Hafeez and Farhat take Pakistan to 257 for 8

Ranjan ANANDAPPA reporting from Dubai

Pakistan after a seemingly very strong position of 151 for no wickets in 29.2 overs ,lost their way somewhat, but was good enough to end their innings on a high note at 257 for 8 in their 50 overs via a determined 42 runs by former captain Younis Khans bat which is no doubt a challenging target for the Sri Lankans batting second under lights. The Pakistanis were cruising along may be for a total 300 plus considering the electrifying start given by their openers Imran Farhat (70) and Mohammed Hafeez (83) . The pair shared fifteen hits to the pickets and two over with almost all the Sri Lankan bowlers struggling to find their fluency. With the dismissal of Hafeez who was the first to go after occupying the crease for 29.2 overs Pakistan lost their way a bit losing five wickets for 43 runs of 64 balls .But the early impetus given by the openers kept them afloat to finally reach their destination of 257 for 8.

Pakistan captain Misbah-Ul-Haq won the toss for the first time in the after losing it in the first two games. There have been evidence of the side batting first struggling a bit in the first twenty-five overs or so in previous games. But it was different yesterday. The Pakistanis after making one change from their losing second ODI team bringing in left arm wrong foot bowler Sohail Tanvir into the side instead of Aiziz Cheema. Sri Lanka stuck on to their same match winning combination. Lasith Malinga who took two quick wickets in his first over the other day bowled which the ball kept low and also lifting occasionally. Although Mohammed Hafeez was hit on the glove nothing stopped the Pakistan opening pair of Imran Farhat and Hafeez compiling the runs.

They added 121 runs in 25 overs as the Sri Lankan bowlers lacked the sharp penetrative qualities to put the brakes in the climbing run rate. Hafeez and Farahat added 151 runs for the first wicket in 29.2 overs and the Sri Lankans needed a couple of wickets at this stage to get back into the game.

It was Hafeez who gave the perspiring Sri Lankan bowlers their first relief when Seekkuge Prasanna bowled Hafeez going for a sweep for 83. He had faced 101 deliveries and s truck nine fours and a six and had already built a solid platform for his side adding 151 runs for the first wicket.

PAKISTAN

Mohammad Hafeez b Prasanna		83
Imran Farhat c Jayawardene b Dilshan	70
Abdul Razzaq c Perera b Prasanna	 6
Younis Khan run out			42
Umar Akmal b Malinga			 7
Misbah-ul Haq run out			 7
Shahid Afridi c Mathews b Perera	15
Sarfraz Ahmed b Malinga			 3
Sohail Tanvir not out			10
Umar Gul not out			 0

Extras: (lb4, nb1, w9)			14
TOTAL: (for eight wkts)			257

Fall of wickets: 1-151 (Hafeez), 2-161 (Farhat), 3-167 (Razzaq), 4-177 (Akmal),
 5-193 (Misbah), 6-226 (Afridi), 7-234 (Ahmed), 8-256 (Younis).
Bowling: Malinga 10-0-57-2 (nb1, w5), Perera 10-1-45-1 (w1), Fernando 10-1-59-0 (w3),
 Dilshan 8-0-38-1, Prasana 9-0-39-2, Mendis 3-0-15-0.