Sri Lanka thrash Pakistan by 165 runs in the 5th ODI to win dead rubber 

By PakPassion Staff (26th July, 2015)

Result: Sri Lanka won by 165 runs - Sri Lanka 368/4 (50.0 ov), Pakistan 203 (37.2 ov)

Toss: Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat first

Sri Lanka made a few changes from the 4th ODI , Nuwan Pradeep was out injured, and Lasith Malinga and Sachith Pathirana were dropped. Senanayake, Thisara Perera and Lahiru come in. Pakistan fielded an unchanged side.

The home team started off strongly taking advantage of the poor lengths from the Pakistan bowlers and attacking the spinners. Dilshan and Kusal were involved in a 164 run partnership before Dilshan was run out for 63. Kusal Perera went on to smash another hundred against Pakistan this time in an ODI. He was victim of another run out after scoring a brilliant 116 and giving Sri Lanka the base for a huge total. Thirimanne followed as he was caught at point by Rizwan off Rahat Ali as Pakistan tried to pull things back.

Rahat Ali picked up Chandimal after he made a quick fire 29 to pick up his second wicket. Skipper Angelo Mathews and Siriwardena then picked up the momentum and made 70* from 40 balls and 52* from 26 balls respectively to blast Sri Lanka to a massive total of 368-4. This was Sri Lanka's highest total against Pakistan ever in ODI's and the third highest in Sri Lanka. All the bowlers went for more then 7 an over apart from Shoaib Malik who conceded 44 in his 10 overs.

Fall of Wickets (Sri Lanka) :

1-164 (Dilshan, 25.2 ov),
2-212 (MDKJ Perera, 33.5 ov),
3-219 (Thirimanne, 36.1 ov),
4-254 (Chandimal, 40.5 ov)

Pakistan started their innings knowing fully well that a target of such magnitude would require an exceptional batting effort. Ahmed Shehzad was guilty of yet another slow start but in trying to improve the run scoring, he was first to go as he was stumped for 18. Azhar Ali's poor running form then kicked into gear as he was next to go for 35. Pakistan's hope then rested on the experience and exuberance of Mohammad Hafeez and Sarfraz Ahmed, with both showing glimpses of their batting strengths until their partnership of 45 was cutdown by a marginal LBW decision against Hafeez (37). Sarfraz Ahmed then managed to run himself out for 27 when he tried to take double too many.

Whilst the crowd and players marvelled at the sight of a dog running astray on the field, Shoaib Malik was next to fall on 11 when Thirimanne pulled off a blinder at short midwicket. Pakistan's hope of a late revival for fading fast with the new faces in Mohammad Rizwan and Imad Wasim presented with an almost impossible situation to face. For all their bravado and intent, both batsmen succumbed to the pressure exposing Pakistan's less than able tail to a familiar end.

Fall of Wickets (Pakistan) :

1-51 (Ahmed Shehzad, 9.4 ov),
2-71 (Azhar Ali, 12.5 ov),
3-116 (Mohammad Hafeez, 19.5 ov),
4-121 (Sarfraz Ahmed, 20.6 ov),
5-140 (Shoaib Malik, 24.4 ov),
6-170 (Imad Wasim, 29.5 ov),
7-178 (Mohammad Rizwan, 32.1 ov),
8-197 (Yasir Shah, 35.1 ov),
9-197 (Anwar Ali, 36.1 ov),
10-203 (Rahat Ali, 37.2 ov)

Summary:

Pakistan may well have been the deserved winners of the 5 match series but it would be simplistic to assume that they held complete sway on their opponents. Whilst Azhar Ali's comfort may have come from two improbable sources ie batting and fielding, his bowlers will be a source of concern based on their performance in the 5th ODI. Pakistan, buoyed with possible berth in the 2017 Champions Trophy will now need to work to eliminate their weaknesses as they look towards their next ODI assignment against England in Oct-Nov, 2015.

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