Sri Lanka tour to Pakistan 2013-14, 1st T20i.

  Pakistan vs. Sri Lanka- 1^st T20i

Pakistan won by 3 wickets (with 5 balls remaining)

      The 1^st T20i between the Asian Gladiators i.e. Sri Lanka and Pakistan was played yesterday in Dubai. Both the teams had to fight for the Number 1 spot in the International rankings making in note that if Sri Lanka wins the series then they retain their 1^st Position and if vice versa Pakistan will grab the Number 1 position in the International Rankings.

            Pakistan having won the toss decided to field first. The pitch looked pretty good for batting but later on the dew factor would have made it difficult for the bowlers to grip the ball which was a solid reason why this decision was made. Pakistan introduced 2 new men into their squad in form of the left-handed opener, “Sharjeel Khan” and the lefty quicky “Usman Khan Shirwani”. On the other hand Sri Lanka went on with their regular side.

         

Initially the decision proved right in favor of the home team as they got rid of the experienced TM Dilshan on the total of 9 runs. He was victimized by Sohail Tanvir. Later on some starts were taken by Kushal Perera(15 runs), Dinesh Chandimal(22 runs) and Kumar Sangakara(21 runs) but none of them could continue as Saeed Ajmal dismissed Kushal Perera and Kumar Sangakara while Shahid Afridi caught his hands on the wicket of the skipper, Dinesh Chanidmal. There entered Angelo Mathews who blasted while playing a cameo of 50 runs(5 x fours, 1 x six) but finally he also fell to Sohail Tanvir. Lahiru Thirimanne also played a little hand of 23* runs followed by 1 four and a six taking the Visitors to a decent total of 145 runs/5 wickets. Meanwhile Saeed Ajmal achieved his 400^th International Wicket while Shahid Afridi also got his 50^th T20i wicket.

         The target was never  a massive one but still Pakistan needed to play sensibly. They opened up with Sharjeel Khan and Ahmad Shahzad but the later of them got out pretty early for a total of 12 runs. Courtesy: a brute of a catch from Lahiru Thirimanne off Sachitra Senanayake’s ball. Their started a 50 run stand between Muhammad Hafeez and Sharjeel Khan which soon ended with departure of Sharjeel Khan(34 runs) off the delivery of Thisara Perera. Pakistan begun to tumble as the skipper also went out to Ajantha Mendis and on the very next bowl, Umer Akmal also bit the dust as a result of an unlucky run out. Meanwhile Umar Amin and Sohaib Maqsood soon fell to Lasith Malinga. But the Boom Boom action was still left as Shahid Khan Afridi took his team home in the final over with his sensible knock of 39* runs (2 x fours, 3 x sixes). Pakistan won the match after a long struggle by 3 wickets.

      

Man of the Match was awarded to Shahid Afridi who played a match winning innings of 39* runs including an important wicket in the Bowling wicket. Meanwhlle Shahid Afridi also became the 1^st man to achieve 1000 runs and 50 wickets in T20i.

       Still one more T20i still to come. Let’s see if the Lankans can hold their Number 1 spot or the Hosts make their way at the top of the ICC Rankings.......