Lanka continue winning streak

Elmo RODRIGOPULLE reporting

The Sri Lankans continued their winning streak beating Pakistan by 19 runs in their Group F game here, today. After making 150 for 7 in their 20 overs, the Lankans hit back strongly with tight fielding and wicket to wicket bowling to stun the Pakistanis who could only make 131 for 9 in their 20 overs.

Once again it was the solid opening stand of 81 by two of the most feared openers in this tournament, Tillakaratne Dilshan and Sanath Jayasuriya who put on 81 that laid the foundation for this vital victory. While the middle order batting lost their way and failed to consolidate on the opening. The bowlers and fielders made amends by not letting the Pakistani batsmen to take charge and dominate.

While the Sri Lankans held their nerve and rode the pressure, the Pakistanis did not seem to have a plan as to how they were going to set about their task.

Kumar Sangakkara again marshalled his troops admirably, made clever bowling changes and judicious field placings and it was too much for the Pakistanis who just fell apart unable to withstand the pressure.

Only Younus Khan batted responsibly for his 50 that came in 37 balls with 4 fours. Shoaib Malik who was threatening made 28 with 3 fours and entered double figures.

The Lankans who kept their cool and upset the Pakistan batting cart were Angelo Matthews who knocked back the stumps of Salman Butt in his first over before the Pakistan could get on. Lasith Malinga was his usual wicket taking self with 3 for 17 and Muttiah Muralitheran had 2 for 28.

The much hyped Sahid Afridi was out for a blob. The Sri Lankans broke with tradition and instead of playing the winning combination that brought them victories against Australia and West Indies in the earlier games, tinkered with the combination and brought in the experienced medium pacer Nuwan Kulasekera and sat Isuru Udana on the bench. The result proved the decision right.

Sri Lankan openers Tillakaratne Dilshan and Sanath Jayasuriya again gave the side a solid start putting on 81 for the first wicket which was the solid foundation for the rest of the batsmen to build on.

But sadly Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardena, Chamara Silva and Jehan Mubarak all experienced hands failed to build on the opening stand and the score of 150 for 7 in 20 did not look that formidable considering that the Pakistanis packed a strong batting line up.

Dilshan was unfortunate to miss his third fifty in a row. He was well set to achieve this rare feat when he tried to cut an off break and was bowled for 46 in 39 balls with 8 well hit fours. Jayasuriya who made 26 in 24 balls had 2 fours and one big six. Sangakkara 15, Mahela Jayawardena 19, Chamara Silva 8, Jehan Mubarak 5, Kulasekera 0 and Angelo Matthews 9 and Lasith Malinga 2 remained undefeated.

It was a good victory for the Sri Lankans and if they win one more game can enter the semi, unless the unforseen happens. Lord’s Cricket Ground, Friday

SRI LANKA
T. Dilshan b Afridi		46
S. Jayasuriya c Younus b Afridi	26
K. Sangakkara st Akmal b Ajmal	15
M. Jayawardene c Afridi b Ajmal	19
C. Silva c Akmal b Gul		 8
J. Mubarak run out (Akmal)	 5
A. Mathews not out		 9
N. Kulasekara lbw b Gul		 0 
L. Malinga not out		 2
Extras (lb7, w10, nb3)		20
Total (7 wkts, 20 overs)	150
Did not bat: M. Muralitharan, A. Mendis.
Fall of wickets: 1-81 (Jayasuriya), 2-89 (Dilshan), 3-110 (Sangakkara), 4-128 (Silva), 
5-132 (Jayawardene), 6-148 (Mubarak), 7-148 (Kulasekara).
Bowling: Tanvir 2-0-29-0 (3nb, 6w); Aamir 4-0-26-0; Gul 4-0-34-2 (2w); 
Afridi 4-0-23-2 (2w); Ajmal 4-0-26-2; Malik 2-0-5-0.

PAKISTAN
Salman Butt b Mathews			 0
Kamran Akmal run out (Silva)		 5
Shoaib Malik c Kulasekara b Malinga	28
Younus Khan c Sangakkara b Malinga	50
Misbah-ul-Haq c Silva b Muralitharan	21
Shahid Afridi c Dilshan b Muralitharan	 0
Fawad Alam c Sangakkara b Kulasekara	12
Sohail Tanvir c and b Malinga		 3
Umar Gul not out			 9
Mohammad Aamir run out (Kulasekara)	 0
Saeed Ajmal not out			 0
Extras (lb1, w2)			 3
Total (9 wkts, 20 overs)		131
Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-34, 3-35, 4-101, 5-101, 6-108, 7-121, 8-123, 9-124.
Bowling: Mathews 4-0-23-1; Kulasekara 4-0-30-1; Malinga 4-0-17-3 (1w); 
Muralitharan 4-0-28-2; Mendis 3-0-24-0; Jayasuriya 1-0-8-0 (1w).