2nd Match: Pakistan v Sri Lanka at Sharjah, 27 Oct 2001 Suhael Ahmed |
Pakistan innings:
Sri Lanka innings: |
Jayasuriya led from the front but even he had a few close shaves and survived a dropped catch off Waqar when he drove and mistimed it to Shoaib at mid on in the 6th over. Later, a semi-chance went to Rashid Latif when Gunawardene edged one but it fell a little short.
The openers kept on adding steady runs and Shoaib Akhtar replaced Waqar and reached 150.7kph in his 5th ball. Shoaib seems to have changed his run up, coming in slowly and then putting all his effort at the end. Razzaq replaced Wasim after he had bowled 6 overs and had given away only 7 runs, a magnificent spell of fast bowling against the likes of Jayasuriya.
The first break for Pakistan came in the 14th over when Shoaib had Jayasuriya caught driving uppishly to Afridi at cover. Atapattu came n and at the end of 15 overs Sri Lanka had made a steady 51 for 1. They are in full command of the match and unless some more quick wickets fall its going to be Sri Lanka’s game.
In came Wasim Akram but soon fell, flicking the ball to leg to be caught by Jayawardene diving forward off Jayasuriya and Pakistan had lost their 7th wicket for a paltry 128 after 33 overs. Further misfortune came their way with Razzaq succumbing to the relentless pressure of Muralitharan trying a cut to be caught behind for a useful 27 setting Pakistan back to 141 for 8 and the tail in.
Excellent and attacking bowling by Fernando, Jayasuriya and Nissanka paid dividends to yet again expose the frailty of Pakistan’s batting. Sri Lanka fielded like demons, chasing everything down and chase combinations where the first man flicked the ball back to his partner from close to the rope on many an occasion.
Waqar Younis and Shoaib Malik knocked the ball around for some tailend resistance to see off Muralitharan with his usual excellent analysis of 10-0-20-1 and Pakistan was 168 for 8 after 45 overs and the slog time was ahead. However, with only 2 wickets to go it was unlikely that Pakistan would get very far and in the 46th over the Sri Lankan captain struck his counterpart’s stumps with an armball yorker for his third scalp. Shoaib Akhtar missed the next ball, another yorker somehow and it ran for 4 valuable byes to get Pakistan upto 174 for 9.
Vaas was invited in to mop up the last wicket but a poor call and slow running by Shoaib Akhtar resulted in a run out and it was all over for Pakistan, 176 all out in 46.2 overs setting Sri Lanka a 177 run target under the lights. Full marks to Sri Lanka for fine bowling and equally fine fielding today.
Taufeeq faced the Sri Lankan bowlers with confidence and hit a few exciting shots but played on in the 6th over, going for a cut outside for 10 off Dilhara Fernando and Pakistan were 1 down for 28. In walked a new-look Saeed Anwar to partner the ever aggressive Shahid Afridi but scooped up a Dilhara delivery in the 8th over, trying to turn it to leg, a leading edge for an excellent ‘reflex’ catch by the bowler. After 8 overs Pakistan were in trouble at 38 for 2.
Youhana came in but more woe came Pakistan’s way when Afridi was out softly, popping a Dilhara delivery into the safe hands of Nissanka at mid on and Pakistan 3 down for 49 after 10 overs.
Youhana and Younis Khan batted sensibly adding runs and when the Nissanka the debutante was brought on for the 12th over, he was greeted by a fine Youhana off-drive that raced to the long off rope to help reach 59 for 3. But in the 14th over, Younis Khan suffered a rush of blood, going for a pull off the wrong ball outside off, mistiming it to Muralitharan at point to Nissanka’s delight. Certainly a poor beginning with little chance of putting up a reasonable total with Muralitharan yet to have a bowl!
Dilhara Fernando was the key for Sri Lanka in the first 15 over session helping himself to 3 wickets for 33 with some good fast and aggressive bowling. After 15 overs Pakistan were struggling at 62 for 4 with Youhana and Rashid Latif batting and Muralitharan called in early for a go.
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Date-stamped : 27 Oct2001 - 20:12