Pakistan hands huge defeat to Sri Lanka

Clinical Pakistan registered a massive 135-run victory over Sri Lanka in the 3rd ODI at R. Premadasa Stadium on Sunday. 

 Pakistan take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series. Pakistan’s top six battered the Lankan bowlers to post 316/4 and ensured hosts’ need to chase down the highest successful run chase in home soil. Pakistani bowlers made sure Sri Lanka chase had no momentum as the home team was bowled out for 181 despite Lahiru Thirimanne’s 13th ODI half-ton.

Sri Lanka’s mammoth chase was dented by the early loss of TM Dilshan (14) when he gave a regulation catch to Azhar Ali at mid-off to the bowling of Anwar Ali in the 6th over. Previous games’ hero, Kusal Janith Perera (20) started in blistering fashion once again but he failed to read an off-cutter off Anwar Ali when the Lankan score was 42 in the 8th over.

Thirimanne and Tharanga built a solid 40-run partnership to bolster any chance but the latter’s brief knock of 16 was ended by leg-spinner, Yasir Shah when the left-hander was stumped by Sarfraz Ahmed. 

Sri Lanka’s dependable skipper, Angelo Mathews (4) threw it away when he came down the wicket and miscued a Yasir Shah delivery giving an easy catch to the fielder at long-off. 

The visitors bowled a tight line and it induced Dinesh Chandimal to sweep across the wicket but only saw his stumps rattled as left-arm spinner Imad Wasim took his maiden ODI wicket.

Lahiru Thirimanne made a much-needed half-ton ending a poor run of form but his efforts were not enough for the hosts’ as his valiant knock of 56 was ended by Rahat Ali in the 31st over and in the same over, Milinda Siriwardana was run-out. 

The match was halted by the match officials in the 34th over when a Spectator threw an unknown object at a Pakistani player. It all started in the block D stand when a riot between the spectators occurred, later those stands were evacuated and the game was halted for nearly 35 minutes.    

After the resumption, Yasir Shah plucked out Thisara Perera and Sachith Pathirana inside three balls with the help of good catching from Anwar Ali to wipe out the Lankan tail cheaply. 

Earlier, Pakistan openers Ahmed Shehzad and Azhar Ali started off positively. The hosts’ bowling attack looked less penetrate on a very flat surface. They made 55 off the first 10 overs and built a good platform. 

In the 17th over, Sri Lanka’s tactic of bouncing Shehzad off Lasith Malinga worked perfectly when he pulled straight to deep mid-wicket fielder, Pathirana ending a 93-run stand.  

Ali and Hafeez added 31 runs in 6.5 overs without any problems facing the Lankan bowlers before the former was run-out for 49 attempting a 2nd run. Poor running between the wickets declined Ali his 8th ODI half-century. 

Sarfraz Ahmed was promoted to number four and he together with Hafeez who is solely playing as a batsman accumulated runs easily in their steady 72-run partnership.

A slight interruption of play due to rain broke the rhythm of the 3rd wicket stand as Hafeez was tempted to play a slog sweep off Pathirana and was caught by Kusal Perera at deep mid-wicket just after he reached his 26th half-ton. 

Sarfraz Ahmed batted extremely well to innovate and adjust his strokes all around the ground but he missed out on a well-deserved ton when Thisara Perera’s brilliant direct-hit caught him short of his crease to end another quick-fire 77 off 74 balls. 

Shoaib Malik who made two half-centuries in the previous games once again used his experience and brute power in the final 10 overs to score 93 runs together with robust Mohammed Rizwan

This is the first instance where the Pakistan’s top 6 have all scored 35 or more in an ODI innings.

Full Scorecard (Courtesy – BBC Sport)

Pakistan Innings316 for 4 (50.0 overs)

Sri Lanka Innings181 all out (41.1 overs)