Sri Lanka tour to Pakistan. 1st ODI, 2013.

Pakistan 322 runs/5 wickets 

Sri Lanka 311 runs/10 wickets  

Pakistan won by 11 runs and leads the series 1-0        

  

         

The action returns form the Desert Fortress i.e. U.A.E. as Pakistan hosts the Sri Lankans on their 2^nd Home ground. After an amazing but DRAWN T20i series we are finally up to a 5-match ODI series. Both the teams had already introduced some exciting players including form of Sharjeel Khan of Pakistan and Seekkuge Prasanna of Sri Lanka marked the arrival of some nail biting contests upfront.

     

The match started with the toss right in favor of the HOSTS and they decided to Bat First. The pitch of Sharjah looked a perfect batting paradise and it was confirmed that it contains 300+ runs but with the uncertain batting line-up of Pakistan, it was not expected but who knew they would blast the things. Pakistan started up with Ahmad Shahzad and the debutant Sharjeel Khan who looked extremely impressive in the T20i. The debutant continued his impressive form scoring 61 runs followed by 6 fours and 3 immense sixes with a strike rate of 100.0. Though Ahmad Shahzad(11 runs) was already sent back to the pavilion by Suranga Lakmal but the debutant kept on knocking around for his Maiden 50 in his ODI Debut. Finally he was caught on boundary on the ball of Sekkuge Prasanna but the debutant had made his mark. There began the 140 runs stand between Muhammad Hafeez and Sohaib Maqsood. Both of them played excellently through the end overs and made sure that they set a platform from which the strikers could launch.

       

 

Finally like all good things, the partnership too came to an end as Sohaib Maqsood was unfortunately RUN OUT by Thisara Perera/Kumar Sangakara after playing his magical knock of 73 runs off just 68 balls including 2 boundaries and 3 immense sixes. Meanwhile the T20i skipper, Muhammad Hafeez regained his form as he went up to an awesome 122 runs’ innings. He played a real mature knock like a senior member of his team. Some finishing touches were given by Shahid Khan Afridi who scored 34 runs off just 12 balls with 2 fours and 3 Heaven kissing sixes but he was bowled out by Thisara Perera. However the damage had already been done. Though Muhammad Hafeez was dismissed in the last over on the ball of Lakmal but Pakistan ended up with a huge total of 322 runs/5 wickets. Remember that this was Pakistan’s highest score in the current year.

           

  In the chase of such a huge target, Sri Lanka started pretty positively with TM Dilshan and Kusal Perera. They knocked over all the Pakistani bowlers. Sri Lanka made an opening stand of 66 runs that ended up with the departure of TM Dilshan who was caught on the delivery of Junaid Khan after an innings of 30 runs. Kusal Perera along with Kumar Sangakara took the team to the total of 113 runs where Kusal Perera was caught in front of the wickets, “lbw” by Muhammad Hafeez after scoring 64 runs. Pakistan did not have to wait for their 3^rd wicket as Kumar Sangakara(23 runs) was dismissed by Shahid Afridi.

Soon Lahiru Thirimanne(10 runs) was also undone by Shahid Afridi. He was caught wonderfully by Sohaib Maqsood on square leg. It looked to be ending for the Islanders but Dinesh Chandimal and Angelo Mathews were not in a mode of giving up. They kept on ticking on the score board as they took their side to 214 runs at the end of the powerplay but the last bowl brought the wicket of Dinesh Chandimal(46 runs) as he was RUN OUT by Saeed Ajmal and the next over, the skipper Angelo Mathews(31 runs) was sent back to the pavilion by Junaid Khan. It looked that the things were all over for the Islanders but Sachitra Senanayake and Seekkuge Prasanna kept the ends alive as they scored 42 runs each and took the team to edge of victory but it was never enough as RUN OUT of Malinga and wickets by Sohail Tanvir and Junaid Khan who dismissed Senanayake and Prasana respectively at crucial time saved the day for Pakistan as they restricted Sri Lanka for 311 runs taking 11 runs victory.

          Man of the Match was awarded to Muhammad Hafeez for his brilliant all-around performance.

              Pakistan now holds a 1-0 lead in the 5-ODI series. Let’s see if the Lankans can bounce back or its Pakistan who continue to impress everyone..........