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19 March 2024

Pakistan seal emphatic ODI series win

Published
By Allaam Ousman

Pakistan coasted to a three-wicket victory with 16 balls to spare in the fifth day-night one-day international against Sri Lanka at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

Half centuries by Kumar Sangakkara (78) and Angelo Mathews (61) helped Sri Lanka make 218 for nine after electing to bat first.

Pakistan chased the target with clinical efficiency making 219 for seven with skipper Misbah ul Haq top scoring with 66 and man of the match Umar Akmal unbeaten on 61.

Misbah, dropped on six when the total was 61 for two by Jeevan Mendis off Angelo Mathews, went on to steer his side to an emphatic 4-1 one-day triumph in the Mobilink Jazz Cup series.

He was involved in two useful partnerships of 62 for the third wicket with Younus Khan (34) and 84 for the fifth wicket with Umar Akmal who was unbeaten on 61.

When Misbah was dismissed for 66 in the 44th over, Pakistan required only 22 runs for victory. Misbah's knock contained five boundaries and came off 99 balls before caught at backward square leg attempted to sweep Mendis.

Shahid Afridi lasted just four balls before fending off a snorter from Lasith Malinga which soared high for Sangakkara to hold onto the catch. Afridi was later adjudged man of the series.

Akmal survived some anxious when he survived a confident caught behind appeal off Fernando which was reviewed but he drove the next ball to the cover boundary for his 10th one-day fifty.

Sohail Tanvir was dismissed by Fernando but Akmal hit the winning runs by dispatching the next delivery to the mid on for his eighth boundary.

Misbah said every player did his best to achieve the series win.

"Everything went well for us," said Misbah, under whom Pakistan have won nine one-days, losing just one. "Credit goes to every player as they wanted to do well."

Dilshan blamed poor batting for the slump.

"We batted poorly throughout the series and that's why we lost," said Dilshan, under whom Sri Lanka have lost three one-day series. "I am disappointed and we didn't do well in batting either."

Sri Lanka's bowlers did not allow the batsmen to score freely when Pakistan began the run chase with Lasith Malinga bowling two maiden overs in his first spell.

Muhammad Hafeez was caught behind by Sangakkara for 14 off Dilhara Fernando's first delivery with the total on 25 while Asad Shafique was trapped leg before by Angelo Mathews for 26 with Pakistan being unsuccessful with the decision review. Shafiq's knock contained three hits to the ropes.

Leg spinner Jeevan Mendis revived Sri Lanka's hopes when he removed Younus Khan and Shoaib Malik in successive balls in his second over.

Younus Khan was trapped leg before by Mendis after adding 62 runs for the third wicket with Misbah while Malik was bemused by a googly which trapped him first ball for Pakistan to stumble to 122 for four.

Umar Akmal denied Mendis a hat-trick. Mendis had the best return of three for 36.

Earlier, Sri Lanka were reduced to 46 for four in the 11th over before the fifth wicket pair of Sangakkara and Mathews brought some respectability to their innings with a partnership of 118.

In-form Sangakkara came to the rescue of Sri Lanka once again after a dismal start and found an able partner in Mathews who found his form for the first time on this tour.

At one stage it appeared Sri Lanka would fold up for a total of less than 100 as the top order gifted their wickets away with irresponsible batting.

However, Sangakkara would be disappointed he could not convert his 67th one-day half century into a big one when he scooped a delivery from off spinner Muhammad Hafeez to Misbah ul Haq at cover point.
 
His near flawless knock of 78 off 100 balls stroked eight boundaries, including three in one over from Sohail Tanvir.

Mathews grew in confidence during his partnership with Sangakkara hitting straight sixes over paceman Umar Gul in consecutive overs, the first one bringing up the 100 of the innings in the 23rd over.
 
His eighth one-day half century also contained two boundaries before being bowled round his legs by off spinner Saeed Ajmal to be seventh out for 180 in the 44th over.

Sri Lanka's batting powerplay overs produced just 20 runs but a late cameo from Thisara Perera lifted them past the 200-run mark. Perera slammed a six in his 18-ball 25 before bowled by Tanvir who had the best return of four for 34.

Leg spinner Shahid Afridi was the most expensive Pakistan bowler going for 60 in his quota of 10 overs for the solitary wicket of Jeevan Mendis who was adjudged bowled after a decision referral.

Sri Lanka got off to a disastrous start, losing openers Upul Tharanga and Tillakaratne Dilshan early with both being dismissed in similar fashion, caught behind by Umar Akmal.
 
Tharanga was the first to go failing to read an outswinger from Sohail Tanvir's second over with the total on 13.
 
Dilshan departed two overs later slashing at a delivery from Umar Gul with the total on 20. Dilshan hit one boundary in his 12 off 14 balls.
 
Dinesh Chandimal came in at one drop but did not last long edging a Tanvir delivery to Younus Khan at second slip as Sri Lanka slipped to 23 for three in the eighth over.
 
Sangakkara batted sedately cracking two boundaries when left armer Junaid Khan was introduced into the attack in the 11th over.
 
But wickets continued to tumble at the other end with Chamara Silva, who flew into the UAE a few days ago, lasting just six balls before fishing outside the off to be snapped up Misbah ul Haq at first slip off Junaid Khan for Sri Lanka to crash to 46 for four.
 
Sangakkara decided that attack was the best form of defence smashing three boundaries in one over from Tanvir to bring up Sri Lanka's 50 in the 11th over.
 
Sri Lanka, trailing 3-1 in the five-match series, made one change to the 11 that lost the pivotal fourth one-dayer by 26 runs in Sharjah last Sunday.
 
Veteran Mahela Jayawardene has flown back to Sri Lanka to nurse a knee problem while Chamara Silva was included at his expense.
 
Pakistan, with the series sewn up, took the opportunity to give some fringe players an opportunity and made three changes.
 
Opener Imran Farhat, wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed and fast bowler Aizaz Cheema were left out while Asad Shafiq, Sohail Tanvir and Junaid Khan included.

Scoreboard

Sri Lanka innings: U. Tharanga c Akmal b Tanvir 3 T. Dilshan c Akmal b Umar Gul 12 D. Chandimal c Younis b Tanvir 7 K. Sangakkara c Misbah b Hafeez 78 C. Silva c Misbah b Junaid 1 A. Mathews b Ajmal 61 J. Mendis st Akmal b Afridi 2 T. Perera b Tanvir 25 S.Prasanna not out 8 L. Malinga c Misbah b Tanvir 4 Extras (lb-6, w-11) 17 Total (9 wickets; 50 overs) 218

Fall of wickets: 1-13 2-20 3-32 4-46 5-164 6-176 7-180 8-214 9-218.

Did not bat: D. Fernando.

Bowling: Gul 7-1-34-1(1w), Tanvir 7-0-34-4(4w), Junaid Khan 3-0-18-1, Ajmal 10-2-26-1(1w), Afridi 10-0-60-1(1w), Hafeez 10-1-29-1(1w), Malik 3-0-11-0(2w).


Pakistan innings: Mohammad Hafeez c Sangakkara b Fernando 14 Asad Shafiq lbw b Mathews 26 Younis Khan lbw b Mendis 34 Misbah-ul-Haq c Perera b Mendis 66 Shoaib Malik lbw b Mendis 0 Umar Akmal not out 61 Shahid Afridi c Sangakkara b Malinga 4 Sohail Tanvir c Chandimal b Fernando 1 Saeed Ajmal not out 0 Extras (b-2, lb-3, w-8) 13 Total (7 wickets; 47.2 overs) 219

Fall of wickets: 1-25 2-51 3-113 4-113 5-197 6-202 7-215.

Did not bat: Umar Gul, Junaid Khan.

Bowling: Malinga 9-2-28-1 (1w), Perera 7-1-32-0(1w), Prasanna 8-0-48-0(2w), Fernando 9.2-0-47-2(2w), Mathews 5-1-11-1, Mendis 7-0-36-3, Dilshan 2-0-12-0(1w).