Twitter Reactions: Skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed leads Pakistan to the semis of CT17
Sarfaraz and Amir snatched the victory from the jaws of Sri Lanka.
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The Sri Lanka-Pakistan clash made for an amazing virtual quarterfinal with Pakistan emerging victorious in the end. Winning a nail-biting game by just 3 wickets, Pakistan sent Sri Lanka bags packing as they booked themselves a semi-finals berth against England.
Earlier in the day, it was captain Sarfaraz Khan who won the toss as Pakistan elected to field first. Fahim Ashraf was brought into the playing XI in place of Shadab Khan as Pakistan decided to go in with four seamers. For Sri Lanka, Dhananjaya De Silva came in place of the injured Kusal Perera.
Batting first, Danushka Gunathilaka was dismissed early as he failed to recreate his magic with the bat from the last game. It was Niroshan Dickwella who took the honors this time as he played a brilliant inning of 73 as the likes of Kusal Mendis and Dinesh Chandimal got out in quick succession.
At 161/3 by the end of 31 overs, with a set Dickwella on crease along with skipper Angelo Mathews, a total of 300 was always there for the taking. However what followed was a collapse in the Sri Lankan batting lineup. They lost 4 wickets inside 6 runs as Sri Lanka were reduced to 167/7 in no time.
Some crucial contributions from Asela Gunaratne and Suranga Lakmal ensured Sri Lanka scored 236 runs even though they failed to last 50 overs. Hasan Ali continued to flourish with figures of 3/43. However, the star of the day for Pakistan was Junaid Khan who took 3/40 alongside bowling 3 maiden overs. Mohammed Amir and Fahim Ashraf also joined the party with a couple of wickets each.
Pakistan openers were off to a flier. While Azhar Ali rotated the strike, it was Fakhar Zaman who took the job of taking the bowlers to the cleaners. He registered a quickfire half-century from just 36 balls. However, once the opening stand was broken, it triggered a collapse.
The other Pakistani batsmen failed to prolong their stay at the crease as Pakistan were reduced to 162/7. The likes of Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik and Mohammed Hafeez failed on an important day as Sri Lanka made pathways through the Pakistani batting line up.
Here’s when an unbeaten match-winning 75 run partnership between skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed and Mohammed Amir swung the momentum for Pakistan. A wonderful captain’s knock along with some good batting by Amir ensured Pakistan sealed it by 3 wickets. With this victory, Pakistan now face England in the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy.
Here are some of the amazing Twitter reactions that took place during the course of the game:
Great fight back by the bowlers led by Lasith Malinga and @Angelo69Mathews. @OfficialSLC will be thinking for sure about what might've been
— Kumar Sangakkara (@KumarSanga2) June 12, 2017
Congrats2team Pak on great win #CL2017 Excellent bowling display by bowlers @JunaidkhanREAL & @realhasanali well played Fakhar @SarfarazA_54
— Kamran Akmal (@KamiAkmal23) June 12, 2017
Credit to @SarfarazA_54. Great knock under pressure.
— Kumar Sangakkara (@KumarSanga2) June 12, 2017
Congrats to Pakistan team ??✌?☺️well done Sarfraz 11 ❤️✌???good luck for Semi final ✌️✌️??
— Saeed Ajmal (@REALsaeedajmal) June 12, 2017
Congratulations Team Pakistan, England, Bangladesh & India on getting into the semi-finals of the icc champions trophy 17
— Saqlain Mushtaq (@Saqlain_Mushtaq) June 12, 2017
Congratulations Team Pakistan, well played boys.
— Saqlain Mushtaq (@Saqlain_Mushtaq) June 12, 2017
Come on boys brilliant effort what an innings from the captain. Leading from the front .it appears boys are peaking at the right time.
— Wasim Akram (@wasimakramlive) June 12, 2017
What a partnership under pressure from Sarfaraz & Amir?Congrats Pakistan on the win? #CT17
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) June 12, 2017
Love the way Sarfraz plays the game …… #CT17 #SLvPAK
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) June 12, 2017
Sarfraz could have been run out 3 times if SL could effect a direct hit and then let's not talk about the catches… Fielding has and is ?
— Russel Arnold (@RusselArnold69) June 12, 2017
Hmmmm… Do you really want to make a semi ???
— Russel Arnold (@RusselArnold69) June 12, 2017
Shabash Sarfraz aur Amir…Ye match abhi bhee humare haath mein hai…Aise he lage raho!
Inshallah Pakistan jeete ga— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) June 12, 2017
Disappointing loss. At the end forget @OfficialSLC batting or bowling the fielding let the team down badly. It was there to be won.
— Kumar Sangakkara (@KumarSanga2) June 12, 2017
Take a bow Sarfraz Ahmed! He led the team like a true leader!#CT17 #SLvPAK
— HoldingWilley ? (@holdingwilley) June 12, 2017
Terrific see-saw match. Famous win for Pak. Sarfraz the hero, but Aamir was a splendid foil to make it possible from difficult position
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) June 12, 2017
Sri Lanka falling apart.. array of drop catches and misfields ! Unusually streaky.. perhaps have cost them the game ! #PAKvSL
— Navneet Mundhra (@navneet_mundhra) June 12, 2017
Malinga talking about his fielders #PAKvSL pic.twitter.com/7dB6IzQGPT
— The-Lying-Lama (@KyaUkhaadLega) June 12, 2017
Sarfraz must feel he can't get out tonight. Sri Lanka must feel the same.
— Sambit Bal (@sambitbal) June 12, 2017
Sri Lanka trying hard to lose from here, Pakistan trying hard to not win from here. It's all happening in Cardiff fellas. #CT17
— Sameer Allana (@HitmanCricket) June 12, 2017
All that's missing from this vintage performance is a @SAfridiOfficial cameo #PakvSL #CT17
— Kamran Abbasi (@KamranAbbasi) June 12, 2017
Being a Pakistani cricket fan is basically being a heart patient.
— Zaid Ali (@Za1d) June 12, 2017
Mars par paani mil gaya lekin Pakistan ko batsman na mila . #PAKvSL
— Tiya (@TiyaKia) June 12, 2017
The way Pakistan batsmen run, it seems both the bowler and batsman are disappointed that the ball didn't hit the stumps?#PAKvSL
— Vishesh Arora (@vishesharora19) June 12, 2017
Mohammad Hafeez like electricity. Never then when you need. Always having bloody blackout when needed. #PAKvSL #CT17
— Big Nas (@NasirJamshed_) June 12, 2017
Pakistan vs Pakistan is more interesting than Pakistan vs SriLanka.. #CT17
— Jatin Sapru (@jatinsapru) June 12, 2017
Ahmed shehzad after watching Fakhar zamans innings #PAKvSL pic.twitter.com/gPV3pK8DdZ
— Awais (@awaistweets) June 12, 2017
Sri Lanka should consider opening the bowling with Lakmal and Pradeep. Malinga is clearly more comfortable at the back of the innings. #CT17
— cricBC (@cricBC) June 12, 2017
Few things haven't changed in Pakistan cricket…great reverse swing bowling and ordinary fielding. #CT17 #PakvSL
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) June 12, 2017
Junaid Khan absolutely brilliant today:
10-3-40-3
The best he has bowled for Pakistan for a long time.#CT17 #PAKvSL— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) June 12, 2017
Gunaratne has to drag the tail with him to about 250. If he can do that, we might still have a good game ahead of us #PAKvSL
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) June 12, 2017
Make hay while the sun is shining…Make runs while the ball isn't reversing. Pakistan fast bowlers putting an exhibition. #CT17 #PakvSL
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) June 12, 2017
Well I must say that it's really exciting to watch Amir and Junaid in this second spell together even though the result hurts #ct17 #SLvPAK
— Russel Arnold (@RusselArnold69) June 12, 2017
Indians : pakistan will never qualify for semi finals.
Pakistani Bowlers:#PAKvSL pic.twitter.com/YbwlzZf7jm
— Mussab Bin Tariq?? (@mussab_tariq) June 12, 2017
6/4 in 4 overs. What a fightback by Pakistan.#PAKvSL
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) June 12, 2017
As against South Africa, Pakistan produce one of the bowling bursts of the tournament #PAKvSL #CT17
— Andrew McGlashan (@andymcg_cricket) June 12, 2017
Pakistan will need a wicket soon. I know Dickwella has scored more but the wicket of Mathews is the key to the game from here
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) June 12, 2017
Angelo Mathews is now the fastest Sri Lanka player to score 3000 runs outside SL in ODIs (in 92 inn.) beating U Tharanga (94). #PAKvSL
— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) June 12, 2017
Loved watching Kusal Mendis bat; something special about him. As there is about Hasan Ali, Hope SL and Pak cricket can look after them
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) June 12, 2017
Very impressed with Hasan Ali.. Nippy and deceptively brisk ! Extracts appreciable seam movement & reverse-swing.. can bowl yorkers #PAKvSL
— Navneet Mundhra (@navneet_mundhra) June 12, 2017
don't blame Chandimal guys, he didn't waste too many balls. see the positives ?#SLvPAK
— Inshaf (@InshafImam) June 12, 2017
Match reduced to 45 overs per side due to Sri Lankan national anthem. #SLvPAK
— Sameer Allana (@HitmanCricket) June 12, 2017
How will Pakistan's opening bowlers counter the Gunathilaka – Dickwella threat early on? #PAKvSL
— мคsɷɷd Khคn ?? (@smasood801) June 12, 2017
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