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19 March 2024

Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 2nd T20: Pak pull off thrilling win

Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik plays a shot during the fourth One Day International (ODI) match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan at the R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo on July 22, 2015. AFP

Published
By Cricket Correspondent

A stunning performance from Pakistan ensured they defeated Sri Lanka by a thrilling one-wicket victory to clean sweep the two-match Twenty20 series.

Needing 173 to win, Pakistan had a dreadful start losing two wickets for 16 and then five while reach 40.

Skipper Shahid Afridi blasted a 22-ball 45 to ignite the hopes back in the Pakistan room but it was Anwar Ali's sizzling 17-ball 46 that helped Pakistan overhaul the target in the final over.

Earlier, Fine hitting from Shehan Jayasuriya (40, 23b) and Chamara Kapugedera (48 not out, 25b) helped Sri Lanka reach a superb 172 for seven in 20 overs.

Milinda Siriwardana chipped in with a brilliant 23. 

For Pakistan, Shoaib Malik scalped two wickets.

PAKISTAN INNINGS

Pakistan lose another wicket via run out. This time Tanvir falls short as Malinga plucks the stumps. Pak need six from the last over. Down the wire. Pak 167-9 in 19 overs.

Sohail Tanvir run out 1 (1b 0x4 0x6)

Anwar Ali's stunning innings comes to an end as he brings Pakistan with touching distance to a memorable win. Pakistan now need eight from as many balls. Pak 165-8 in 18.4 overs.

Anwar Ali c Perera b Malinga 46 (17b 3x4 4x6) 

Jayasuriya gets the prized wicket as Afridi is bowled. Big blow for Pakistan as they need another 66 from 35 deliveries. Pak 107-6 in 14.1 overs.

Shahid Afridi b Jayasuriya 45 (22b 1x4 4x6)

The partnership was looking good before Perera removes Rizwan with a slower one. Pressure again on Pakistan but Afridi still around batting on 44. Pak 101-6 in 13.3 overs.

Mohammad Rizwan b Perera 17 (18b 1x4 0x6)

Afridi batting on 26 from 13 balls as Pakistan reach 73-5 in 11 overs.

Malik fails to read a turner from Siriwardana as he is stumped. Pak 40-5 in 7.2 overs.

Shoaib Malik st Perera b Siriwardana 8 (12b 0x4 0x6) 

Terrible run out again for Pakistan as Akmal falls short. Pakistan looks to be in trouble with Afridi the only big hope. Pak 40-4 in 6.5 overs.

Umar Akmal run out 4 (4b 0x4 0x6)

Nothing working for Pakistan as Hafeez is run out. Brilliant stuff on the field from Dilshan. Pak 33-3 in 5.3 overs.

Mohammad Hafeez run out 11 (12b 1x4 0x6)

Pakistan look to be in trouble as they lose another. Mukhtar Ahmed goes for a pull but gets a top edge offering Kapugedera an easy catch. Pak 16-2 in 2.5 overs.

Mukhtar Ahmed c Kapugedera b Fernando 4 (7b 0x4 0x6)

Pakistan lose their first wicket as Shehzad is bowled. Pak 11-1 in 2.2 overs.

Ahmed Shehzad b Fernando 7 (8b 1x4 0x6)

Pakistan have a big target to chase as openers Shehzad and Ahmed look for a good start. Pak 7-0 in 1 over. 

SRI LANKA INNINGS

Kapugedera misses his half century before Shanaka is run out off the last ball of the innings. SL 172-7 in 20 overs.

Dasun Shanaka run out 7 (4b 1x4 0x6)

Irfan comes back and is successful immediately as Siriwardana offers a catch to Ahmed in the deep. SL 145-6 in 18.1 overs.

Milinda Siriwardana c Mukhtar Ahmed b Mohammad Irfan 23 (19b 1x4 1x6)

The partnership between Kapugedera and Siriwardana reaches a superb 55 from just 33 deliveries. Lanka have another two overs and this partnership could make the difference. SL 145-5 in 18 overs.

Siriwardana and Kapugedera get some quick runs but they need to carry on till the end to give Lanka a competitive score. SL 113-5 in 15 overs.

When it looked things were back to normal for the hosts. Jayasuriya departs. He does a great job but succumbs at the crucial juncture. SL 90-5 in 12.3 overs.

Shehan Jayasuriya c Imad Wasim b Sohail Tanvir 40 (32b 3x4 2x6)

Jayasuriya is batting well on 38 as Sri Lanka reach 88-4 in 12 overs.

Lanka in trouble as they lose another wicket. Perera goes for a big one but misses it completely to be stumped. Malik picks his second wicket. SL 64-4 in 9.3 overs.

Thisara Perera st Mohammad Rizwan b Shoaib Malik 1 (3b 0x4 0x6)

Afridi sends a quick one to beat De Silva's defence on to the stumps. Lanka lose their third one. SL 61-3 in 8.4 overs.

Dhananjaya de Silva b Shahid Afridi 14 (15b 1x4 0x6)

Jayasuriya and de Silva are going strong with a 22-run parternship. Lanka in a good position despite having two wickets. SL 54-2 in 7 overs.

Malik shines in his very first over as he bowls Kusal Perera. The left-hander had just got a boundary of the previous ball and the aggressive attempt was uncalled for. SL 32-2 in 4 overs.

Kusal Perera b Shoaib Malik 19 (14b 3x4 0x6)

Dilshan survived after Hafeez dropped an easy one at short midwicket but a replay two balls later and Hafeez made no mistake this time. Pakistan happy as the dangerman departs. SL 24-1 in 2.4 overs.

Tillakaratne Dilshan c Mohammad Hafeez b Anwar Ali 10 (8b 2x4 0x6)

Perera, Dilshan open the innings for Lanka while Anwar Ali begins the proceedings for Pakistan. SL 7-0 in 1 over

Afridi loses the toss as Lanka opt to bat. Mathews is out with a wrist injury.

PLAYING XI:

Sri Lanka: Kusal Perera, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Shehan Jayasuriya, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka, Milinda Siriwardana, Chamara Kapugedera, Thisara Perera, Binura Fernando, Jeffrey Vandersay, Lasith Malinga.

Pakistan: Mukhtar Ahmed, Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Shahid Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, Anwar Ali, Imad Wasim, Sohail Tanvir, Mohammad Irfan

PREVIEW

Pakistan will be keen to continue their domination as they take on hosts Sri Lanka in the second and final Twenty20 International at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

The tourists comfortably sealed the opening fixture by 29 runs as they put on a brilliant 175 for five after choosing to bat first, and then restricted their opponents to 146 for seven.

Three batsmen - Ahmed Shehzad, Shoaib Malik and Umar Akmal- all scored an identical 46, while Sohail Tanvir picked up a fine three for 29.
 
Having already won the Tests and ODI's this would be a dream finish for the team who will take on England in the UAE starting in two months time.