Pakistan completed a 135 run comprehensive victory over the home team to go 2-1 up the the five match series.

By PakPassion Staff (19th July, 2015)

Result: Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 135 runs to go 2-1 in the series (Sarfraz 77, Yasir Shah 4-29)

Toss: Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first

The series being level at 1-1, Pakistan went in to the 3rd ODI making one change due to the 12 month bowling ban on Mohammad Hafeez. Babar Azam was rested and replaced by all rounder Imad Wasim.

Pakistan were off to a decent start with Azhar Ali and Ahmed Shehzad who kept the scoring rate at almost at run a ball. Ahmed Shehzad fell to a short ball ploy by Malinga for 44 bringing an end to a 93 run opening partnership. Azhar Ali soon followed and was run out for 49 as a result of poor communication with Hafeez.

Sarfraz Ahmed was promoted up the order in an attempt to keep the scoring rate flowing. He and Hafeez were involved in a fifty run partnership before Hafeez fell to Pathirana for 54. Sarfraz Ahmed continued to pick the gaps and put the bad balls to the boundaries. He was unfortunately run out for 77 courtesy direct hit from Perera. Mohammad Rizwan joined Shoaib Malik at the crease who scores 93 runs of the last 10 overs to finish on 35* and 42* respectively as Pakistan finished on a massive total of 316-4. In all a contribution from the top and middle order made Pakistan reach a respectable total in the end.

Sri Lanka opened with Perera and Dilshan where Pakistan got the early breakthrough by getting Dilshan for 14. Anwar Ali then got the big wicket of Perera who was caught behind as the home team were 42-2. Tharanga and Thirimanne were involved in a 40 run stand when Yasir Shah came on to bowl and pucked up Tharanga for 16 only with his 3rd ball to put Pakistan on top at 82-3. Skipper Mathews didn't last long as he in an attempt to come down the track resulted in edging one to long off as Yasir Shah got his second wicket to reduce Sri Lanka to 93-4. Imad Wasim on debut bowled a couple of tight overs and eventually bowled Chandimal for 18. Rahat Ali then came back for another spell to pick the set Thirmanne for a well made 56. Siriwardene went for 2 in the same over as Sri Lanka were reduced to 144-7.

The game was later interrupted due to crowd trouble and the army had to intervene and stop the game. The game resumed after a long break and Yasir Shah picked up Thisara for 12, Pathirana fell in the same over courtesy a brilliant catch from Anwar Ali to give Yasir Shah his 3rd wicket.

Imad Wasim got his second of the match after he bowled Malinga to get the last wicket and Sri Lanka were bowled out for a low score of 181 and Pakistan won the match by 135 runs . Pakistan lead the 5 match ODI series 2-1.

Fall of wickets (Pakistan):

Shehzad 1-93 (16.3 overs)
Azhar 2-124 (23.2 overs)
Hafeez 3-196 (36.4 overs)
Sarfraz 4-257 (44.2 overs)

Fall of wickets (Sri Lanka)

Dilshan 1-33 (5.4 overs)
K.Perera 2-42 (7.5 overs)
Tharanga 3-82 (15.3 overs)
Mathews 4-93 (19.3 overs)
Chandimal 5-130 (26.6 overs)
Thirimanne 6-142 (30.1 overs)
Siriwardene 7-144 (30.4 overs)
Thisara Perera 8-170 (39.1 overs)
Pathirana 9-172 (39.4 overs)
Malinga 10-181 (41.1 overs)

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