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29 March 2024

Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 3rd ODI: Sarfraz, Yasir star in big Pakistan win

Published
By Cricket Correspondent and Agencies
 

Sarfraz Ahmed scored 77 and Yasir Shah grabbed four wickets as Pakistan thrashed Sri Lanka by 135 runs in the violence-hit third one-day international in Colombo on Sunday.

All-rounder Mohammad Hafeez made up for a year-long ban on bowling due to a suspect action with a polished 54 as Pakistan piled up 316-4 after electing to bat in the day-night match.

Leg-spinner Yasir then shone with the ball as Sri Lanka
were bundled out for 181 in 41.1 overs on a slow pitch at the Premadasa stadium.

The match was interrupted for 30 minutes in the second session with Sri Lanka on 158-7 when stones thrown apparently from outside the stadium landed on the field near a Pakistani fielder.

Match referee Javagal Srinath of India immediately ordered the players off the field as anti-riot police squads evacuated spectators from two blocks of stands near the giant scoreboard.

The match, which was witnessed by Pakistan batting great Zaheer Abbas - the current president of the International Cricket Council (ICC) - resumed after the short break and Pakistan completed a facile win to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.

Lahiru Thirimanne, who top-scored with 56, was the only Sri Lankan batsman to offer resistance as the rest of the batting collapsed. Opener Kusal Perera was the next highest contributor with 20.

Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews admitted his team was outplayed by Pakistan.

"I am pretty disappointed," he said. "But it must be said that Pakistan outplayed us in all three departments."

"The pitch helped the spinners in the second innings, but we need to improve in batting, bowling and fielding. We can't afford to panic. Just need to have faith in the boys."

Hafeez's fourth score of 50-plus in the last six one-day innings built on a 93-run opening stand between Ahmed Shehzad (44) and skipper Azhar Ali (49).

Hafeez, 34, had on Friday been banned from bowling for a year by the ICC after his action was ruled to be illegal - for the second time in the last eight months.

But the former captain ensured he contributed with the bat with a stroke-filled half-century to follow his 103 in the opening match of the series.

Sarfraz, promoted to number four from lower down the order, justified the captain's faith with seven boundaries in his 74-ball knock.

The gutsy wicket-keeper put on 72 for the third wicket with Hafeez and 61 for the fourth with Shoaib Malik to boost the total, before he was run out in the 45th over.

Malik, watched from the stands by his tennis-playing Indian wife Sania Mirza, struck an unbeaten 42 from 29 balls and shared an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 59 with Mohammad Rizwan (35 not out).

The pair smashed 21 runs in the last over, bowled by Lasith Malinga, to leave Sri Lanka chasing the highest total in the series so far.

Sarfraz, who was named man of the match, said he was delighted to contribute to the big win.

"It was a great team effort," he said. "I am really very happy with my batting and 'keeping. Yesterday Azhar came and told me he wanted me to bat higher in the order. I said okay."

"I am just happy everything clicked for me and the team."

Pakistan had won the opening match in Dambulla and Sri Lanka took the second in Pallekele.

Ninth-ranked Pakistan need a series win to remain in contention for a place in the eight-nation Champions Trophy in England in 2017.

Sri Lanka, currently ranked fifth, are assured of taking part in the tournament.

The fourth match will be played at the same venue on Wednesday.

Pakistan beat Sri Lanka 135 runs and almost nine overs to spare to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.

Chasing a target of 317, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 181 in the 42nd over.

Yasir Shah claimed four for 29 and debutant Wasim two while Thirimanne top scored with 56.

Malinga is the last man out being castled by Wasim and Sri Lanka are all out for 181 in 41.1 overs.

Lasith Malinga b Imad Wasim 6 (8b 0x4 0x6)

Stunning catch from Ali in the deep as Pathirana returns to the pavilion. SL 172-9 in 39.4 overs.

Sachith Pathirana c Anwar Ali b Yasir Shah 19 (31b 0x4 1x6)

Easy wicket for Pakistan as Perera offers a simple catch to Ali. Pakistan need another two to wrap the match. SL 170-8 in 39.1 overs.

Thisara Perera c Anwar Ali b Yasir Shah 12 (33b 0x4 0x6)

Play has resumed after the unruly crowd behaviour caused a stoppage.

A tense situation between two groups of spectators resulted in stones being thrown onto the field and riot police rushing in to defuse the sitatuion and the stands being cleared.

There has been a stoppage in play because of some crowd trouble with Pakistan captain calling his players to the middle. SL 158-7, 33.3 overs.

Sri Lanka are crumbling in a heap with Siriwardana being run out. SL 144-7, 30.4 overs.

Milinda  Siriwardana run out 2 (3b 0x4 0x6)

Thirimanne perishes edging Rahat behind. SL 142-6, 30.1 overs.

Lahiru Thirimanne c Sarfraz Ahmed b Rahat Ali 56 (67b 4x4 0x6)

Thisara has been promoted as Sri Lanka attempt to close the gap. SL 142-5, 30 overs.

Wassim claims his maiden wicket castling Chandimal who attempts to sweep and misses the line. SL 130-5, 27 overs.

Dinesh Chandimal b Imad Wasim 18 (30b 0x4 0x6)

A double for Shah as Malik holds a skier from Mathews. SL 93-4, 19.3 overs.

Angelo Mathews c Shoaib Malik b Yasir Shah 4 (13b 0x4 0x6)

Shah strikes with his third as Tharanga gives him the charge and is out by a mile. SL 82-3, 15.3 overs.

Upul Tharanga st Sarfraz Ahmed b Yasir Shah 16 (21b 2x4 0x6)

Tharanga sizzles with a couple of boundaries off Malik with a late cut to third man followed by an off drive. SL 73-2, 14 overs.

Thirimanne square cuts Rahat for consecutive boundaries. SL 50-2, 9 overs.

Sarfraz takes a brilliant catch behind to account for the dangerous Kusal. SL 42-2, 7.5 overs.

Kusal Perera c Sarfraz Ahmed b Anwar Ali 20 (18b 3x4 0x6)

Anwar Ali strikes with a struggling Dilshan miscuing to mid-off. SL 33-1, 5.4 overs.

TM Dilshan c Azhar Ali b Anwar Ali 14 (21b 1x4 0x6)

Kusal swings Anwar to fine leg for his second boundary. Pak 22-0, 3 overs.

Kusal swats Anwar to midwicket for the first boundary of the innings. SL 12-0, 2 overs.

Pakistan innings

Pakistan plundered 89 off the last 10 overs to set Sri Lanka a target of 317.

Opting to bat first, Pakistan were given a solid start by Shehzad (44) and Azhar Ali (49) who posted 93.

Half centuries by Hafeez (54) and Sarfraz (77) set them on course for an imposing total before Rizwan and Malik provided the final flourish.

Malinga goes for 21 in the final over with Rizwan hammering a six and boundary while Malik slams a couple of boundaries as Pakistan make 316-4.

Another run out as Sarfraz fails to beat a direct hit from Thisara. Pak 257-4, 44.2 overs.

Sarfraz Ahmed run out 77 (74b 7x4 0x6)

Another wicket after a break as Hafeez sweeps Pathirana where the midwicket fielder takes a good catch. Pak 196-3, 36.4 overs.

Mohammad Hafeez c Kusal Perera b Pathirana 54 (64b 4x4 0x6)

Play has resumed after a slight rain delay and Hafeez completes his half century.

Rain has caused a stoppage with Pakistan 187-2, 35.1 overs and Hafeez batting on 49 with Sarfraz on 35.

Hafeez moves into the 40s with a superb pick up shot to the midwicket fence off Mathews. Pak 175-2, 33 overs.

Sri Lanka get another breakthrough as Azhar is run out turning back for a second to fall short of his half century. Pak 124-2, 23.2 overs.

Azhar Ali run out 49 (59b 4x4 0x6)

Hafeez gets into his stride slamming a couple of boundaries off Pathirana. Pak 122-1, 8 overs.

Malinga strikes in the first over after the drinks interval as Shehzad miscues a short pitched ball. Pak 93-1, 16.3 overs.

Ahmed Shehzad c Pathirana b Malinga 44 (54b 4x4 0x6)

Pakistan have decided to take the second Powerplay from over 11 to 20. Pak 55-0, 10 overs.

Azhar clips Malinga to the square leg fence to complete 1,000 runs in ODIs, the fastest by a Pakistani in 23 innings. Pak 44-0, 8 overs.

Shehzad hits his first boundary with a late cut to third man off Mathews followed by two more. Pak 38-0, 7 overs.

Azhar hits the first boundary of the match with a straight pull off Pradeep. Pak 24-0, 6 overs.

Pakistan have won the toss and elected to bat in third one-day international against Sri Lanka at R Premadasa Stadium on Sunday.

Hafeez who has been from bowling has been retained with Babar Azzam making way for Imad Wasim.

Sri Lanka are unchanged.

The five-match series is tied 1-1.

Teams

Sri Lanka: Kusal Perera, TM Dilshan, Upul Tharanga, Angelo Mathews, Lahiru Thirimanne, Dinesh Chandimal, Milinda Siriwardana, Sachith Pathirana, Thisara Perera, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Pradeep

Pakistan: Azhar Ali, Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Imad Wasim, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Rizwan, Sarfraz Ahmed, Anwar Ali, Yasir Shah, Rahat Ali, Mohammad Irfan