Wed, 23 Nov 2011-Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in UAE 2011-12, 5th ODI - Bulletin

Clinical Pakistan take series 4-1

Top-order woes once again cost Sri Lanka dear as they never fully recovered after being reduced to 46 for four. Kumar Sangakkara and Angelo Mathews somehow pushed them to 218 but Pakistan powered by a solid middle order reached the target with three wickets and sixteen balls to spare. With this victory, Pakistan wrapped up the five match series with a convincing 4-1 score line.

Pakistan started the chase of 219 with a delightful boundary from the bat of Mohammad Hafeez. Asad Shafiq, who replaced Imran Farhat, also started off with a fluent drive in the second over but, Sri Lankan pacers regained their line and length to deliver three maidens on the trot. In the ninth over, Hafeez played a loose stroke to be caught behind for 14. Asad Shafiq, playing for first time in the series, unleashed some eye-catching strokes before Angelo Mathews trapped him in front for 26 as Pakistan lost their second wicket on 51.

Meanwhile, Younis Khan had started his innings steadily and was joined by Misbah-ul-Haq as the two started to push the scoring with the ones and twos interspersed with the odd boundary. The latter also benefited when Jeevan Mendis failed to hold on to catch at point when he had made only six.The two had taken Pakistan to 113 when Younis played back to a fullish Mendis delivery to end the brisk 62-run stand. Shoaib Malik lasted only one ball, LBW to a googly from the same bowler, the double-strike giving Sri Lanka a much-needed lifeline.

In came Umar Akmal and opened his account with a pulled boundary; with his skipper for company, the attacking batsman scored runs quickly to put the wobbling chase back on track. If Umar played his strokes without fear, Misbah deployed the reverse sweep to good effect. But, it was the same shot that brought his downfall not before he had put Pakistan on course with a patient 66.

Shahid Afridi and Sohail Tanvir tried their best to add some excitement towards the end by giving away their wickets but Umar Akmal sealed the victory with a powerful pull that sped to the boundary and finished unbeaten on 61 at more than run-a-ball.

Earlier, Sri Lanka barring a fighting 118-run stand between Kumar Sangakkara and Angelo Mathews were found wanting against an in-form Pakistan bowling attack after electing to bat first. Sohail Tanvir, one of three changes made by Pakistan, exploited the conditions nicely to pick 4 wickets for 34 in seven overs.

On a pitch that provided some assistance to the pacers, Tanvir got the ball to move both ways and almost inevitably found Upul Tharanga’s edge in the fourth over. In the next over, Umar Gul removed his bunny, Tillakaratne Dilshan to peg back Sri Lanka early. Having been driven for a four by Dinesh Chandimal, Tanvir bowled an absolute beauty to have him caught by Younis Khan at first slip. And, when Mahela Jayawardene’s replacement, Chamara Silva was sent back by Junaid Khan, Sri Lanka were in all sorts of trouble at 46 for 4 in the eleventh over.

While there was a procession from one end, Kumar Sangakkara had moved to 18 off 21 balls when the fourth wicket fell and was joined by all-rounder Angelo Mathews. The repair work began with Sangakkara dispatching Tanvir for three boundaries in a space of four deliveries. However, the blitz was soon replaced by accumulation as Pakistan pressed their wily spinners into service.

While Sangakkara dropped anchor to reach yet another fifty, Mathews fought fire with fire and carted Gul for two straight sixes. However, it was not long before the spinners began to dictate terms. With boundaries drying up, both the batsmen ran well between wickets to keep the score board ticking over and gave Sri Lanka a platform to build on in the last ten overs.

After fourteen boundary-less overs, Sangakkara went for an ambitious drive to be caught at cover for 78. Soon after, Shahid Afridi had Jeevan Mendis stumped and Mathews on 61 was bowled by Saeed Ajmal in quick succession to dent Sri Lanka’s chances of accelerating in the death overs. Thisara Parera hit an 18-ball 25 before Tanvir picked two more in the last over to restrict Sri Lanka to 218 for 9.