Shehzad was named Man of the Match for his knock of 95
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Pakistan opener Ahmed Shehzad scored 95 and batsman Mohammad Hafeez made 70 to not only lead their side to a seven-wicket win over Sri Lanka in Colombo, but also ensure that they took an unassailable 3-1 lead in the series.
However, Sri Lanka batsman Lahiru Thirimanne and opener Tillakaratne Dilshan deserve some credit as they scored 90 and 50 respectively.
Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews would have been brooding over his decision to bat first as Thirimanne and Dilshan were the only two batsmen to make a valuable contribution.
Thirimanne made a gutsy 90
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Other than Thirimanne, who hit five boundaries during his knock, and Dilshan, who struck three boundaries during his innings, Dinesh Chandimal was the only other batsman to reach the 20-run mark. As a result, Sri Lanka finished on 256/9 off their 50 overs.
Dilshan scored a valiant 50
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Mohammad Irfan was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets, while Anwar Ali snapped up two and Rahat Ali, Yasir Shah and Imad Wasim chipped in with one wicket apiece.
Chasing 257 to win, Pakistan got off to an excellent start as Shehzad and skipper Azhar Ali amassed a 75-run partnership before Ali was caught by Sachithra Senanayake, who was the substitute fielder, at deep third man off the bowling of Lasith Malinga for 33.
Shehzad and Hafeez kept the runs flowing with a 115-run stand, during which both batsmen surpassed their half-centuries, before Shehzad was brilliantly caught by Kusal Perera at third man off the bowling of Suranga Lakmal.
Shehzad’s superb knock of 95 came off 90 balls and included 12 boundaries and a six.
Hafeez went on to make 70 off 88 deliveries, which included eight boundaries and a six, before he was caught behind off the bowling of Milinda Siriwardana.
Hafeez hit eight boundaries and a six during his innings of 70
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Despite suffering a quick double strike, Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik and wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed finished things off with an unbeaten 44-run partnership.
Malinga, Lakmal and Siriwardana claimed one wicket each.
Mathews was disappointed to have lost again, and said: “The total wasn’t enough after the start we got. We kept losing wickets. It was a fighting score, but not enough. The guys just wanted to go out there and play shots. In the overs 31 to 40 you have to get it going. After the 40th over, with the extra fielder out, hitting out isn’t easy. No real penetration in our bowling attack. Hopefully we can rectify it. I bowled Malinga through because he was doing well, and was swinging it. We created a couple of chances which we didn’t take. We need to play positive cricket and get out of this hole we have dug ourselves in.”
Ali meanwhile was ecstatic to have taken an unassailable 3-1 lead in the series, and said: “You can’t control the toss. But I think the team had to fight. Whatever you do first, you have to do perfectly. The wicket in the first over was very good, then they had a very good partnership. We thought the pitch was very good, we had to hang on and our discussion was about doing things right and when the next wicket comes, we will put the pressure on. Credit to the bowlers for keeping the pressure up.
“We are working very hard at fielding practice. Youngsters are a great help. They dive around everywhere. Everytime they go out, they want a run out and catches. I thought it was an opportunity to put the bowler under pressure. But it didn’t pay off. Next time I will do it better. Every game is very important for us, especially with the Champions Trophy qualification. We want to win the final game as well. This series win is the Eid gift from Pakistan to the people.”
Shehzad was named Man of the Match, and said: “I was hitting the ball well in the first three games as well. Today I just tried to follow the game plan. I was dropped from the last series, I have been working hard with the coaching staff. Waqar, Mushtaq and Flower. They all wanted me to do well as well. It’s a complete team effort, in the field as well. We are trying to change the way we used to play and credit to the thinktank. Sometimes they go hard at us, but it is for our betterment. We want to do well going forward. We all know Azhar is in the form of his life at the moment. He gives us confidence. We are just trying not to be selfish. At the end of the day, you just thank God for the runs you score.”