Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan by two wickets in a thrilling encounter in Colombo in their Super 4s clash in the ongoing Asia Cup 2023, to book their place in the final of the tournament, where they will face India on Sunday, September 17.
Babar Azam had chosen to bat first after winning the toss and with the match reduced to 42 overs per side, posted 252/7 with Mohammad Rizwan top-scoring with 86* and Abdullah Shafique making a half-century.
However due to the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method coming into play, Sri Lanka's target was adjusted to 252 instead of 253.
In response, Kusal Mendis (91) led a valiant batting display alongside Charith Asalanka (49*) and Sadeera Samarawickrama (48) as Sri Lanka overhauled the target in 42 overs with two wickets in hand.
Sri Lanka needed 6 runs off the last two balls of the match bowled by Pakistani debutant Zaman Khan. Asalanka managed to edge the penultimate ball for a four and with two runs needed off the last ball, showed nerves of steel.
Zaman bowled a full ball on his pads and he steered the ball to the leg side to complete two runs which gave Sri Lanka the win they needed.
However, renowned cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle revealed an interesting point about the last ball. He pointed out that had Zaman Khan been aware, he could’ve run Matheesha Pathirana out at the bowling end as the batter was out of his crease when he was about the deliver the ball.
"Shouldn't Zaman Khan have been alert to the possibility of a run-out at the bowler's end? Pathirana was outside the crease," Bhogle wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
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Not only was Bhogle aware of this missed opportunity by Zaman Khan and Pakistan, but fans of the Men in Green and Indian cricket team followers also got into an argument about the bowler not running out Pathirana.
While Pakistan fans made it about grace and team spirit, Indian fans cited the MCC law and said that Zaman was in his right to run Pathirana out and win the match.
Here are some arguments:
