Read our analysis of Pakistan's dramatic defeat in the final ODI in Colombo (Sri Lanka Win ODI series 3-1)

18th June, 2012

 

Teams:

Sri Lanka
TM Dilshan, WU Tharanga, DPMD Jayawardene*, LD Chandimal, KC Sangakkara†, HDRL Thirimanne, AD Mathews, NLTC Perera, KMDN Kulasekara, SL Malinga, BMAJ Mendis

Pakistan
Mohammad Hafeez, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Imran Farhat, Misbah-ul-Haq*, Umar Akmal, Shahid Afridi, Sarfraz Ahmed†, Umar Gul, Sohail Tanvir, Mohammad Sami


Pakistan Innings

Misbah Ul-Haq won the toss and elected to bat first, hoping that his batsmen wouldn't repeat the calamity of the previous match. The buildup was full of all sorts of bizarre decisions, as Saeed Ajmal was dropped for Mohammad Sami, and Azhar Ali was demoted down the order despite his recent good form. The only other change was Imran Farhar replacing Younis Khan, who was "rested due to his form" according to the politically correct Misbah. For Sri Lanka, Jeevan Mendis replaced Sajeewa Weerakoon.

The new opening pair got off to a decent start, with Hafeez avoiding a third consecutive duck and Farhat playing a couple of gorgeous cover drives. Hafeez's run of poor form continued though, as an inswinger from Kulasekara snuck through the gate to hit off stump. Farhat was not to be deterred though, and he took 3 boundaries form Kulasekara's next over with some aggressive shots. He continued to attack Kulasekara, and a further 13 runs were scored in the 12th over. After 15 overs, Pakistan were 68/1, and Imran Farhat had raced to 49.

He brought up a well deserved 50 moments later, but then threw it away, pulling a short ball straight to deep square leg. A good 50 under pressure though from Farht, whose place in the side was looking doubtful after Azhar Ali's recent form. Azhar and Shafiq kept the momentum going quite will, picking up regular singles as well as the odd boundary, and at the halfway point of the innings, Pakistan were well placed at 113/2.

However, the very next ball Azhar was decieved by a flighted Jeevan Mendia delivery, and the batsman was only able to chip and easy catch to cover. The captain Misbah-ul-haq walked in and did what he does - consolidate or so it seemed.

One of the biggest differences between both teams has been its fielding - Pakistan have struggled to make and impression in that area where Sri Lanka have been outstanding. This was the case with dismissal of Asad Shafiq who was caught short of his crease - departing after scoring a brisk 38.

Umar Akmal was one of the batsmen who would have liked to wipe out the memories of the 4th ODI performance. He set about his innings in a typical "uUmaresque" fashion, mixing the cheeky shots with some well planned ones. With Misbah on the other hand playing his innings in the way only he can play, both took the score to 207 before the Captain was caught for a well made 32. Not the most flamboyant of innings but something which gave Pakistan hope for a moderately reasonable total.

At the 43rd over, the stage was now set for an Afridi/Akmal special but Afridi is not the Afridi of yore. He was dismissed for a paltry (by his standards) 9 off 8 balls and it was left to Umar Akmal to defy his critics in some form to take Pakistan to 247 in the the 50th over.

A better performance by Pakistan, helped by 2 good knocks in the beginning and end but could easily have been more.

Pakistan's vaunted bowling attack had something to bowl at and all was set for a fascinating run chase.


Fall of wickets

1-22 (Hafeez, 5.6 ov)
2-82 (Farhat 18.1 ov)
3-113 (Azhar, 25.1 ov)
4-146 (Asad Shafiq, 32.5 ov)
5-207 (Misbah-ul-Haq, 42.6 ov)
6-229 (Shahid Afridi, 46.4 ov)
7-244 (Sohail Tanvir, 49.4 ov)


Sri Lanka Innings

Whilst the Pakistani bowlers had something to bowl at, before a ball was bowled during the second innings, many would have put Sri Lanka as favourites to win this, considering they bat all the way down to number 10, and not to mention that this pitch in Colombo is somewhat ideal for chasing.

The first over wasn’t the best from Gul, conceding 8 runs from it, including 4 leg byes. Pakistan has had a trouble with extras in this series, and it looked as though this problem had not been rectified as yet. Tanvir had Dilshan troubled in the second over as the opener edged one just short of second slip.

Tanvir then took the wickets of both openers in consecutive overs, clean bowling the Sri Lankan duo. First Dilshan fell victim to the left are seamer in the 4th over, who tried driving, fell over, ball hitting his pads and then onto the stumps. Six Tanvir deliveries later Tharanga fell prey to the opening Pakistani bowler with a slower ball with the batsman missing the ball and the off stump went flying.

Sangakkara and Chandimal were the next two men in who steadied the ship and after the first drinks break (16 overs), the Sri Lankans were 59/2, requiring a run rate of 5.55 runs per over to win.

Sangakkara was out stumped by Sarfraz Ahmed, who did a fantastic job quickly collecting the ball with one hand and stumping his man, this after Sangakarra came down the track the previous ball to hit a four. Skipper Jayawardene came in at number 5 and was sent back on his very first ball by Afridi after the senior batsman lobbed it straight back to the bowler who made no mistakes with the catch.

The second drinks break came at the end of the 31st over. Sri Lanka were 119/4 with Pakistan on top, but the Lankan’s were by no means out of it yet with their long batting line up.

Hafeez took his first wicket of the night after drinks, where Chandimal, who passed his fifty in the previous over, came down the track and hit the ball to long on, with Sami taking a high catch to his right. The set batsman gone and Sri Lanka were not in a good position with 5 wickets down.

A good fielding effort by Imran Farhat saw the 6th man depart for Sri Lanka after a mix up between the batsmen, resulting in the run out of Perera.

With 10 overs remaining, Sri Lanka needed 76 runs for victory. Another run out in the 41st over dented Sri Lanka’s chances further, with a great piece of work by Sami in the field. Thirimanne departed and Sri Lanka were left reeling at 7 wickets down.

Sri Lanka required 40 runs from the final 30 balls of the match. The pressure was mounting on the batsmen and Tanvir picked up his 3rd wicket in the 47th over, with Mendis toe ending the ball to extra cover where Shafiq almost let the ball slip from his hands. Angelo Mathews, who was on 56, and the new man Kulasekara were out there in the middle whom were the last hope for the hosts.

With 2 overs remaining, Sri Lanka required 21 runs. Tanvir bowled a great penultimate over, conceding only 6 runs. Sri Lanka required 15 runs from the final 6 deliveries with Mathews on strike.

The second legal ball of the over was despatched for a six, after the first ball was called a leg side wide and the batsmen running two the next ball. The third ball of the over saw the batsman run another double. Sri Lanka were now only 4 runs away and they had 3 deliveries to get it. Sami bowled a ball short of a length and Mathews hit it to boundary for four on the 4th ball of the over. Mathews had led his team to victory in this thriller with 2 balls to spare. Pakistan lost a match which many would feel they should have won.


Fall of wickets

1-18 (Dilshan, 3.6 ov)
2-19 (Tharanga, 5.6 ov)
3-97 (Sangakkara, 24.5 ov)
4-97 (Jayawardene, 24.6 ov)
5-135 (Chandimal, 33.2 ov)
6-138 (Perera, 34.2 ov)
7-175 (Thirimanne, 40.5 ov)
8-212 (Mendis, 46.2 ov)


Summary

With this result, Sri Lanka win the series 3-1. We’ve seen the good, the bad and the ugly from both sides in this ODI series, but it certainly has been an interesting one. The focus now shifts to the Test series, with the first test taking place in only 4 days time on 22nd June. If this ODI series is anything to go by, then the Test series should be a closely contested affair, weather permitting.