Sat, 26 Feb 2011 - Sri Lanka vs Pakistan, World Cup 2011-10th match Group A - Bulletin

Senior players script Pakistan victory

Pakistan overcame some nervous moments and fielding lapses to register an 11 run victory over determined Sri Lanka in the important group A match played at R Premdasa Stadium.

It was senior players of the side-Misbah-ul Haq and Younis Khan in batting,  Shahid Afridi and Shoab Akhter in bowling-who were instrumental in what in the end turned out to be thrilling one.

After middle order failed to put a good show, Sri Lankan lower order batsmen were feisty to make sure their team went fighting against the Pakistan side that was very dismal on the fielding dropping at least three catches, two stump-out chances and countless run outs.

It was individual bowling brilliance of Afridi and speedster Akhter that kept Pakistan always ahead in the game.

Afridi continued his good bowling form by backing his five wicket haul against Kenya with four and Shoab getting two wickets at crucial stages.

Sri Lanka effectively lost the run chase when it slipped from 75 for no loss to 98 for 4 wickets with Hafeez breaking the promising opening partnership by having Tharanga caught at short covers by Afridi.

Captain then came to bowl to get wickets of scratchy Dilshan and Samarweera getting former clean bowled and Samaraweera stumped out thanks to some good work from Kamran Akmal behind the stumps.

Shoab who bowled a luckless first spell chipped in the wicket of Mahela Jayewardene by getting one to jack back and castling Jayewardene’s stumps.

At that time, Pakistan were truly at driver’s seat but 5th wicket partnership of 71 runs between Sangakara and Chamara Silva gave home side some hope. Afridi, however, had other ideas removing his opposite number getting him caught by Pakistan’s best fielder on the park on long on for one short of half century.

His day just got better when he got dangerous Angelo Mathews who played a cameo of an innings but not enough to threaten Pakistan.

Silva who earlier struggled to get the timing right played some cheeky and delightful strokes but with required run-rate creeping up he rushed down the wicket to Rehman only to be stumped by Kamran who had missed two chances earlier.

Shoab, in his last spell, added to his wicket tally by yorking Thisara Perrera to put end to any chances of Sri Lankan fightback.

There were some nervous moments in the two overs though with Pakistan dropping few catches and Nuwan Kulasekra hitting some lusty blows but Pakistan had enough to prevail over Sri Lanka.

It was  Misbah-ul-Haq’s undefeated innings of 83 and  4th wicket partnership with Younis Khan that yielded 108 runs that boosted  Pakistan to a decent score of 277 after they decided to bat first.

Pakistan, however, will be touch disappointing with not reaching 300 as they couldn’t make most of last ten overs including five in batting power play scoring only 36 runs.

Pakistan surge to a 300 plus score was halted by Murlitharan’s economical spell of ten overs in which he gave only 35 runs and outfoxed batsmen many times.

After opting to bat first Pakistan lose an early wicket of Shahzad who was caught behind off Thisara but his departure didn’t have any impact on scoring rate as Hafeez  (34 off 32) and number three Kamran Akmal took attack  to opening bowlers of Sri Lanka who provided them the width and short of length to score freely.

Hafeez who hit 4 boundaries and a six in his innings was run out to silly piece of running by not responding to Kamran’s call that left both the batsmen stranded at one end.

Kamran, after Hafeez’s dismissal, continued to pile up runs before he had a brain crash needlessly dancing down the track only to be stumped out for well made 39.

This brought Misbah on the crease who alongwith Younis absorbed the pressure and kept the scoreboard ticking by taking singles and hitting odd boundaries.

Both senior men were interested in looking for gaps and ran hard between the wickets with Younis completing his second half-century of the tournament off 54 balls and accelerated to give much needed impetus to the innings.

He went for 76-ball 72 with 4 hits to the fence when he tried to slog-sweep Herath only to top-edge it to short fine leg.

Misbah, on other hand, was sedate picking up the singles and had only boundary to his name when he scored his half-century but opened up in death overs hitting six off his boundaries in last seven overs.

Pakistan famed power hitters didn’t do much as Sri Lankan bowlers Murli and Kulasekra found good areas and yorkers in the end to halt Pakistan surge.

So much so, Murli, bowling in the batting powerplay, gave away only 6 runs in his two overs and made his day even better when he had Umar Akmal caught in the deep.

Shahid Afridi played a mini cameo hitting 3 boundaries in his 12 ball knock of 16 runs.

Sri Lankan fast bowlers, though, were very expensive and absence of injured Lasith Malinga was felt.

Afridi removes Sangakkara, chase gets difficult

Sri Lanka were at 174 runs at the end of 39 overs with half of their side gone needing 104 more runs to win the match against Pakistan.
Chamara Silva and Angelo Mathews were at the crease.

Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi was the most successful bowler taking three wickets for 16 runs in his seven overs including that of his opposite number Sangakara getting him caught at long on for 49 runs.

Quick wickets halt SL run chase

Sri Lanka slipped to 96 for the loss of four wickets in the 22 overs while chasing the victory target of 278 runs set by Pakistan.

Lankan chase got off to a solid start scoring 75 in their first 14 overs without losing a wicket with both openers Dilshan and Tharanga going along nicely.

Pakistan bowlers came back nicely by getting four wickets for 22 runs leaving Lankan chase in tatters.

For Pakistan it was Hafeez who broke the opening partnership by getting Tharanga caught at covers by Shahid Afridi who then got two wickets to strengthen Pakistan position.

Shoab who bowled luckless opening spell castled inform Jayewardene by a fast pacy delivery that came back in to hit the middle stump.

SL openers start cautiously

Sri Lankan openers started their run chase of 278 cautiously with score reading on 35 for loss of no wicket at the end of nine overs.

Tilkeratne Dilshan was struggling with his timing batting at 19 runs while his partner was looking good not out 15.

Misbah, Younis help Pakistan to make 277 runs

Misbah-ul-Haq’s undefeated innings of 83 and 4th wicket partnership with Younis Khan that yielded 108 runs helped Pakistan to post a decent score of 277 against Sri Lanka in group A world cup game played at R Premdasa Stadium.

Pakistan, however, will be touch disappointing with not reaching 300 as they couldn’t make most of last ten overs including five in batting power play scoring only 36 runs.

Pakistan surge to a 300 plus score was halted by Murlitharan’s economical spell of ten overs in which he gave only 35 runs and outfoxed batsmen many times.

After opting to bat first Pakistan lose an early wicket of Shahzad who was caught behind off Thisara but his departure didn’t have any impact on scoring rate as Hafeez (34 off 32) and number three Kamran Akmal took attack to opening bowlers of Sri Lanka who provided them the width and short of length to score freely.

Hafeez who hit 4 boundaries and a six in his innings was run out to silly piece of running by not responding to Kamran’s call that left both the batsmen stranded at one end.

Kamran, af © eContent.in