Sri Lanka thwart Fatima Sana challenge to secure Asia Cup final spot

Sri Lanka survived an all-time all-round display from Fatima Sana to triumph over a spirited Pakistan and seal a second-straight Asia Cup final berth against India.

Sana, a rare Player of the Match from the losing side, struck 47 off 36 to drag Pakistan to 130 for 5, and then finished with figures of 4 for 38 - inclusive of two double-wicket overs - but Sri Lanka's all-round excellence eventually overcame Sana's bloodymindedness.

In their chase, Sri Lanka were reduced to 5 for 2, and then 33 for 4, but a match-defining partnership of 67 off 59 between Harshitha Samarawickrama (36 off 31) and Kavisha Dilhari (33 off 33) turned the tide in Sri Lanka's favours.

Sana's second double-wicket intervention saw the backs of both Samarawickrama and Dilhari, but Sri Lanka's batting depth came to the fore as Nilakshika Silva and Kaushini Nuthyangana saw the game off with eight balls to spare.

As Sri Lanka's players celebrated on the sidelines as Nilakshika ramped Sana for one final, definitive boundary, the Pakistan skipper was on her haunches, tears streaming down her face. It's not been an uncommon sight with Sana, but it was yet another example of just how much of herself she had put into the game - just that in this instance, it was simply not enough.

Spinners land early blows

Run-scoring hasn't been easy in Dubai this Asia Cup, with spinners in particular thriving. And that narrative was not about to change as Sri Lanka put Pakistan into bat - even as the data suggested the team batting first had won nine of the previous 13 games at the venue.

It proved to be the right call as the tournament's unlikely leading wicket-taker, Chamari Athapaththu, struck early once more, getting Shawaal Zulfiqar and Ayesha Zafar in each of her first two overs. Left-arm spinner Sugandika Kumari meanwhile had removed Muneeba Ali in her first over as well. Seventeen-year-old left-arm spinner Chamudi Prabodha continued the pattern when she completely did an advancing Sadaf Shamas in the flight to have her stumped in the 10th over.

At the halfway point of the innings, Sri Lanka's plan was going just as envisioned. Pakistan were reeling on 52 for 4 and they would need a minor miracle to post a respectable, if not challenging, target.

A Sana special

The calls for Sana to bat higher up the order seem to grow with every passing day, and when you watch innings like the one she produced on Friday it's not hard to see why.

For her first six deliveries, she sought to get her eye in - even in a semifinal where her side had nearly lost half the batting - and played out six dot deliveries. With most other players, you might assume this would build pressure. But Sana is made of sterner stuff, a ball of self-belief and willpower.

And just like that Sana was on her way, and the momentum was shifting.

When Gull Feroza fell at the end of the 16th over, it wasn't ideal. Feroza had clawed her way to a 32-ball 21, but with the death overs approaching Sana would have been hoping for Feroza to finally unleash. Sana however adjusted her plans and made the most of what was on offer; after a quiet 16th over, she managed a boundary in two of the final three overs, while Tuba Hasan also chipped in with a valuable 12 off 10 to push Pakistan to 130 for 5 with 78 runs coming off the final 10 overs.

SL survive Sana pt.2

An above waist-high no-ball, a first six of her career for Kaushini Nuthyangana, the equation suddenly down to 5 needed off 11. It was cruel irony that that moment had occurred off Sana's bowling, because up until then she had been the almost solitary barrier between Sri Lanka and a second successive Asia Cup final.

She had removed two of Sri Lanka's top three - including Athapaththu - in her first spell, and then returned late in the chase to get rid of the set pair of Samarawickrama and Dilhari. But in between Sri Lanka had done just about enough to get across the line in a hard-fought semi-final.

SL show their depth

Losing four wickets inside the opening 10 overs is never ideal, and there would have been a time when Sri Lanka would have folded quite easily in such a scenario. But this Sri Lanka side is one with a growing belief that there will always be someone to step up.

Samarawickrama had been the one against Bangladesh, and here she was there again - this time flanked by the always involved Dilhari. With the required rate reaching about eight an over midway through the chase, the pair took to heart the words offered by coach Jamie Siddons during the drinks break and came out with a plan.

With boundaries in front of square not forthcoming, the pair looked behind. Two quick boundaries got the ball rolling, and the indefatigable pair also ran hard between the wickets.

It was a low target, and in that sense only a few good overs were required to keep the rate within touching distance, but Pakistan were bowling well. Sri Lanka however proved once again that they have the wherewithal to weather tough in-game situations and shift pressure back on to their opponents - a skill that will likely come very handy against India on Sunday.