Sarfraz steers Pakistan into Champions Trophy semis

Pakistan’s Sarfraz Ahmed celebrates at the end. Reuters / Andrew Couldridge.

(Reuters) – Pakistan overcame a familiar attack of batting nerves to beat Sri Lanka by three wickets in a see-saw Group B game at Sophia Gardens to set up a Champions Trophy semi-final with hosts England back in Cardiff tomorrow.

The other semi-final will pit Group B winners India against Group A runners-up Bangladesh at Edgbaston on Thursday.

Pakistan looked to have thrown away their victory chance at several points yesterday as their batsmen’s fallibility before the short-pitched ball prompted an astonishing collapse from 74-0 to 162-7.