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Sri Lanka beats Pakistan by 64 runs

By admin | June 30, 2008

Kumar Sangakkara notched his ninth one-day international century and Ajantha Mendis claimed four wickets to lead Sri Lanka to a 64-run win against Pakistan in a Super Four match of the Asia Cup.

Sangakkara scored 112 off 110 deliveries in the defending champion’s total of 302-7 in 50 overs. Misbah-ul-Haq had a career-best 76 off 70 balls before Pakistan was restricted to 238-9 off its allotted 50 overs.

Pakistan’s middle-order batsmen failed to read the 23-year-old Mendis’ variety of spinning deliveries and slumped to 175-6 by the end of 40th over.

Misbah narrowed the margin of victory, hitting three fours and four sixes before he was bowled out by Mendis (4-47).

The defeat left Pakistan still without a point as it prepares to meet India on Wednesday and Bangladesh on Friday in the remaining two games.

Sri Lanka - which meets Bangladesh on Monday - and India both have four points after carrying two points each from the group matches.

Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik made 52 off 79 balls before he was stumped off Mendis in the 32nd over.

Pakistan had a disastrous start to its run-chase when Chaminda Vaas knocked back Salman Butt’s off stump of the first delivery. Younis Khan and Malik added 72 runs for the second wicket off 100 balls to keep the home team in the run. Muttiah Muralitharan took a well judged catch while running backward off Younis’ mistimed pull shot.

Mendis trapped Mohammad Yousuf (19) with a top-spinner and then got Mansoor Amjad’s wicket in similar fashion before hard-hitting Shahid Afridi holed out in the deep off his first delivery.

Sangakkara was bowled in the 47th over by paceman Sohail Tanvir after anchoring the Sri Lanka innings with 10 fours and a six. Tanvir finished with his career-best figures of 5-48.

Sangakkara made full use of ideal batting conditions and featured in two important stands against a weakened Pakistan bowling attack.

In the absence of injured paceman Umar Gul, Tanvir gave Pakistan some hopes of restricting Sri Lanka with the key wickets of hard-hitting Sanath Jayasuriya (8) and captain Mahela Jayawardene (29). Jayasuriya was trapped leg before wicket while Misbah held onto a sharp two-handed diving catch at point to dismiss Jayawardene.

None of the three Pakistan spinners could find any assistance on a flat batting wicket and Sangakkara added 88 runs off 92 balls with Chamara Kapugedera (43) for the third wicket and then 93 runs with Chamara Silva (46).

Newcomer Mansoor Amjad, one of the two changes made by Pakistan, got his first wicket in one-day internationals in only his second over when Kapugedera was caught at the boundary by Younis.

Tanvir had Silva caught behind in his return spell and also removed Thilan Thushara, who made a rapid 28 off 20 balls.

Pakistan vs. Sri Lanka Scoreboard

KARACHI, Pakistan (AP) - Scoreboard Sunday after Asia Cup Super Four match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka at National Stadium in Karachi:

Sri Lanka innings

Sanath Jayasuriya lbw b Tanvir 8

Kumar Sangakkara b Tanvir 112

Mahela Jayawardene c Misbah b Tanvir 29

Chamara Kapugedera c Younis b Amjad 43

Chamara Silva c Ahmed b Tanvir 46

Thilan Thushara c Riaz b Tanvir 28

Tillakaratne Dilshan b Riaz 8

Chaminda Vaas not out 4

Nuwan Kulasekera not out 1

Extras: (10lb, 11w, 2nb) 23

TOTAL: (For 7 wickets) 302

Overs: 50. Batting time: 222 minutes.

Fall of wickets: 1-22, 2-62, 3-150, 4-243, 5-271, 6-288, 7-298.

Did not bat: Ajantha Mendis, Muttiah Muralitharan.

Bowling: Sohail Tanvir 10-1-48-5 (2nb 6w), Wahab Riaz 9-0-52-1 (4w), Rao Iftikhar 8-0-60-0, Shahid Afridi 10-0-54-0 (1w), Shoaib Malik 5-0-34-0, Mansoor Amjad 8-1-44-1.

Pakistan innings

Salman Butt b Vaas 0

Shoaib Malik st Sangakkara b Mendis 52

Younis Khan c Muralitharan b Kulasekera 47

Mohammad Yousuf lbw b Mendis 19

Misbah-ul-Haq b Mendis 76

Shahid Afridi c sub (Mubarak) b Jayasuriya 0

Mansoor Amjad lbw b Mendis 5

Sarfraz Ahmed b Kulasekera 19

Sohail Tanvir not out 9

Rao Iftikhar c Kulasekera b Muralitharan 7

Wahab Riaz not out 1

Extras: (1lb, 2w) 3

TOTAL: (For 9 wickets) 238

Overs: 50. Batting time: 215 minutes.

Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-72, 3-108, 4-133, 5-135, 6-153, 7-219, 8-223, 9-236.

Bowling: Chaminda Vaas 10-1-44-1, Nuwan Kulasekera 9-1-35-2, Thilan Thushara 7-0-44-0, Muttiah Muralitharan 10-0-46-1, Ajantha Mendis 10-0-47-4, Sanath Jayasuriya 4-0-21-1 (2w).

Toss: Pakistan.

Result: Sri Lanka won by 64 runs.

Umpires: Tony Hill, New Zealand, and Ian Gould, England.

TV Umpire: Akhtaruddin, Bangladesh. Match Referee: Alan Hurst, Australia.

Topics: Cricket News |