Dear boy what a finish to such a nail biter. Pakistan held their nerve in the tense finish. It always is about holding the nerve. Or is it not? Sri Lankan team did their best but could not deliver that finishing blow, which Umar Gul did for Pakistan.
Earlier in the day, Pakistan decided to bat after winning the toss, which really was not any biggy of a surprise. Pakistani openers started off really positively, putting Malinga away for 10 runs in his very first over, though that momentum did not last long as Sri Lankans pulled off the things quite wonderfully. Sri Lankans bowlers did not do anything extra-ordinary but just stuck to their basics, bowled tight off-stump lines and almost put a full stop the flow of runs for Pakistani batsmen.
Pakistani openers did not lose any heart as well; they too stuck to their basics. Maneuvered the ball through them gaps and occasionally hitting the skin off the bad balls. Farhat had rather more chances than Mohammad Hafeez to free his arms and keep his strike rate intact. Hafeez on the other hand found it real hard to put Sri Lankan pacers' tight liners away. Thus he took his time and when he had his feet moving, he took the game away from the bowlers in jiffy. Pakistan were off to a brilliant 150 runs opening start in span of 29.2 overs when Sri Lanka's desperately desired break through flashed in form of a lazy shot from the bat of a very tired Mohammad Hafeez.
Pakistan promoted Abdul Razzaq up the order ahead of Younis Khan, as they wanted to bag some quick runs. On the contrary the big old Abdul Razzaq was extremely rusty and instead of proving any worthy he killed the previously built momentum. Making up for Razzler's lazy approach Farhat tried to jump out and pounce a length offie out of the park; unfortunate for him he found Mahela at the long on boundary and had to walk back after a very classy yet gutsy knock of 70 runs.
Entered the man of crisis Younis Khan. Soon after Farhat's dismissal Razzaq threw it away in the similar passion followed up by Umar Akmal and Misbah ul Haq's rather strange dismissals. Younis Khan tried to rebuild alongside Afridi, who came out there with a responsible head and stayed at the wicket for quite some while. Younis and Afridi built a nice partnership of 33 runs before Afridi had to walk back; reason being a fabulous catch by Sri Lankan vice-captain Angelo Mathews. Pakistan's hopes of achieving a total of 270-280 runs, died right there, though Younis Khan made sure than Pakistan face their allotted 50 overs.
Younis Khan anchored the game well and scored 42 runs as Pakistani eventually put 257 on the board.
Out came Sri Lankan openers to try and counter this not-so-easy job of chasing 258 runs under artificial lights. Upul Tharanga received a beauty from Umar Gul in the first over and thus had to troll back. Sangakkara and Dilshan counter-attacked lose bowling lines from Pakistan's opening bowlers and put on a 100+ runs partnership. Sri Lanka were 101-1 after 20 overs and it was looking as if they will chase this meager 250 odd runs total down without no trouble. But Pakistani team had other plans in their minds. They didn't lose hope and backed their bowling with energetic groun fielding, which later on paid back in terms of a direct hit run out of Kumar Sangakkara.
Above mentioned special acrobatic effort from Shahid Afridi opened up the passage for a full fledge trademark Pakistani fight back. Soon after Sanga's departure Dilshan threw his wicket away in a very inexplicable manner. Pakistan kept their cool and made Sri Lanka toil for their runs in the middle overs which resulted into more wickets. Jayawardene, Chandimal and Malinga all three got special deliveries from Pakistani spinners which ended their short stays at the crease.
Angelo Matthews and Jeeven Mendis threatened Pakistan as they managed a partnership of 32 runs off 27 balls only. Right then Misbah ul Haq played the hand of the match when he brought Mohammad Hafeez back into the attack to deliver yet another lusty blow, which he eventually did when he trapped Jeevan Mendis LBW in front of his stumps.
With Thissera Perea being out there alongside Angelo Matthews, equation still looked pretty simple as per Sri Lankan perspective. Right then world's best off-spinner once again rose to the occasion and bowled a real nailer, an actual beauty which proved too good for Thissera Perera and pegged back his off-stump, thus Saeed Ajmal grabbed off his 3rd wicket of the innings.
Sri Lanka were 8 down, it was no one's game before Umar Gul was called back in to the attack by Misbah ul Haq, and who can be a better finisher than Umar Gul is at the death? As expected he put that full stop to Sri Lankan scorecard and Pakistan pulled off a very well scripted victory.
Pakistan won the game by 21 runs.
|Positives|
Pakistan:
Both openers are back in touch and are capable of travelling that extra mile to score series' first century.
Shahid Afridi-reborn taking more responsibility than ever before in all 3 departments of the game.
Premium batsman Younis Khan delivering in tough circumstances.
Umar Gul back in his Gul-zilla mode.
Hafeez providing special impedance to his captain and proving himself a true “professor” of the game.
Saeed and Shahid's sublime form with the ball.
Fielding is looking reliable again.
Sri Lanka:
Malinga's been on the money since last two games, can prove devastating in any of the upcoming games.
Fielding was wonderful once again.
Dilshan getting back into the form which can prove destructive on any given day.
Angelo Mathews and Kumar Sangakkara are in fairly good nicks as well.
Hence, be prepared it's going to be one hell of a series.
GeoSuper