Sri Lanka win a thrilling dead rubber thanks to fabulous performances from Dinesh Chandimal and Lasith Malinga.

By Pakpassion Staff (27th December, 2013)

Result: Sri Lanka won by two wickets

Toss: Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat.

Teams:
Pakistan: 1. Sharjeel Khan, 2. Ahmed Shehzad, 3. Mohammad Hafeez, 4. Sohaib Maqsood, 5. Misbah-ul-Haq (c), 6. Umar Akmal (wk), 7. Anwar Ali, 8. Abdur Rehman, 9. Umar Gul, 10. Junaid Khan, 11. Saeed Ajmal 

Sri Lanka: Kusal Perera, 2. TM Dilshan, 3. Kumar Sangakkara, 4. Dinesh Chandimal, 5. Ashan Priyanjan 6. Angelo Mathews, 7. Ajantha Mendis, 8. Kithuruwan Vithanage, 9. Sachitra Senanayake, 10. Suranga Lakmal, 11. Lasith Malinga 

Pakistan Innings

The openers got Pakistan off to a sedate start until in the sixth over, Ahmed Shehzad decided to give Suranga Lakmal the charge. He collected a four and a six before his boisterousness got the better of him, playing one shot too many and lofting the ball high in the air, only to be caught by Priyanjan for 17(16). The man who had been in imperious form in the series, Mohammad Hafeez, replaced him at the crease and stroked Lakmal for two fours in the 8th over. His partner Sharjeel Khan didn't last long however, continuing his poor run of form as he was undone by a canny Lasith Malinga a slower ball, which he played early and scooped back to the bowler when on 18(35). Sohaib Maqsood again got a start and looked comfortable at the crease but he was caught by Dilshan off Lasith Malinga for 7(14) to leave Pakistan 70/3 in the 17th over. 

Captain, Misbah-ul-Haq joined Mohammad Hafeez in the middle with Pakistan needing another of his recue acts. Both looked to occupy the crease and boundaries became difficult to come by. Mohammad Hafeez was bowled by Angelo Mathews for an unusually-circumspect 41(56) in this series. Umar Akmal was the next man in and even his attacking instincts couldn’t find Pakistan the fence on a regular basis. His partner, Misbah-ul-Haq, brought up his 15th ODI fifty of 2013 with a six off Lasith Malinga in the 39th over. On the next ball however, he was caught behind by Kumar Sangakkara for 55(74). The next over brought the demise of Umar Akmal for 20, being caught by Dilshan off Ajantha Mendis. 

In his next over, Lasith Malinga came back and picked up his fourth wicket – that of Abdur Rehman, bowling him for one. Umar Gul made his way out and scored his first boundary in the 45th over. In the next over, he was run out when on eight, courtesy of some good work by Mendis. Anwar Ali chanced his arm and struck Ajnatha Mendis and Lasith Malinga for two fours and a six. In the last over of the innings, Saeed Ajmal and Junaid Khan were trapped lbw by Suranga Lakmal for 8 and 0 respectively. 

Pakistan finished the innings on 232, with Anwar Ali remaining unbeaten on 41. 


Fall Of Wickets

1-30 (Ahmed Shehzad, 5.3 overs)
2-54 (Sharjeel Khan, 12.4 overs)
3-70 (Sohaib Maqsood, 16.1 overs) 
4 -128 (Mohammad Hafeez, 28.3 overs)
5-169 (Misbah-ul-Haq, 38.2 overs) 
6-173 (Umar Akmal, 39.3 overs) 
7-176 (Abdur Rehman, 40.5 overs) 
8-194 (Umar Gul, 45.3 overs)
9-232 (Saeed Ajmal, 49.2 overs)
10-232 (Junaid Khan, 49.3 overs)

Sri Lanka Innings

In contrast to Pakistan’s first ten overs, the Sri Lanka openers started their run-chase of a below-par with some vigour. Dilshan collected two fours from the opening over of Umar Gul and Kushal Perera didn't lag behind, striking a four and a six off Anwar Ali in the sixth over and he repeated the feat against Umar Gul in the next over. Mohammad Hafeez conceded the Pakistani bowler’s third six from Kushal Perera in his first over and Junaid Khan was also welcomed with a four and a six in his first over.

Sri Lanka were firing at all cylinders when Mohammad Hafeez got rid of the dangerous, Kushal Perera for 47(41). Kumar Sangakkara and TM Dilshan added some useful runs for the Sri Lankans until the latter was dismissed by Saeed Ajmal for 45(69). His well-set partner, Kumar Sangakkara, was cleaned by Junaid Khan for 22 in the 29th over, a pattern Pakistan will be hoping will be replicated in the upcoming Test series. 

Priyanjan couldn't replicate his debut heroics and was caught behind by Umar Akmal off Umar Gul for 1(6). Dinesh Chandimal and Angelo Mathews played risk free cricket, but the skipper was ousted by Anwar Ali for a very slow 8(31) after Pakistan reviewed the decision. Replays appeared to be inconclusive but TV umpire Raymond Illingworth was happy to overturn the not-out decision based on a nick picked up by the stump microphone. 

The run-rate had crept to over six runs per over, which prompted Vithanage to take a risk but he was unable to accelerate, making 14 before being bowled by Saeed Ajmal. In the next over, Senanayake was sent back when he was caught trying to pull Junaid Khan for 3. Lasith Malinga had a great day with the ball, but did not fare well with the bat as he was bowled for a duck by Saeed Ajmal. 

It was all Pakistan at that point, but there was a twist in the tale. Dinesh Chandimal and Ajantha Mendis, who earned a reprieve from a referral, took Sri Lanka over the rope in the last over. Mendis struck two fours and a six in his crucial 19 runs, whilst Chandimal played a brilliant knock of 64 runs, which included a four and a six. 


Fall Of Wickets

1-75 (Perera, 12.2 overs) 
2-113 (Dilshan, 24.1 overs) 
3-129 (Sangakkara, 28.5 overs) 
4-137 (Priyanjan, 30.2 overs) 
5-166 (Mathews, 40.2 overs) 
6-189 (Vithanage, 43.4 overs) 
7-194 (Senanayake, 44.6 overs) 
8-195 (Malinga, 45.3 overs)

Match Summary:

A late fightback from Ajantha Mendis and Dinesh Chandimal saw Sri Lanka earn a consolation win in the final ODI and carry a victory into the Test series.


Next Game: 

1st Test: Pakistan v Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi starting on 31 December 2013, 06:00 GMT.

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