Mahela, Tharanga lift Sri Lanka to 235
Ranjan Anandappa in Dubai
Pakistan were chasing a target of 236 runs against Sri Lanka in the
second ODI played at Dubai International Cricket Stadium last night. At
the time of going to press, Pakistan were 106 for 5 at the end of 28
overs.
Lasith Malinga captured two wickets in the first over of the
Pakistani innings, Mohammad Hafeez for four and Younis Khan for 0, in
the third and fifth deliveries respectively, both were caught by
wicketkeeper Sangakkara. Imran Farhat was lbw off Thisara Perera’s
bowling in the fourth over when the total read 11. Misbah Ul Haq was lbw
for 21 when Dilhara Fernando struck in the 20th over. Abdul Razzak was
the next victim as he was run out for 11. At the end of 28 overs, Umar
Akmal who had scored 59 and Shafraz Ahamed occupied the crease with the
later was yest to start scoring.
Earlier Mahela Jayawardena gave Sri Lanka a glimmer of hope with a
late flourish striking precisely 50 to see his side reach 235 for 7 in
their allotted 50 overs while the others finding it tough against a
steady Pakistan attack. Jayawardena decided to take the field after
recovering from a knee injury, boosting the Sri Lankan innings when the
Pakistan pace and spin combination were to take charge once again. With
the new regulation of the power play to be taken before the 36th over of
the innings, Jayawardena took full toll of the situation to put the
Pakistanis under pressure on a pitch described as a difficult one.
With the big guns Dilshan, Sangakkara and Mathews being unable to
make much headway amidst the Pakistan attack, Jayawardena virtually
assured a stiff competition was on the card for Pakistan as the Lankans
were heading towards a repetition of the first game which the Islanders
lost last Friday.
Sri Lanka brought in Jeevan Mendis for Suranga Lakmal and Thisara
Perera for Kosala Kulasekera. Dilshan won the toss for the second time
in the ODI series and justified his decision for a while when the
skipper and Tharanga gave a reasonable start adding 56 runs for the
opening wicket in 11.2 overs.
Dilshan who was trying to get into his strides was bowled by Shahid
Afridi after scoring 28 and Sangakkara followed soon when Razzak had him
caught off his own bowling. Chandimal who needed a good innings to boost
his confidence was Afridi’s second victim when he was bowled for 15 and
Sri Lanka had lost their third wicket at 92.
Paceman Umar Gul bowled the Sri Lankan captain. Upul Tharanga had
several slices of luck when he was dropped twice but it was left to
Jayawardena and assisting Tharanga to build a total to respectable
proportions the the pair took the total from 94 for 3 to 179 for 4 in
41.2 overs. When Tharanga was finally out giving Afridi his third wicket
he had faced 120 deliveries with eight fours for his 77.
Sri Lanka
U. Tharanga c Younis b Afridi 77
T. Dilshan b Afridi 28
K. Sangakkara c and b Razzaq 5
D. Chandimal b Ajmal 15
M. Jayawardene b Ajmal 50
A. Mathews c Ahmed b Cheema 3
J. Mendis not out 17
T. Perera st Ahmed b Ajmal 13
L. Malinga not out 2
Extras: (lb8, nb1, w16) 25
TOTAL: (for seven wkts) 235
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-56, 2-65, 3-94, 4-179, 5-189, 6-210, 7-233
BOWLING: Gul 7-1-35-0 (nb1, w5), Cheema 8-0-56-1 (w4), Ajmal 10-0-61-3
(6w), Razzaq 7-1-18-1 (w1), Afridi 10-1-35-2, Hafeez 8-1-22-0
Pakistan
M. Hafeez c Sangakkara b Malinga 4
I. Farhat lbw b Perera 3
Y. Khan c Sangakkara b Malinga 0
M. Haq lbw b Fernando 21
U. Akmal not out 59
A. Razzaq run out (Perera/Mendis) 11
S Ahmed not out 0
Extras: b 1, lb 1, w 6) 8
TOTAL: 5 wickets; 28 overs) 106
FALL OF WICKETS:1-4, 2-4, 3-11, 4-7), 5-102
BOWLING: Malinga 5-0-22-2, Perera 5-0-16-1, Fernando 6-0-29-1,
Prasanna 7-1-17-0, Dilshan 1-0-3-0, Mendis 4-0-17-0 |