory, Sri Lanka has booked their spot in the Asia Cup final, where they will face India on Sunday, September 17th. As cricket enthusiasts eagerly await the showdown, Sri Lanka's thrilling win against Pakistan will be remembered as a testament to their resilience and fighting spirit on the road to championship glory.

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