True the Lankans gave away too many runs to the Pakistanis. But the Lankans fell short by only 30 runs. And these 30 runs would not have been a big deal had Sanath Jayasuriya and Kumara Dharmasena been given the benefit of the doubt.
Jayasuriya, the explosive opener on whom so much depended for a good start to keep Sri Lanka in the chase of the big Pakistani total, was ruled out LBW to a ball which to everyone looked too high except to umpire Steve Dunne.
To sum it up Jayasuriya was undone by Dunne.
CONVINCED
TV commentators were convinced that Jayasuriya was unlucky. Had Jayasuriya been there the story would certainly have been different. Then when the game was at a crucial stage Dharmasena sweeping with his front foot well stretched was given out LBW.
These two decisions proved very costly to the Lankans.
When outs like these are given it takes away the competition out of the game. We do not say that the umpires were cheating. But a bit more concentration would have shown them in better light.
Allegations would not have been levelled at the umpires, had the organisers the foresight to invite umpires from countries that were not playing in the tournament.
BELLIGERENT
Once again it was the belligerent hitting of Shahid Afridi that took the game away from the Lankans. He seems to revel when facing the Lankan bowlers and the Lankans must be wracking their brains wondering how to get him out cheaply.
There is nothing elegant in the way Afridi bats though at times he plays some lovely strokes. He is blessed with a good eye and has terrific power. The sixes he hits proves the power that he packs. His timing too is good and when he hits the ball, it stays hit.
The Lankan bowlers failed to bowl to one side of the wicket and gave away unnecessary runs.
SURPRISE
It also came as a surprise to see paceman Aquib Javed back in the wicket taking act. Recalled in the absence of their frontliners, Javed who was lucky to have the wicket of Jayasuriya found all his plugs firing as he scalped five wickets to win the man of the match award.
The 289 made by the Pakistanis was not an impossible target for the Lankans considering that the attack they were going to face was mediocre. After Jayasuriya went, Atapattu and Kaluwitharane threw away their wickets.
Aravinda de Silva tried a repair job but lost concentration. It was left to two left handers skipper Ranatunga and Tillekeratne to begin the salvage job which they executed to a point.
It was nice to see Ranatunga continuing from where he left in the Test against Pakistan at the SSC. Mahanama was his usual brilliant self on the field and with his bat.
MORE PATIENCE
Had the Lankan batsmen shown a bit more patience and worked the Pakistani bowlers around without trying to swat them out of the ground the story would have been different.
Anyway the one day game was thought out to bring enjoyment to the spectators. This game provided it every minute.
The general belief is that the Pakistanis and the Indians are trying to make it a final between them, thus making up for what they missed in the World Cup.
But the Sri Lankans the World Cup champions and New Zealand have the cricketing armoury to turn things around.