Afridi stars as Pakistan thump Sri Lanka
Leg-spinner Shahid Afridi capped an excellent return to international
cricket with three wickets as Pakistan thumped Sri Lanka by eight
wickets in the first day-night match here on Friday.
Afridi took 3-27 in his first match since returning from a six-month
exile, helping Pakistan dismiss Sri Lanka for a paltry 131 in 40.3 overs
before Younis Khan and Imran Farhat hit fifties to anchor the chase at
Dubai stadium.
Pakistan lost Mohammad Hafeez (five) in the second over of their
innings but Farhat added 103 for the second wicket stand with Younis
Khan (56 not out) to ensure a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
Farhat hit leg-spinner Seekkuge Prasanna for his seventh boundary to
reach his ninth one-day fifty but with only 17 needed he was trapped
leg-before wicket by paceman Suranga Lakmal for 50.
Younis, whose fifty was his 45th in one-dayers, took the team past
the target in just 21.5 overs. He hit seven boundaries during his
57-ball knock.
Pakistan were on course for a comprehensive win thanks in large part
to Afridi, who finished with 3-27 and was ably supported by Saeed Ajmal
(2-21) and Mohammad Hafeez (2-24) as Sri Lanka lost their last seven
wickets for 54 after opting to bat.
Dinesh Chandimal top-scored with 28 while opener Tharanga Paranavitna
(25) and Mahela Jayawardene (24) were other notable scorers but none
went on to make a big score against some lethal spin bowling.
Sri Lanka lost Tillakaratne Dilshan in the second over of the match,
bowled by paceman Aizaz Cheema for four.
With their captain back in the pavilion, Sri Lanka did not recover as
wickets continued to fall, in-form Kumar Sangakkara falling for five
after struggling through 24 deliveries.
Chandimal and Paranavitana added 30 for the third wicket before
Pakistan’s spinners ran riot, grabbing the last seven wickets for a mere
54 runs.
Afridi, who only last month decided to go back on a decision to
retire from international cricket in protest at being sacked as one-day
captain, struck in his first over of the match.
Chandimal hit him for a six off his fourth ball, but the leg-spinner
had him leg-before the very next ball. Chandimal hit two sixes and a
four off 31 balls.
The 31-year-old Afridi then dismissed Prasanna (five) and Lasith
Malinga (11) during his incisive 9.3 overs spell.
Jayawardene and Paranavitana were the others to provide some
resistance but they too departed to spinners. The second match will also
be played in Dubai on Monday.
The remaining matches are scheduled for Dubai (November 18), Sharjah
(November 20) and Abu Dhabi (November 23). The teams will also play a
Twenty20 in Abu Dhabi on November 25. AFP
SRI LANKA
U. Tharanga c Cheema b Hafeez 25
T. Dilshan b Cheema 4
K. Sangakkara c Ahmed b Razzaq 5
D. Chandimal lbw b Afridi 28
M. Jayawardene c Razzaq b Ajmal 24
A. Mathews run out 10
K. Kulasekara c Gul b Hafeez 0
S. Prasanna st Ahmed b Afridi 5
L. Malinga b Afridi 11
S. Lakmal st Ahmed b Ajmal 0
D. Fernando not out 0
Extras: (lb5, nb1, w13) 19
Total: 131
Fall of wickets: 1-12 (Dilshan), 2-36 (Sangakkara), 3-66 (Tharanga), 4-77 (Chandimal),
5-104 (Mathews), 6-107 (Kulasekara), 7-120 (Jayawardene), 8-122 (Prasanna), 9-129 (Lakmal)
Bowling: Gul 5-2-11-0 (1nb, 2w), Cheema 5-1-18-1 (5w), Razzaq 5-0-25-1 (w2), Hafeez 10-0-24-2, Afridi 9.3-0-27-3 (w3), Ajmal 6-0-21-2 (w1)
Overs: 40.3
PAKISTAN
Mohammad Hafeez c Kulasekara b Lakmal 5
Imran Farhat lbw b Lakmal 50
Younis Khan not out 56
Sarfraz Ahmed not out 4
Extras: (lb6, nb4, w7) 17
Total: (for two wkts) 132
Fall of wickets: 1-12 (Hafeez), 2-115 (Farhat).
Bowling: Malinga 5-0-35-0 (nb4, w5), Lakmal 4-0-16-0, Fernando 5.5-0-35-0 (w2), Prasanna 4-0-23-0, Kulasekara 3-0-17-0
Overs: 21.5 |