{ "id": "27998", "author": "13", "cnmid": "0", "title": "Sarfraz guides Pakistan to Semi-Finals", "lang": "en", "series": "122", "cup_year": "2017", "article_type": "General", "excerpt": "", "subtype": "", "editor1": "

Cardiff - Pakistan rode on skipper Sarfraz Ahmed's unconquered 61 off 79 balls to recover from a middle-order collapse and pull off a three-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in a virtual quarter-final Group B ICC Champions Trophy clash at Sophia Gardens here on Monday to qualify for the semifinals.
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\r\nPakistan will now take on England in the first semi on Wednesday. The other last-four tie is between India and Bangladesh on Thursday.
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\r\nChasing 237 for a triumph, fast bowler Mohammad Amir (28) showed great resolve to stitch together an unbeaten 75-run stand with Sarfraz for the eighth wicket to help his side win in a see-saw battle.
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\r\nAt one point, Sri Lanka had their rivals on the mat at 162\/7 but had poor fielding and dropped chances to blame for their loss.
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\r\nPakistan, which chased the target in 44.5 overs, got off to a rollicking start riding young southpaw Fakhar Zaman's quickfire 36-ball 50 before Nuwam Pradeep (3\/60) put a spanner on his works by getting him out just when he was looking very good.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Full Scorecard<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n

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\r\nThe opening pair of Zaman and Azhar Ali stitched together a 74-run partnership.
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\r\nAli's dogged (34) came to a premature end also after Babar Azam (10) and Mohammad Hafeez (1) failed to contribute.
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\r\nPakistan lost the middle order in a hurry with seasoned campaigner Shoaib Malik (11), Imad Wasim (4) and Fahim Ashraf (15) not lasting long.
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\r\nIt was down to Sarfraz to lead from the front and the 30-year old made the most of two reprieves to steer Pakistan over the line along with important contribution from Amir.
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\r\nSarfraz, whose innings was laced with five boundaries, was dropped twice by Thisara Perera and substitute Seekkuge Prasanna on 38 and 40 respectively, both times off Lasith Malinga's bowling.
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\r\nEarlier, Pakistan pacers put up a stunning display to dismiss Sri Lanka for 236 runs in 49.2 overs.
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\r\nFast bowlers Junaid Khan (3\/40), Hasan Ali (3\/43), Amir (2\/53) and debutant Ashraf (2\/37) ran through the deep Sri Lankan batting line-up which stood firm against favourites India the other day, giving Pakistan's less equipped batting a 237-run target to chase down for victory.
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\r\nFor Sri Lanka, Niroshan Dickwella (73) was the top-scorer who along with skipper Angelo Mathews (39) stitched together the highest partnership of the innings - 78 runs for the fourth wicket.
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\r\nTowards the end, Suranga Lakmal (26) and Asela Gunaratne (27) joined hands for a vital 46-run partnership for the eighth wicket which helped their side cross the 200-mark.
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\r\nAt the start, Junaid sent back Danushka Gunathilaka (13) who gave Malik at mid-off an easy catch.
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\r\nKusal Mendis (27) and Dickwella had set up a 56-run second-wicket stand when a Hasan Ali ripper went through the former's defence as he was trying to whip the ball on the leg side.
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\r\nDebutant Ashraf further shaved off the Sri Lankans' top order by bagging his first ODI scalp, sending Dinesh Chandimal back in the hut for a duck. 
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\r\nAmir got his first wicket in the tournament as he removed Mathews (39) with a angling delivery that got a thin inside edge off the bat and onto the stumps. 
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\r\nDhananjaya De Silva (1) did not last long handing Junaid Khan his second wicket off a brilliant delivery as Sri Lanka had half their side down for just 162 in 33 overs.
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\r\nIn the next over, Sarfraz took a brilliant catch diving to his right to dismiss the dangerous Dickwella off Amir's bowling.
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\r\nPerera could manage just 1 as Junaid picked up his third wicket and Pakistan bowlers made the most of swing on offer to outfox the Sri Lankan batsmen.
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\r\nLakmal and Gunaratne batted well towards the end to propel Sri Lanka to a decent total before removed the pair. Malinga remained not out on 9 as Ashraf got the better of Nuwan Pradeep (1).
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\r\nBrief scores: Sri Lanka -- 236 all out in 49.2 overs (Niroshan Dickwella 73, Angelo Mathews 39; Junaid Khan 3\/40, Hasan Ali 3\/43, Fahim Ashraf 2\/37, Mohammad Amir 2\/53); Pakistan 237\/7 in 44.5 overs (Sarfraz Ahmed 61 not out, Fakhar Zaman 50; Nuwam Pradeep 3\/60)<\/p>\r\n\r\n

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