Pakistan were 162/7 before the two batsmen put on an unbroken 75-run partnership to take the team to the knockouts.

By Abdullah Ansari (12th June, 2017)

Pakistan won the toss in this must win encounter between the two sides and opted to bowl first. Fahim Ashraf made his ODI debut, replacing Shadab Khan. Pakistan's opening bowlers kept things tight at the start but soon the SL openers began going after the ball with Dickwella scooping one for four inside the first five overs. Gunathilaka was the first to depart, dismissed by Junaid. A partnership developed between Dickwella and Mendis and they looked at ease at the crease. Hasan's introduction to the attack brought the next wicket as a jaffa got rid of the dangerous Mendis. Chandimal departed a couple of balls later as he dragged one onto his stumps. Mathews brought some solidity to the middle and put on another partnership with Dickwella who reached a fifty. With the partnership looking dangerous, Amir returned and had Mathews bowled as he dragged one onto his stumps. De Silva fell soon, caught behind off Junaid while Dickwella was next to fall, top scoring with 73 as he inside edged one off Amir with Sarfraz grabbing an excellent catch. Perera fell cheaply to Junaid as well but Lakmal provided Gunaratne with some support at the crease. The two took the total beyond 200 before Hasan removed both in the space of a few overs. Fahim got the last wicket of Pradeep as SL were bowled out for 236 in 49.2 overs.

Pakistan's chase began on the front foot as Fakhar went after the SL bowlers. Azhar played the anchor role at the other end. The two seemed to complement each other well as Fakhar went hell for leather bringing up his maiden ODI fifty off just 34 balls. However, he was out to Pradeep just two balls later, hooking one to the fielder at fine leg. Babar started uncertainly and eventually fell to the same bowler as he flicked one uppishly to midwicket for just 10. Hafeez only survived a few balls before lobbing one to the leg side for a simple catch as SL came right back into the game. Next was Azhar as he was dismissed, caught in the slips after making 34 off 50 balls. Malik looked uncertain at the crease as SL opted to bring their main pacers back and his short stay came to an end as Malinga had him caught, gloving a bouncer down the leg-side to the keeper. Imad hit one boundary and then fell as he loosely wafted at one outside off as Pakistan slumped from 74/0 to 137/6. Fahim showed some resolve to fight it out on debut as he hooked a short ball for six but he fell a little while later, run out while backing up at the non-striker's end after making 15. Amir came out to bat with steely resolve and resolutely defended while Sarfraz stayed at the crease as well. The two steadily built the partnership and were gifted chances by SL as Sarfraz was twice dropped by the fielders. He made it count as the partnership strengthened and eventually passed 50. Pakistan inched closer towards the target as Mathews bowled out his main bowlers without being able to get the breakthrough. Sarfraz surpassed 50 and eventually took Pakistan over the finish line with 31 balls to spare, setting a record 8th wicket partnership of 75* with Amir in the process as Pakistan advanced to the semis and knocked Sri Lanka out.

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