One win each for the bitter neighbours, and we will have the dream India vs Pakistan final in the ICC Champions Trophy 2017. After India did their bit in reaching the final four by overwhelming South Africa on Sunday, it was a super Monday for Pakistan, who just about, despite their batsman's best efforts to muck it up, edged past Sri Lanka in Cardiff.
In a virtual quarterfinal between the two South Asian nations, it was Pakistan's captain Sarfraz Ahmed, who took his team through to the semifinals, thanks largely to some awful, awful fielding and catching from Sri Lanka.
The Pakistan bowlers tore through the Sri Lanka middle order in a searing spell that saw the Lankans lose four wickets for just six runs, and then the batsmen, chasing a smallish total, went smash-bang at the start, with Fakhar Zaman showing he is a force to be reckoned with at the top of the order.
Expectedly, there was the Pakistan wobble in the middle order, and had Sri Lanka hung onto their catches – Sarfraz Ahmed was dropped twice, one an absolute dolly by Thisara Perera – the result would have been completely different.
In the final match of the group stage of this Champions Trophy 2017, the first blow was landed by Pakistan, who won the all-important toss and asked Sri Lanka to bat first.
Now, that could have been a dangerous strategy, considering how fragile Pakistan's batting can be – all the more when they have to deal with a big target – but the Pakistan bowlers answered their captain's call.
Hasan Ali, Pakistan's best bowler in this ICC Champions Trophy by some distance, was impressive again, getting the ball to move after pitching and causing plenty of problems for the Sri Lanka batsmen.
However, the Lankans were on their way to a big total, thanks to a partnership between Niroshan Dickwella and Angelo Mathews, who took the score from 83/3 in 15.1 overs to 161/4 in the 32nd, before disaster struck.
Sarfraz Ahmed, showing some good captaincy chops in this game, brought back his main man Mohammad Amir right after a drinks break, and the left-armer dismissed Mathews.
Junaid Khan would also join in the fun as Sri Lanka lost four wickets for just six runs, which completely changed the complexion of the match.
Instead of chasing a score of near-300 or over 300, Pakistan only needed 237 for a spot in the semifinals.
Even that target was made to look like Mount Everest by the Pakistan batsmen, but they eventually found their Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay in Sarfraz and Amir, who put on an unbeaten 75 runs for the eighth wicket, to sneak home.
England are up next for Pakistan in the semifinals, in Cardiff again. And while a repeat of the 2013 Champions Trophy final between India and England is a mouth-watering prospect, we all know what we want to see.
India and Pakistan slugging it out for the CT 2017 title in front of a capacity crowd at The Oval.
Go on then boys, win your respective semifinals.
