Hussain Talat and Mohammad Nawaz helped Pakistan pull off a nervy chase against Sri Lanka en route to a five-wicket victory that kept alive their hopes of reaching the final of the Asia Cup on Tuesday.

Beaten by arch-rivals India in their previous Super Fours contest, Pakistan made heavy weather of a victory target of 134.

Talat (32) and Nawaz (38) forged an unbeaten 58-run stand for the sixth wicket to secure their victory with two overs to spare.

Put in to bat, Sri Lanka earlier posted a modest 133-8 riding Kamindu Mendis’s gutsy 50 after a top-order meltdown.

Pakistan reduced Sri Lanka to 80-6 inside the 13th over vindicating skipper Salman Agha’s decision to field after winning the toss.

Pace spearhead Shaheen Afridi (3-28) gave them a dream start dismissing Sri Lanka openers Kusa

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