ICC Champions Trophy 2017: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka - As it happened...

Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 3 wickets with 31 balls remaining and knocked them out of the tournament at Sophia Garden, Cardiff, today.

PTI

New Delhi: Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by three wickets and knocked them out of the tournament at Sophia Garden, Cardiff, today. They will take on title favourites and hosts England in the first semi-final on June 14. ( ICC CT 2017, PAK vs SL: Scorecard || Full Coverage )

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PAKISTAN INNINGS | TARGET - 237

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Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 3 wickets with 31 balls remaining.

What a finish!

Sarfaraz Ahmed and Mohammad Amir take Pakistan to ICC Champions Trophy semi-final. They will lock horns with hosts England in the first semi-final of Wednesday.

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Over 42 | Score 198/7 | Sarfraz Ahmed 50 (72); Mohammad Amir 20 (33)

200 is up for Pakistan and Sri Lanka's pathetic fielding might just cost them the match and a semi-final spot as well.

50-run partnership is also complete between Sarfaraz Ahmed and Mohammad Amir.

DROPPED! 40.1 Over: Lasith Malinga to Sarfraz Ahmed

Another Lasith Malinga over another dropped catch.

Sarfaraz Ahmed pulled this one and the ball got the top edge of his bat. Prasanna ran in from deep square and almost got there but dropped the catch.

FIFTY: 41.5 Over: Suranga Lakmal to Sarfraz Ahmed

Sarfaraz Ahmed brought up his fifty with a sweetly-timed cover drive that went racing for four.

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Over 40 | Score 198/7 | Sarfraz Ahmed 40 (66); Mohammad Amir 15 (27)

The match has drifted a little towards the Men in Green in the last 5 overs.

Pakistan require another 39 runs with 3 wickets and 60 balls remaining.

Sri Lanka have failed to take wickets and they have bowled a lot of extra deliveries and gave a lot of runs through their misfielding.

For Pakistan, Sarfaraz Ahmed is playing a captain's knock.

DROPPED! 38.3 Over: Lasith Malinga to Sarfraz Ahmed

Such a poor effort from Thisara Perera at this crucial stage of the game.

Sarfaraz Ahmed showed the full face of his bat and the ball raced towards Perera at mid-on. It was such a simple catch but Perera dropped it.

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Over 35 | Score 175/7 | Sarfraz Ahmed 29 (46); Mohammad Amir 5 (17)

Pakistan need 62 more runs from 15 overs, 3 wickets remain.

Less than run-a-ball required by Pakistan and Sri Lanka need wickets to get back in the game.

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Over 30 | Score 162/7 | Sarfraz Ahmed 22 (23); Mohammad Amir 0 (0)

150 is up for Pakistan but they are in a spot of bother now.

29.5 Over: Fahim Ashraf run out (Thisara Perera) 15 (15)

What an unfortunate way to get out!

Fahim Sharif was at the non-striker's end and Sarfaraz Ahmed played a straight drive. Fahim was short of his crease as the ball raced toward the stumps after touching Perera's fingers.

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Over 27 | Score 145/6 | Sarfraz Ahmed 17 (23); Fahim Ashraf 10 (16)

More trouble for Pakistan as they are six down now.

WICKET! 25.4 Over: Imad Wasim c Niroshan Dickwella b Nuwan Pradeep 4 (3b)

Simple edge and a simple catch. Soft dismissal.

SIX! 26.5 Over: Lasith Malinga to Fahim Ashraf

Fahim Ashraf pulled a bouncer from Lasith Malinga out of the park for a six.

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Over 25 | Score 132/5 | Sarfraz Ahmed 9 (13); Imad Wasim 10 (16)

Half Pakistan's side is back in the hut and they still need more than a hundred runs.

WICKET! 24.5 Over: Shoaib Malik c Niroshan Dickwella b Lasith Malinga 11 (20b)

The toe-crusher bowls a yorker and the batsman attempted a pull shot. The ball went racing to the wicketkeeper instead.

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Over 23 | Score 124/4 | Shoaib Malik 9 (13); Sarfraz Ahmed 10 (16)

Pakistan require another 113 runs with 6 wickets and 27 overs remaining.

WICKET! 19.2 Over: Azhar Ali c Kusal Mendis b Suranga Lakmal 34 (50b)

Azhar Ali tried to glide it away but the ball took the edge and was taken by the man at widish slip.

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Over 19 | Score 110/3 | Azhar Ali 34 (48); Shoaib Malik 6 (7)

100 up for Pakistan.

Shoaib Malik, who is playing his 250th ODI, has come in to bat after Pakistan lost three wickets in quick succession. 

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Over 17 | Score 99/3 | Azhar Ali 26 (42); Shoaib Malik 4 (1)

Suddenly Pakistan seem to be losing the plot after a good start.

WICKET! 15.4 Over: Babar Azam c Dhananjaya de Silva b Nuwan Pradeep 10 (18b)

A length delivery on the pads and sent straight to the man at mid-wicket.

WICKET! 16.5 Over: Mohammad Hafeez c Nuwan Pradeep b Thisara Perera 1(5)

Another soft dismissal. The batsman gave a leading edge while defending and the man at mid-wicket took the catch.

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Over 14 | Score 87/1 | Azhar Ali 21 (37); Babar Azam 9 (11)

Finally! a wicket for Sri Lanka. 

FIFTY! 10.6 Over: Asela Gunaratne to Fakhar Zaman

First ODI fifty for Fakhar Zaman and it would not have come at a better time.

WICKET! 11. 2 Over: Fakhar Zaman c Asela Gunaratne b Nuwan Pradeep 50 (36b)

The batsman tried to hook this short ball from Nuwan Pradeep and gave a top edge that landed in the hands of Asela Gunaratne at deep fine leg.

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Over 10 | Score 65/0 | Fakhar Zaman 43 (30); Azhar Ali 16 (30)

50 up for Pakistan as the openers Fakhar Zaman and Azhar Ali are going strong.

JUST IN: India have topped Group B and will face Bangladesh in the second semi-final to be played on Thursday.

The winner of this game will take on hosts and Group A toppers England on Wednesday in the first semi-final.

SIX! 8.5 Over: Nuwan Pradeep to Fakhar Zaman

Everything is working for Pakistan.

It was such a mistimed shot. Even the batsman wasn't aware where the ball went. Fortunately, it went outside the boundary for a maximum. 

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Over 8 | Score 44/0 | Fakhar Zaman 24 (19); Azhar Ali 16 (29)

Things are looking bad for Sri Lanka as Pakistan batsmen look well-settled now. None of the Lankan bowlers are looking effective against Pakistan openers.

SIX! 7.1 Over: Thisara Perera to Azhar Ali

What a welcome for Thisara Perera! 

Ali stepped outside of his crease and came on charging towards the short ball and sent it  out of the park.

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SRI LANKA 

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Over 35 | Score 167/7 | Asela Gunaratne 3 (9); Suranga Lakmal 0 (0)

Mohammad Amir hadn't taken a wicket in the tournament coming into today's game, now he has two in two. 

WICKET! 32.3 Over: Dhananjaya de Silva c Sarfraz Ahmed b Junaid Khan 1 (6b)

Angled a length delivery and it got an edge of the bat and went straight through to Sarfraz. 

WICKET! 33.1 Over: Niroshan Dickwella c Sarfraz Ahmed b Mohammad Amir 73 (86b)

Huge wicket for Pakistan. Set batsman Dickwella gave a thick inside edge and the ball flew low to Sarfraz. 

WICKET! 34.6 Over: Thisara Perera c Babar Azam b Junaid Khan 1 (5b)

Another one bites the dust! Gave a thick edge that carried to Babar at a wide first slip.

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Over 32 | Score 162/4 | Niroshan Dickwella 73 (85);  Dhananjaya de Silva 1 (3)

150 up for Sri Lanka and Mohammad Amir claimed his first wicket of the tournament at a crucial point.

WICKET! 31.2 Over: Angelo Mathews b Mohammad Amir 39 (54b)

The partnership between Angelo Mathews and Niroshan Dickwella was looking quite strong before Mohammad Amir forced Mathews to drag the ball on to his stumps.

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Over 28 | Score 143/3 | Mathews 28 (43) ; Dickwella 67 (75)

Hafeez for his fourth over.
SIX! 25.1 over – length ball, spun it in as Mathews shimmied down to loft it high over long-on for a six.
Nine off the over.

Spin attack continued with Imad Wasim in for his fourth over. Just two singles off it.

Hafeez in. Five off the over

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Over 25 | Score 127/3 | Mathews 18 (32) ; Dickwella 62 (67)

Fahim in for his sixth over.
FOUR! 22.1 over – low full toss, down the leg side as Mathews whipped it over midwicket for a boundary.
12 off the over.

Hafeez for his third over. Four off the over.

Imad returned for his third over. Five off the over.  

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Over 22 | Score 106/3 | Mathews 7 (24) ; Dickwella 53 (57)

Change in attack as Mohammad Hafeez stepped into the attack.
Single off the third ball and Dickwella notched up his fourth ODI fifty. Four runs off the over. 100 up for Sri Lanka.

Fahim into his fifth over. Two singles off the over.

Hafeez in for his second over. Four off the over.  

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Over 19 | Score 96/3 | Mathews 3 (11) ; Dickwella 49 (50)

Hassan Ali back in for his third over. Tidy over by the pacer, just a single off it.

Fahim followed in. Seven off the over.

Hassan again. Slip in place. Three singles of the over

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Over 16 | Score 85/3 | Mathews 1 (4) ; Dickwella 42 (41)

Fahim Ashraf in for his second over. Seven runs off the over.

Hassan Ali back for his second over.
WICKET! 14.5 over – back of the length delivery, angled it in, as the ball sneaked through bat and pad to click off the bails. Important wicket as in-form Mendis departed early.
Dinesh Chandimal walked in next. Two runs off the over.

Fahim Ashraf back in.
WICKET! 15.1 over – over-pitched delivery, well to the off as the ball struck the inside edge of the bat to rattle against the leg stump. Chandimal departs for none. That was Ashraf's maiden ODI wicket.
Angelo Mathews walked in next. Two singles off the over.  

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Over 13 | Score 74/1 | K Mendis 24 (24) ; Dickwella 36 (34)

Imad in for his second over.
FOUR! 10.4 over – more of a seamed delivery, down to the off side as Dickwella guided it down past short third man for a boundary.
10 off the over.

Change in attack as Fahim Ashraf stepped in for his first over. Six runs off the over.

Hasan Ali, another new bowler into the attack.
FOUR! 12.1 over – Mendis welcomed him with an elegant cover drive and it went all the way to the boundary.
Eight off the over.  

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Over 10 | Score 50/1 | K Mendis 17 (19) ; Dickwella 19 (21)

Change in attack as Imad Wasim stepped in for his first over. Interestingly, the spinner was born there at Swansea.

Junaid in for his fifth over.
Two boundaries of the first three deliveries by Kusal Mendis. Both from a shorter delivery.
10 off the over

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Over 8 | Score 37/1 | K Mendis 6 (11) ; Dickwella 18 (17)

Amir continued into his fourth over. Still wicket-less in the tournament. Ample Pakistani hope residing on his shoulders. Six runs off the over.

Junaid Khan followed in.
FOUR! 7.1 over – length ball, onto the stumps as Mendis leaned in and punched it down the ground for a boundary.
Five off the over.  

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Over 6 | Score 26/1 | K Mendis 0 (5) ; Dickwella 13 (11)

Amir in for his third. Second slip was shifted to midwicket. Just a single off the over.

Junaid Khan for his third over.
WICKET! 5.1 over – back of the length delivery, angled it slightly in as Gunathilaka chipped it straight to Shoaib Malik at mid-off.
Kusal Mendis walked in next. Was the Man of the Match in the last game against India with his knock of 89 off 93.
Wicket maiden for the pacer

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Over 4 | Score 24/0 | Gunathilaka 12 (13) ; Dickwella 13 (11)

Mohammad Amir back in for his second over. Eight runs scooped up off the six deliveries bowled.

Junaid up in for the next.
FOUR! 3.1 over – back of the length delivery, outside off as Gunathilaka punished it down cover for a boundary.
FOUR! 3.3 over – back of the length delivery again, seamed down to the leg side as Gunathilaka whipped it high over square-leg, few bounces and the ball touched the ropes for a boundary.
FOUR! 3.6 over – length ball, outside off as Dickwella with a splendid Dil Scoop up and over the keeper for a boundary.
13 off the over

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Over 2 | Score 4/0 | Gunathilaka 0 (6) ; Dickwella 4 (6)

Danushka Gunathilaka and Dickwella stepped in to open for Sri Lanka as Mohammad Amir warmed up with the new ball.
FOUR! 0.5 over – outside off delivery as Dickwella volleyed it over cover for a boundary.
Four off the over.

Junaid Khan shred the new ball for the next over. Maiden.

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Truth be told, none of the two remained favourites ahead of the tournament. Sri Lanka were tagged underdog ahead of the campaign while Pakistan flew down to England with a merely inexperienced side. Then how did such a juncture come about?

Pakistan, who crumbled to a 124-run defeat against India, spun havoc around the South African top-order, after which pace attack choked the middle order to write victory in favour of Sarfraz Ahmed-led side, in a rain-marred encounter. Spirited Sri Lanka bounced back from a defeat to South Africa to stun the defending champions India at the Oval.

Heading into the crucial encounter at Cardiff, Sarfraz must remember that it was a splendid batting display by the Islanders that helped overturn India's high target of 322. With Imad Wasim and Hasan Ali bouncing rising to the occasion to restrict the South Africans, skipper Sarfraz would surely be banking on the duo to emulate the same against the Lankans. Mohammad Amir, who has always been lethal with his late swingers, has gone wicketless in both the outings and will be expected to come forth to display his best deliveries.

On the other hand, the return of Angelo Mathews back to the squad surely did inspire the team to clinch victory in their last match. Even for their experienced Lasith Malinga, the pacer did indeed prove effective enough with his myriad display of deliveries. Skipper Mathews will once again expect a good partnership from the batsmen to put up a good score or chase the total against Pakistan.

Thisara Perera, who was struck on his head during the practice session, is expected to return in the do-or-die encounter. Kusal Perera, who has been sidelined with a hamstring injury, might pave way for Dhananjaya de Silva to offer some runs on the board as well as bowl a few spins.

As per stats however, Pakistan hold the edge over Sri Lanka having defeated them twice in three occasions in ICC Champions Trophy.

Rain – heavy shower leading to wash out or tie could see the Lankans heading to the semi-final stage, in terms of net run rate.

Squads:

Pakistan: Sarfraz Khan (capt.), Ahmed Shahzad, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Sohail, Hasan Ali, Imad Wasim, Junaid Khan, Mohammed Amir, Mohammed Hafeez, Shadab Khan and Shoaib Malik.

Sri Lanka: Angelo Mathews (capt.), Upul Tharanga, Dinesh Chandimal, Niroshan Dickewalla, Chamara Kapugedara, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Thisara Perera, Sekkuge Prasanna, Nuwan Pradeep, Suranga Lakmal, Lakshan Sandakan, Lasith Malinga, Asela Gunaratne, Nuwan Kulasekara.

When is the ICC Champions Trophy match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka?

The ICC Champions Trophy match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka is on Monday, June 12.

At what time will the live coverage of the ICC Champions Trophy match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka start?

The live coverage of ICC Champions Trophy match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka will start at 3:00 pm IST.

Where will the ICC Champions Trophy match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka match be played?

The ICC Champions Trophy match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka match will be played at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff.

Which are the TV channels that will do a live telecast of the ICC Champions Trophy match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka?

Star Sports 1, Star Sports HD 1 and Star Sports 1 Hindi, Star Sports 1 Hindi HD 1 are the channels that will do a live telecast of the ICC Champions Trophy match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Where can one watch the live streaming of the ICC Champions Trophy match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka?

One can watch the live streaming on Hotstar. For live scores, updates, and analysis, you can follow zeenews.india.com/cricket.