Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 3rd ODI in Sharjah: Hafeez, Gul star as Pakistan thrash Lanka by 113 runs

Pakistan thrashed Sri Lanka by 113 runs in the third one-day international at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Sunday to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.

Riding on a ODI career-best 140 not out by Mohammad Hafeez and spectacular bowling by the returning Umar Gul (3 for 19), Pakistan coasted home with more than five overs spare in a lop-sided contest.

Pakistan got off to a slow start after being put into bat but notched a record 326-5 in 50 overs which is the highest total in a day-night international at Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

Ahmed Shehzad laid the platform with a sizzling knock of 81 off 89 balls, an innings which was studded with six boundaries and two sixes during a 160-run stand for the second wicket with Hafeez.

Skipper Misbah fired a 26-ball 40 during a 75-run stand for the fourth wicket.

"I'm really happy with the performance. Hafeez and Ahmed provided the platform, and good finish too. The way Gul came and took wickets set the tone, as we weren't taking wickets with the new ball. I was happy with the way the spinners performed as well," said Pakistan skipper Misbah u Haq.

Hafeez made the most of a life on 26 when Malinga dropped a sitter to smash 11 fours and three sixes during his 136-ball 140 not out.

Gul making a return to international cricket after almost nine months because of injury crippled Sri Lanka when they began the run chase by removing Kusal and Karunaratne in the fourth over within the space of four balls.

Sri Lanka never recovered from this setback slumping to 44-3 in the ninth over when they lost Sangakkara cheaply.

Dilshan made a valiant attempt to put the chase back on track with fluent 59 off 62 balls which contained 10 boundaries sharing in a 59-run stand for the fourth wicket with Chandimal (36) before being undone by a beauty from Afridi.

Skipper Mathews kept alive their hopoes with a belligerent 44 which was studded with three massive sixes while Prasanna (22) hit some lusty blows but it only delayed the inevitable as Pakistan romped to victory with a near perfect performance.

"It was a disappointing performance all round to be honest. If you are chasing 320, you need to get a good start and give the middle order players a chance, that didn't happen. We need to win next game to stay alive in the series so we'll come out firing," said Sri Lanka skipper Mathews.

Ajmal claimed two for 37, improving on Saqlain Mushtaq's Pakistan record of 101 wickets in a calendar year, while Hafeez capped a fine all-round performance bagging two for 35.

SRI LANKA INNINGS

Gul bowls last man Malinga to claim his third wicket on his return to international cricket to bowl out Sri Lanka for 213 in 44.4 overs.

Lasith Malinga b Umar Gul 19 (27b 4x4 0x6)

Gul who had figures of 5-0-19-2 in his devastating opening spell returns to the attack as Pakistan aim to wrap up the innings quickly.

Malinga cracks a couple of boundaries off Afridi. SL 213-9 in 44 overs.

Malinga gets a streaky boundary off Junaid but it is all over bar the shouting. SL 196-9 in 40 overs.

Sri Lanka's last hope Mathews goes as Akmal pouches a skier. SL 192-9 in 39 overs.

Angelo Mathews c Umar Akmal b Saeed Ajmal 44 (51b 1x4 3x6)

Afridi takes a brilliant catch as Thisara miscue Junaid sending the ball soaring high past the keeper. SL 187-8 in 37.2 overs.

Thisara Perera c Shahid Afridi b Junaid Khan 2 (6b 0x4 0x6)

Ajmal bowls a tight over conceding just two runs. SL 186-7 in 37 overs.

Mathews is keeping alive Sri Lanka's hopes blasting a couple of sixes off Hafeez in the first over of Batting Powerplay. SL 184-7 in 36 overs.

Mathews blasts Ajmal out of the ground as Sri Lanka show they still have some fight left in them. SL 170-7 in 35 overs.

Prasanna clubs a boundary and another straight six off Hafeez before holing out to Ajmal at midwicket. SL 163-7 in 34 overs.

Seekkuge Prasanna c Saeed Ajmal b Mohammad Hafeez 22 (15b 2x4 2x6)

Prasanna clobbers Ajmal for a towering straight six to break the shackles. SL 151-6 in 33 overs.

Prasanna gets his first boundary heaving Hafeez to fine leg. SL 143-6 in 32 overs.

Ajmal has broken Saqlain Mustaq's record of most wickets in a calendar year by claiming 102 wickets.

Ajmal strikes as Kulasekera slashes at a delivery which kept low with Akmal taking a fine catch. SL 136-6 in 30.5 overs.

Nuwan Kulasekara c Umar Akmal b Saeed Ajmal 1 (11b 0x4 0x6)

Hafeez strikes in his first over as Chandimal tries to hit him out of the ground only to sky it to Maqsood at midwicket. SL 132-5 in 27.5 overs.

Dinesh Chandimal c Sohaib Maqsood b Mohammad Hafeez 36 (53b 3x4 0x6)

Chandimal gets another boundary with a scorching cover drive off Afridi. SL 128-4 in 26 overs.

Mathews tickles the first delivery from Ajmal to the fine leg fence. SL 122-4 in 25 overs.

Chandimal cracks Bhatti through the covers for his first boundary followed by another with sublime timing to the fence. SL 113-4 in 23 overs.

Afridi does the trick getting rid of the dangerous Dilshan who attempts an extravagant pull only to see his stumps shattered. SL 103-4 in 21.3 overs.

TM Dilshan b Shahid Afridi 59 (62b 10x4 0x6)

Dilshan gets consecutive boundaries off Bhatti following his half century with his trademark pull shot and edging past the keeper. SL 102-3 in 21 overs.

Dilshan reaches his 34th ODI half century off 55 balls with a sublime cover drive to the boundary off Bhatti.

Dilshan gets another boundary off Bhatti beating the sweeper cover Maqsood. SL 64-3 in 13 overs.

Afridi comes into the attack and Dilshan finds the gap on the off to steer him to the third man fence. SL 59-3 in 12 overs.

Dilshan rocks back and smashes a short delivery from Junaid to the square leg fence. SL 52-3 in 11 overs.

Sri Lanka are 46-3 after 10 overs while Pakistan were 37-1 at the same stage at the end of the Powerplay overs.

Dilshan whips a boundary off Junaid but Sangakkara attmepting to heave him out of the ground miscues to Maqsood at midwicket. SL 44-3 in 9 overs.    

Kumar Sangakkara c Sohaib Maqsood b Junaid Khan 14 (14b 2x4 1x6)

Sangakkara hits his a six dancing out and hoisting Gul into the stands at long-on. SL 39-2 in 8 overs.

Sangakkara pulls Junaid with superb timing to the midwicket fence. SL 32-2 in 7 overs.

Dilshan is not going to play the waiting game, getting a boundary by executing the Dilscoop to perfection of Junaid. SL 26-2 in 5 overs.

Sangakkara opens is account with a glorious cover drive off Gul. SL 21-2 in 4 overs.

Double strike by Gul as Karunaratne hangs his bat out to be caught behind. Pak 17-2 in 3.5 overs.

Dimuth Karunaratne c Umar Akmal b Umar Gul 0 (4b 0x4 0x6)

Gul strikes with his first delivery in his second over on his return to international cricket as Kusal drives to Shehzad at backward point. SL 17-1 in 3.1 overs.

Kusal Perera c Ahmed Shehzad b Umar Gul 7 (13b 0x4 0x6)

Dilshan gets into his stride with consecutive boundaries off Junaid. SL 17-0 in 3 overs.

Dilshan hits the first boundary of the innings slamming Junaid to square leg.

PAKISTAN INNINGS

A career-best ODI score of 140 not out by Mohammad Hafeez lifted Pakistan to 326-5 in 50 overs after being put into bat by Sri Lanka on Sunday.

After a circumspect start, Pakistan's T20 skipper made Sri Lanka pay for dropping him on 26, smashing 11 fours and three sixes to stroke his second century of the centuries.

Ahmed Shehzad led the way with a sizzling knock of 81 off 89 which was studded with six boundaries and two sixes during a 160-run stand for the second wicket with Hafeez after Sharjeel fell cheaply bowled by Kulasekera in the third over.

But the Sri Lanka bowlers were made to toil on a table top of a surface with skipper Misbah playing a brilliant 26-ball cameo of 40 smashing three boundaries and two sixes during a 75-run stand for the fourth wicket with Hafeez.

Maqsood and Misbah both fell holing out deliveries from Thisara while Afridi failed to fire being floored by a stunning yorker from Malinga.

Pakistan were contained in the Batting Powerplay which was taken in the 31st over making just 23 for the loss of Shehzad.

But all the bowlers came in for a hammering in the last 10 over which yielded 105 runs which contained 10 boundaries and five sixes.

Even Kulasekera who had a good opening spell was not spared being the most expensive finishing with figures of 10-1-67-1.

Malinga claimed one for 58 while Senanayake also went for 58.

Thisara claimed two for 58.

Akmal smashes a couple of sixes of Kulasekera in the final over as Pakistan make a formidable 326-5 in 50 overs.

Hafeez cracks consecutive boundaries on either side of the wicket off Malinga. Pak 310-5 in 49 overs.

Akmal smashes Kulasekera to the midwicket fence while Hafeez flicks him to fine leg for another boundary. Pak 299-5 in 48 overs.

Akmal survives after adjudged leg before with Pakistan being successful in overturning the verdict while Hafeez smashes a full toss from Malinga for his third six. Pak 288-5 in 47 overs.

Malinga knocks the middle stump of Afridi with a stunning delivery to silence the Pakistan crowd at Sharjah stadium. Pak 281-5 in 46.4 overs.

Shahid Afridi b Malinga 2 (4b 0x4 0x6)

Thisara gets another wicket as Misbah miscues a slow full toss to Karunaratne at midwicket. Pak 275-4 in 45.2 overs.

Misbah-ul-Haq c Karunaratne b Thisara Perera 40 (26b 3x4 2x6)

Hafeez slams three consecutive boundaries off Malinga as Pakistan look for a total of over 300. Pak 274-3 in 45 overs.

Hafeez drives Malinga through the covers for a couple to reach his eighth ODI century and second of the series.

Kulasekera goes for 10 as Misbah makes room and smashes him to the backward point fence. Pak 259-3 in 44 overs.

The 50-run partnership between Hafeez and Misbah comes off just 38 balls.

Misbah is stepping up the tempo sending a full toss from Thisara sailing onto the roof of stadium. Pak 249-3 in 43 overs.

Misbah is on fire now smashing a boundary and six over long leg off Kulasekera is off the mark on his return. Pak 241-3 in 42 overs.

Hafeez moves into the 90s with a classy shot to third man boundary off Thisara. Pak 229-3 in 41 overs.

Misbah gets into his stride punching Mathews through extra cover for a boundary. Pak 221-3 in 40 overs.

Maqsood smashes a couple of sixes off Thisara down the ground and over midwicket before holing out to Senanayake in the deep. Pak 200-3 in 36.5 overs.    

Sohaib Maqsood c Senanayake b Thisara Perera 21 (21b 1x4 2x6)

Pakistan made just 23 for the loss of Shehzad in the Batting Powerplay.

Maqsood drives Malinga through the covers for his first boundary off Malinga in the final over of the Batting Powerplay. Pak 182-2 in 35 overs.

Kulasekera does even better than Malinga in the Batting Powerplay giving away just a single. Pak 176-2 in 34 overs.

Malinga bowls another tight over in the Batting Powerplay conceding just three runs. Pak 175-2 in 33 overs.

Hafeez launches Senanayake into the stands with a massive strike for his second six. Pak 172-2 in 32 overs.

Malinga breaks the 160-run partnership for the second wicket with a brilliant throw on his follow-through to run out Shehzad who was backinup up too far. Pak 162-2 in 30.5 overs.

Ahmed Shehzad run out 81 (89b 6x4 2x6) 

Hafeez hits his first six sweeping Prasanna over midwicket bringing up the 150 partnership in 160 deliveries. Pak 159-1 in 30 overs.

Shehzad is turning it on smashing another boundary off Prasanna with a ferocious pull to midwicket. Pak 144-1 in 28 overs.

Hafeez completes his 19th ODI half century off 69 balls and contained four boundaries. Pak 127-1 in 26 overs.

Hafeez pulls Mathews to the midwicket fence as Pakistan are cruising. Pak 124-1 in 25 overs.

The century partnership between Shehzad and Hafeez for the unfinished second wicket comes off 114 balls. Pak 102-1 in 22 overs.

Hafeez gets a much-needed boundary slamming Prasanna to long-on. Pak 94-1 in 21 overs.

Shehzad completes his fifth ODI half century off 57 balls. Pak 87-1 in 20 overs.

Hafeez gets a life on 26 as Malinga drops a sitter at long-on while Shehzad slams the next ball from Prasanna for a massive six that crashes into the sightscreen. Pak 83-1 in 19 overs.

Pakistan make a slow start while Mathews rings in the bowling changes as drinks are taken. Pak 73-1 in 18 overs.

Hafeez decides to go after Prasanna getting a boundary with a slog sweep. Pak 67-1 in 16 overs.

Shehzad is stepping up the ante punching the first ball from Mathews past point for a boundary. Pak 62-1 in 15 overs.

Shehzad gets cracking slamming consecutive boundaries off Thisara through mid-off and square leg. Pak 51-1 in 13 overs.

Thisara replaces Kulasekera who has figures of 5-1-18-1.

Shehzad slams the first six of the match smashing Kulasekera over long-on. Pak 30-1 in 9 overs.

Hafeez gets cracking dancing down the track and slamming Senanayake to the mid-off fence. Pak 23-1 in 8 overs.

Shehzad hits the first boundary of the match driving Kulasekera through point. Pak 15-1 in 5 overs.

Kulasekera strikes early after a spate of dot balls by rattling the stumps of left-hander Sharjeel who attempts to flick to leg. Pak 2-0 in 3 overs.

Sharjeel Khan b Kulasekara 2 (12b 0x4 0x6)

Sri Lanka won the toss and put Pakistan into bat in the third one-day international at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

Mathews feels the dew factor will come into play and Sri Lanka chase well for his decision to put the opposition in on a table top batting track.

The five-match series is tied 1-1 with Pakistan winning the first match in Sharjah by 11 runs while Sri Lanka bounced back to win the second by two wickets in Dubai.

Sri Lanka field an unchanged side while Umar Gul makes a return to international cricket coming in place of Tanvir.

PLAYING XI

Pakistan: Ahmed Shehzad, Sharjeel Khan, Mohammad Hafeez, Sohaib Maqsood, Misbah-ul-Haq, Umar Akmal, Shahid Afridi, Bilawal Bhatti, Saeed Ajmal, Junaid Khan, Umar Gul

Sri Lanka: TM Dilshan, Kusal Perera, Kumar Sangakkara, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Karunaratne, Thisara Perera, Sachithra Senanayake, Lasith Malinga, Seekkuge Prasanna, Nuwan Kulasekara

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.