Pakistan defeat Sri Lanka to lead ODI series
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka by 21 runs in their third One-Day International on Saturday at the Dubai International Stadium to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.
Pakistan built upon an opening stand of 151 between Mohammad Hafeez and Imran Farhat to reach a total of 257-8 off their 50 overs. Hafeez smashed nine fours and a six in a topscore of 83 off 101 balls, while left-hander Farhat struck six fours and a six in 70 off 82 deliveries.
Sri Lanka were bowled out for 236 off 48.5 overs with off-spinner Saeed Ajmal (3-42) and pacer Umar Gul (3-48) holding their nerve at key moments. Captain Tillakaratne Dilshan hit 64 and fellow veteran Kumar Sangakkara contributed 45.
Dilshan brought up his fifty off 62 balls, but was soon involved in a mix-up with Sangakkara which changed the course of the match. Sangakkara, who struck three fours in 45, was run out by Afridi’s direct hit from mid-on after Dilshan turned down a single.
Afridi soon provided the key scalp of Dilshan, who was unlucky to deflect a wide ball back onto his leg stump as he tried to sweep.
Veteran Mahela Jayawardene became the ninth player to pass 10,000 runs in one-day cricket when he reached 13 and shared a restorative stand of 35 with Dinesh Chandimal.
But Ajmal’s first strike was a crucial one, with Jayawardene stumped for 17 after slick work by wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed.
Chandimal, on his 22nd birthday, contributed 31 off 47 deliveries before he also fell to Ajmal, slicing a catch to extra cover at 186-5 in the 40th over.
Angelo Mathews held together the lower order but only Jeevan Mendis (19 off 15 balls) could supply any meaningful resistance. Mathews was left 32 not out after Gul returned to seal the victory for Pakistan with the wickets of Seekkuge Prasanna and Dilhara Fernando.
Earlier, Pakistan seemed set for a bigger total following Hafeez and Farhat’s opening stand, only for Sri Lanka to hit back in the latter half of the innings through leg-spinner Prasanna (2-39) and pace ace Lasith Malinga (2-57).
