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Afridi, Ali whack Sri Lanka – Beat SL by 1 wicket and seal series 2-0…

kit-sports editor — Sun, 02 Aug 2015 10:50:57 +0000

Firm striking by Shahid Afridi (45) and Anwar Ali (46) turned the game around as Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 1 wicket in a thrilling T20 played at R.Premadasa Stadium yesterday. Pakistan sealed the series 2-0.
Chasing 174 to win Pakistan were 40 for 5 in the 8th over, before Afridi started turning the tables as the visitors chased down the target in 19.2 overs, finishing with a six by Imad Wasim. Lasith Malinga again conceded most number of runs, 40 in his 4 overs of the match.
Afridi smashed a 22 ball 45 which included 4 sixes, as he guided Pakistan past 100 in 13.2 overs with a partnership of 61 runs for the 6th wicket with Mohammad Rizwan (17).
Anwar Ali continued from there on with 46 from just 17 balls which included 4 sixes and 3 fours as he added 58 for the 8th wicket with Imad Wasim taking Pakistan to get 8 in 8 balls to win.
Binura Fernando playing his 2nd T20 was given 6 runs to defend in the last over, but Wasim took only one ball to finish things off after Mohammad Irfan took a single off the first ball.
The visitors lost both their openers in the 3rd over as Binura Fernando took the middle stump off of Ahmed Shehzad, while Mukthar Ahmed gave an easy catch to Kapugedara at deep midwicket. Sri Lanka got two run outs, while Milinda Siriwardena foxed Shoaib Malik for an easy stumping, where the home team was in the driving seat.
Earlier in the inning, comeback man Chamara Kapugedera proved a point again with a breathtaking 25 ball 48 runs, while debutant Shehan Jayasooriya made 40 at a crucial stage as Sri Lanka made 172 for 7 in their quota of 20 overs.
Kapugedera who remained unbeaten in both the T20 games, had 4 sixes and 2 boundaries in his inning as he added 55 in 34 deliveries for the seventh wicket with Milinda Siriwardena (23), and another 27 in 11 balls for the seventh wicket, which elevated the home team total to 172 after being 65-4 at the half way mark.
Sri Lanka made 50 in 6.2 overs but slumped in the run rate due to a slow innings by Dhananjaya de Silva, while Thisara Perera who was promoted to number 5, scored just 1 run as Sri Lanka added only 15 runs in the next 22 deliveries.
Debutant Jayasooriya smashed four and six in the 11th over by skipper Shahid Afridi taking back the momentum in his 32 ball 40 which included 3 fours and 2 sixes, before the Siriwardena and Kapugedera show started.
Thilakaratne Dilshan was lucky early on as he was dropped by Mohammad Hafeez at short midwicket, but Dilshan returned the favour just one ball apart as he hit straight to him again in the same over.
Sri Lanka made two changes in the team as Shehan Jayasooriya and Dasun Shanka made their debuts for the injured Angelo Mathews and Kithuruwan Vithanage.

Scores

Sri Lanka:
K. Perera b Malik 19
T. Dilshan c Hafeez b Anwar 10
S. Jayasuriya c Imad b Tanvir 40
D. de Silva b Afridi 14
T. Perera st Rizwan b Malik 01
M. Siriwardana c Mukhtar b Irfan 23
C. Kapugedera not out 48
D. Shanaka run out 07
Extras: (lb3, w7) 10
Total (for seven wickets, 20 overs) 172
Fall of wickets: 1-24, 2-32, 3-61, 4-64, 5-90, 6-145, 7-172.
Bowling: Anwar 4-0-40-1, Tanvir 4-0-44-1, Malik 3-0-16-2, Irfan 4-0-31-1, Afridi 4-0-30-1, Imad 1-0-8-0

Scores

Pakistan:
Mukhtar Ahmed c Kapugedera b Fernando 04
Ahmed Shehzad b Fernando 07
Mohammad Hafeez run out 11
Shoaib Malik st K.Perera b Siriwardana 08
Umar Akmal run out 04
Mohammad Rizwan b T. Perera 17
Shahid Afridi b Jayasuriya 45
Imad Wasim not out 24
Anwar Ali c K. Perera b Malinga 46
Sohail Tanvir run out 01
Mohammad Irfan not out 01
Extras: (lb1, w5) 06
Total (for nine wickets, 19.2 overs) 174
Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-16, 3-33, 4-40, 5-40 (Malik), 6-101, 7-107, 8-165, 9-167
Bowling: Fernando 3.2-0-33-2, Jayasuriya 4-0-37-1, T. Perera 4-0-27-1, Siriwardana 2-0-17-1, Vandersay 2-0-19-0, Malinga 4-0-40-1

Mathews stretches Sri Lanka lead…..

kit-sports editor — Mon, 06 Jul 2015 01:37:33 +0000

Skipper Angelo Mathews fought hard despite early wickets as Sri Lanka achieved a lead of 291runs at stumps on day three of their third Test against Pakistan continued at Pallekele yesterday.
Mathews held up one end with an unbeaten 77 from 177 balls, while useful contributions from Upul Tharanga, Jehan Mubarak and Dinesh Chandimal helped Sri Lanka reach 228-5 with two more days to go for the decider, where the home team holds the edge over the visitors.
After being 4 for 80, skipper Mathews and comeback man, Jehan Mubarak (35) added 81 runs for the 5th wicket in 28 overs taking Sri Lanka out of danger while increasing the lead past 200.
Mubarak became the second victim of leg spinner Yasir Shah in the day as an inside edge was well caught by Azhar Ali at short leg for the second time of the day.
Dinesh Chandimal made it count when it matters the most with an unbeaten 39 runs in 47 balls, as along with his skipper the pair added 67 runs in 116 balls, accelerating in the latter part of the partnership.
Recalled left hander Upul Tharanga put the pressure back on the visitors after Pakistan fast bowlers took the early honors, with 47 balls 48 which gave some relief for the home camp. Tharanga was again unlucky in the 40s.
Just as in the first inning against Yasir Shah the flight deceived the batsman as Tharanga nicked the ball which ballooned over after hitting the pad, where Azhar Ali at short leg took a safe catch diving to his left.
With a lead of 63 runs Sri Lanka did not have the best of starts as Pakistan pace duo Rahat Ali and Ehsan Adil sent home both openers back to the pavilion within just 8 overs. Vice captain Lahiru Thirimanne was bowled by Rahat Ali for a duck in the 11th over and Sri Lanka were three down for 35 after 11 overs.
Thirimanne had only scored one half century in his last 21 Test innings which includes 5 ducks. Sri Lanka wrapped up the Pakisan inning in the morning within 2 overs allowing only another 6 runs.
Match was interrupted 4 times during the day by rain and the Pallekele groundsmen did a wonderful job keeping the ground covered and dry to resume play as quickly as possible, to play 71 odd overs in the day despite interruptions.

Scores

Sri Lanka 1st inning 278(89.5) (D.Karunaratne 130, Yasir Shah 5-78)

Pakistan 1st Innings
Shan Masood lbw b Prasad 13
Ahmed Shehzad c Chandimal b Pradeep 21
Azhar Ali c Karunaratne b Pradeep 52
Younis Khan run out 03
Asad Shafiq lbw b Prasad 15
Sarfraz Ahmed not out 78
Misbah-ul Haq lbw b Pradeep 06
Ehsan Adil lbw b Kaushal 00
Yasir Shah c Chandimal b Prasad 18
Rahat Ali lbw b Kausha 02
Imran Khan b Kaushal 00
Extras (lb4, w1, nb2) 07
Total (all out, 66 overs) 215
Fall of wickets: 1-32, 2-40, 3-45, 4-91, 5-135, 6-151, 7-152, 8-197, 9-202, 10-215.
Bowling: Prasad 19-1-78-3, Lakmal 14-1-64-0, Pradeep 15-5-29-3, Mathews 4-1-3-0, Kaushal 14-1-37-3.

Scores

Sri Lanka 2nd innings:
D. Karunaratne b Rahat 10
K. Silva c Misbah b Ehsan 03
U. Tharanga c Azhar b Yasir 48
L. Thirimanne b Rahat 00
A. Mathews not out 77
J. Mubarak c Azhar b Yasir 35
D. Chandimal not out 39
Extras (b4, lb9, w3) 16
Total (for five wickets, 69.4 overs) 228
Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-22, 3-35, 4-80, 5-161
Bowling: Rahat 15-3-58-2 (w1), Ehsan 14-4-46-1 (w1), Imran 10.4-2-27-0 (w1), Yasir 25-4-70-2, Azhar 5-1-14-0

Sri Lanka level series….

kit-sports editor — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 01:38:27 +0000

Sri Lanka levelled the three Test match series 1-1 when they beat Pakistan by seven wickets on the final day before lunch at the P.Sara Oval yesterday.

The hosts had to get 153 to win on the fourth day, but could not bat due a heavy downpour which washed out the post tea session Skipper Mathews (43 not out) and his deputy Thirimanne (20 not out) gave the finishing touches on the final day with a brief 32 run stand facing 37 deliveries after Dimuth Karunaratne and Kithuruwan Vithanage laid the platform.

Monday, the final day dawned grey and and slightly wet, intermittent showers threathening to wash out play. With Sri Lanka needing 153 runs to win the Test and square the series. However, the rain ceased with the sun trying to peep out, the covers were removed and play started around 10.15 am.

Sri Lanka anticipating rain got the two hard hitting left handers Dimuth Karunaratne and Kithruwan Vithanage to open the innings.

The conditions suited more for fast bowling, but Pakistan did not have the right fast bowling combination with Wahab Riyaz injured and only Junaid Khan available. Junaid Khan started from the pavilion end and Dimuth Karunaratne drove the first ball uppishly past mid on for 4.

Kithruwan Vithanage who needed a good innings to justify his place after the failures in the first test and the first innings found the situation ideally suited for him and batted in his inimitable fashion.

Both Karunaratne and Vithanage batted with a positive frame of mind. Kithruwan Vithanage after carting Zulfiquar Babar for two consecutive sixes going for a repetition was caught at deep mid wicket by Mohammed Hafeez, Vithanage’s short cameo of 32 runs had two sixes and four fours facing 23 deliveries. Both Vithanage and Karunaratne were in full command.

For the visitors Yasir Shah who got 7 wickets in the first Test and six in the first innings of the second Test seemed to be the only threat.

Vithanage and Karunaratne put on 49 runs for the first wicket and with the departure of Vithanage, Sri Lanka was in for a shocker when Kumar Sangakkara was out first ball. Yasir Shah who was easily the pick of the Pakistan bowlers got one to spin, Sangakkara pushed forward and was caught at short leg bat-pad.

It was the Sri Lankan star batsman’s 6th first ball duck. Sri Lanka had lost two wickets for 49 in their run chase.

With the prevailing unpredictable weather pattern Dimuth Karunaratne and Angelo Mathews made their intentions clear and went after the Pakistan bowling in search of quick runs. Karunaratne reached his 50 facing 57 deliveries with four hits to the ropes while skipper Mathews too cut loose.

Dimuth Karunaratne after reaching his 50 was trapped leg before wicket by Yasir Shah but not before adding 72 runs with Mathews for the second wicket. Skipper Mathews joined by his deputy Lahiru Thirimanne made certain they reached the victory targets without further mishaps.

When Sri Lanka finally achieved victory Mathews was unbeaten on 43 facing 57 deliveries with four hits to the boundary and Thirimanne facing 21 deliveries was 20 not out with two fours.Man Of The Match. Dhammika Prasad.

Mathews wanted to come back strongly to win

Skipper Angelo Mathews at a post Test match briefing said that after losing the Galle Test his team was determined to come back and win the second Test in Colombo.

He said that his bowlers did a great job in restricting Pakistan for 138 runs in their first innings and especially mentioned paceman Dhammika Prasad’s efforts.

When asked as to why Kithruwan opened the second innings with Dimuth Karunaratne, Mathews said that as rain was looming and getting the required runs quickly was important. ‘We gave Kithruwan the licence to go ahead and play his natural game’ said Mathews.

Pakistan skipper Mishbah-Ul- Haq said that the first innings score of 138 runs was totally not enough.

He admitted that from that point onwards Pakistan was under pressure. We were aiming at a lead of about 230 or 250, but defending a total of 153 put you under lot of pressure.

Others must show what they are capable of – Atapattu…

kit-sports editor — Sun, 21 Jun 2015 04:50:01 +0000

Coach Marvan Atapattu said that losing the wicket of Kumar Sangakkara at any stage of the match was a huge loss but added that it has created a stage for the other to show what they are capable of as Sri Lanka try to save the first Test against Pakistan at the Galle International Stadium.

“It’s like Rangana (Herath) not getting wickets as expected but when those big stars don’t perform it’s upto the others to up their standards and help out when the team wants it. It’s their chance now,” said Atapattu at the end of the fourth day.

Sri Lanka are 62-2 in their second innings and require a further 55 runs to erase the first innings deficit of 117.

“We are still about 55 runs behind and priority should be to get those runs,” said Atapattu.

“We will see what we do from there. There’s not much time left in this Test match its 98 overs if we go the full distance tomorrow. We have to bat well to get out of the hole; we have to dig ourselves in. If we can do that it will be a big psychological boost for us.”

“We are in a three-match series here and we all should understand that what a good innings would do for the next Test. It’s good to come up with examples but cricketers should be self motivated more than anyone else coming and telling them.”

Defending his team’s performance on the field after they allowed Pakistan to recover from 96-5 to 417, Atapattu said, “After having Pakistan five down for 118 at the end of the first day anything is possible. We believed in the dressing room that we can do it. But we didn’t create enough chances.

“But in Tests there have been instances where we have enjoyed similar situations. If you go back to Headingley in 2014 when we won, the runs were scored by Angelo (Mathews) and Rangana (Herath). There are instances where tail-enders have scored runs and put the opposition under pressure.

“I personally don’t think we did too many things wrong. Some of the option the tailenders took worked. Some of the big shots were connected and it was one of those days. From a situation where they were down and out they fought back.

“Everybody have their own way of combating different situations. Sarfraz (Ahmed) has shown that’s the way he takes on pressure. It’s very hard to enforce any style on any individuals. That has to come naturally. Those two innings were special.”

Sarfraz scored 96 and Asad Shafiq 131 to take the game away from Sri Lanka.