A wonderful all-round performance from Shahid Afridi saw Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 23 runs to level the two match series one a piece. Smashing an unbeaten 52 of a mere 33 balls; he coupled it with 2-17 from his four overs. Afridi smashed his score courtesy of five boundaries and a solidary six, as he propelled Pakistan in a must win game.
Defending a score of 122, Pakistan had their back against the walls. The dismissal of Kumar Sangakarra early, courtesy of some good bowling by Yasir Arafat calmed the jittering nerves. Arafat got his second wicket in quick time as he struck Kulasekra too. Pakistan were back in the game and had their tails up. The majestic Afridi struck twice as he got, first, Dilshan and then Kapugedra out. Pakistan were on top of the game for the first time.
Chandimal was then cleaned up by Sohail Tanvir before Mohammad Sami decided to take over the game. A quick bouncer by Sami was the shortfall for Thirimanne, before he cleaned up Perera with a beauty. Saeed Ajmal was far too good for Lokuarachchi as he had him stumped before Mohammad Sami got his third wicket with the dismissal of Senanayke. With Sri Lanka needing 26 to win off the last over, Anjelo Mathews looked to clear the fence, but fittingly held out to Afridi as he helped Arafat to his third scalp.
Earlier in the day Pakistan won the toss and decided to bat first. Finding it essential to overcome the gremlins of the first game, Pakistan looked to bat with more solidarity. Ahmed Shehzad fell early to a beautiful inswinger by Nuwan Kulasekra. The ball seemed to swing big as Shehzad missed the ball and was trapped plumb infront. In came Khalid Latif and he looked to be compact and not give away his wicket. He departed early though as a Mohammad Hafeez drive was diverted on to the stumps by the bowler; leaving a backing up Latif stranded.
Umar Akmal was the next man in and he played out a maiden in the sixth. He looked like he was in for a long haul was adjudicated to be out LBW to a slider Lokuarachchi. Mohammad Hafeez on the other hand had finally, after three straight ducks, started to pick up form. Though being watchful and nervous at the start Hafeez finally started to dictate the game. He was the next to depart (24) as he lobbed a Lokuarachchi ball straight to Thirimanne at cover point. That left Pakistan on 41-4 in the eleventh.
Shahid Afridi was the next man in to join the out of sorts Shoaib Malik. Pakistan were steering at the barrel and in complete turmoil. Both Afridi and Malik started to rotate the strike. Both of them started to find the fence at regular intervals, in a brilliant revival. Having spanked 3 boundaries Malik departed after hitting a ball straight at Dilhan at cow corner. Though the damage had been done; Malik coupled with Afridi had ‘Lalafied’ the Sri Lankan’s.
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