A 161 run partnership between Lahiru Thirimanne and Kumar Sangakkara, along with a 5 wicket haul by Lasith Malinga ensured a dramatic 12 run win for Sri Lanka against Pakistan in the Asia Cup opener played at Fatullah today.
The Sri Lankan skipper Angelo Mathews won the toss elected to bat first on a wicket at Fatullah which was expected to slow down as the game progresses. Chathuranga de Silva made his ODI debut earning a place ahead of Ajantha Mendis while Lahiru Thirimanne was included to the side at the absence of T.M.Dilshan.
Kusal Perera and Lahiru Thirimanne opened the proceedings while they were greeted by spinner Mohammad Hafeez. Although the openers began to show signs of a fine start, danger man Kusal Perera was removed by Umar Gul in the 8th over for 14 runs caught behind by stumper Umar Akmal.
However Lahiru Thirimanne was joined by the ‘ever reliable’ Kumar Sangakkara as the pair went on to build a commanding partnership of 161 runs. The addition of 161 came in 24.2 overs at an excellent rate of 6.61 runs per over. Thirimanne’s fifty was soon followed by Sanga’s 84th half century. Umar Gul finally broke the deadlock at 189 when his second strike sent Sangakkara back to the pavilion for a well-made 67 off 65 deliveries. Thirimanne continued to dominate the Pakistani bowlers as he reached his second ODI ton in 107 balls with 11 fours and a six.
The fielding side finally had a respite as Saeed Ajmal made the breakthrough when he clean bowled Lahiru Thirimanne for 102 runs with the scoreboard at 204/3 in the 36th over. Shahid Afridi soon joined the party to turn the tides into their favour by removing Mahela Jayawardene for 13 runs as the latter was deceived in an attempt to play a late cut.
A shift of momentum began to emerge as Mahela’s departure was soon followed by Thisara Perera’s when Afridi broke what looked like a dangerous partnership between Mathews and Perera. Debutant Chathuranga de Silva did not survive for too long at the middle when he was run out by Ahmed Shehzad for 2 runs. A score which read 203/2 at one point stumbled to 251/6 but skipper Angleo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal with a valuable partnership of 45 runs off 27 deliveries led Sri Lankans to a challenging total of 296/6 in their 50 overs.
Afridi and Gul became the pick of the bowlers with two wickets each, which eventually made sure the Lions were restricted to a score less than 300 after being at a strong position at 203/2 in 34 overs.
Chasing a target of 297, the opening pair was expected to give Pakistan a favourable start as Ahmed Shehzad and Sharjeel Khan arrived at the crease to face the task. However Suranga Lakamal took early measures to remove a dangerous looking Sharjeel Khan who was batting on 26 runs in 23 balls. With the departure of Sharjeel, Mohammad Hafeez joined Shehzad to rebuild the innings but the 49-run partnership was broken when Ahmed Shehzad’s stumps were disturbed by Chathuranga de Silva who went on to claim his maiden ODI wicket. Losing his partner at the other end, Hafeez did not hang on for much longer as he was struck plumb in front by Mathews in the following over for 18 runs. At 121, Pakistan suffered another setback when Sohaib Maqsood who was on 17, threw away his wicket perhaps not to the best delivery by Sachithra Senanayake.
Skipper Misbah-ul-Haq and wicketkeeper Umar Akmal had other intensions as they continued to fight by adding 121 runs for the 5th wicket in just 19 overs. Both reached their respective half centuries at difficult stages of the game. The plot thickened when Lakmal took Akmal’s wicket at a crucial point with the score standing at 242/5 in the 43rd over.
The fine knock of 74 runs by Umar Akmal came off just 72 balls with seven fours and three massive sixes. After Akamal’s departure, Afridi joined the skipper Misbah at a point where Pakistan needed 55 runs to win off 45 deliveries. However Afridi could not provide the usual fire-power as he was caught by Dinesh Chandimal off Malinga’s bowling for 4 runs while Misbah was caught in the deep for 73 runs in the same over. The turnaround came within the space of 2 overs which proved to be the possible difference as the Sri Lankan bowlers subsequently came back to dismiss Pakistan for 284 runs.
Bilawal Bhatti’s little cameo at the latter stage kept the hopes alive but was not enough to secure a win for the Pakistani team as Sri Lanka ensured a 12 run win. Lasith Malinga’s five wickets came within 15 deliveries which crushed the batting line up in a dramatic turnaround of events. He was also adjudged as Man of the Match.
Scores in brief –
Sri Lanka 296/6 (50 overs) – Lahiru Thirimanne 102, Kumar Sangakkara 67, Angelo Mathews 55*; Umar Gul 2 for 38, Shahid Afridi 2 for 56
Pakistan 284 all out (48.5 overs) – Umar Akmal 74, Misbah-ul-Haq 73, Ahmed Shehzad 28; Lasith Malinga 5 for 52, Suranga Lakmal 2 for 65.
