Shadab Khan Runs Out Kusal Perera With One-Motion-Direct-Hit During Asia Cup Fixture, Video Goes Viral
Kusal Perera was looking good but a superb direct hit throw from Shadab Khan run him out in the SL vs PAK Asia Cup 2023 tournament.
Pakistan and Sri Lanka produced an absolute thriller of a game when the two teams squared off in their Asia Cup Super Fours fixture at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Thursday (September 14). The match was a must-win for both sides as a place in the final of the continental tournament was at stake. While India had already a sealed a place of themselves in the final, the winner of this match, it was known, would meet the Men in Blue in the summit clash of the continental tournament. Eventually, it was Sri Lanka who won the match off the last ball with Charith Asalanka finishing off things for them.
Pakistand did have their moments in the game but could not stop the Men from the island nation from reaching their 11th Asia Cup final. One such moment involved Shadab Khan. Even though Pakistan's vice-captain hasn't been in the best of form with the ball in recent matches, his performance on the field has never been disappointing. And yet again he was in prime fielding form and ran out Kusal Perera with a single-motion direct hit. The video of Shadab's effort has gone viral on social media.
Take a look:
SPOT ON! 🎯
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) September 14, 2023
Arguably one of the finest fielders, @76shadabkhan runs the dangerous looking @KusalJPerera out with a stunning direct-hit! 👏🏻💥
Tune-in to #AsiaCupOnStar, LIVE NOW on Star Sports Network#PAKvSL #Cricket pic.twitter.com/oxR1X3wLWt
Perera had gone off to a good start but departed for 17 off 8. Kusal Mendis was the stand out performer for Sri Lanka but got out a critical stage of the match after scoring 91 off 87 balls. From there on, it was Asalanka who took it upon himself to finish the match for his side and found himself on strike with 6 needed off two deliveries. While he managed a boundary off an outside edge on the penultimate ball of the match, he kept his cool to play a flick on the leg side and get the required 2 runs to win off the last ball.