Pakistan go empty handed!
Sri Lanka came to Lahore with a 2-0 record having already won the 3 match ODI series but did not take it easy.
They humbled Pakistan with a 104 run win and sent them back to the drawing board.
Deservedly Atapattu was declared Man of the Match and the Lankans head for the 3 test Series as firm favourites.
At Lahore the Gadaffi Stadium looked spic and span basking in bright early spring sunshine for the 3rd Sri Lanka v Pakistan ODI.Pakistan were keen to win this one, the large crowd expecting it too, streaming in steadily.
Sri Lanka was equally determined to whitewash Pakistan 3-0.
Pakistan had brought in Shahid Nazir for the injured Shoaib Akhtar suffering from a groin strain.
The other man, batsman Faisal Iqbal, Javed Miandad's nephew, replacing Imran Abbas.
Sri Lanka had swapped de Saram with Zoysa.
Wasim opened the bowling for Pakistan and Jayasuriya played out the first maiden over.
After 3 overs Sri Lanka looked comfortable at 9 for no loss with some good running between the wickets.
Shahid Nazir was the other man with the new ball and kept the ball up to the batsmen.
The first appeal was a loud shout for a lbw against Kaluwithrana at 4.1 but turned down by debutant umpire Nadeem Ghauri.
The ball was not coming onto the bat today and the Pakistan fielding seemed improved with a lot of sliding saves by the youngsters.
Wasim struck in his 4th over when Jayasuriya edged an outswinger to Azhar Mahmood at first slip so, at 6.4 Sri Lanka were 19/1 and the in-form Atapattu came in to bat and played out the maiden.
Wasim continued to trouble the batsmen and Shahid Nazir provided the support from the other end restricting the score to 24 after 10 overs.
Kaluwithrana at 8 off 34 balls and Atapattu at 1 off 6 balls.Atapattu hit the first boundary of the game off Wasim at 10.5, a straight drive to long off.
He followed up with more aggression at 11.3 when he drove Shahid Nazir for three runs.
Abdur Razzaq replaced Wasim and was promptly driven for 4 through the covers at 12.4.
Then Azhar Mahmood dropped Kaluwithrana in the slips and the ball went through to the third man boundary.
At 14.5 Razzaq was dispatched through point for another four. Sri Lanka were 58/1 after 15 overs with Kaluwithrana 30 off 50 balls and Atapattu at 13 off 23 balls.
Azhar Mahmood replaced Shahid Nazir and gave away 6 runs visibly suffering a back problem and was taken off after his first over, replaced by Saqlain.
Razzaq trapped Kaluwithrana lbw at 16.1 and umpire Nadeem Ghauri took his time before holding his finger up.
Replays showed it was a good decision and Jayawardene came in to bat.
A Razzaq half volley was hit for a beautiful cover drive in the 18th over by Atapattu followed by an overhead on drive off Saqlain at 19.3.
After 20 overs Sri Lanka were poised for another good score at 82/2.In the mid session Sri Lanka scored more slowly but concentrated on singles and the odd two.
Aamer replaced Razzaq for the 25th over and at 25.4 Sri Lanka had reached their 100 for 2. At 26.2 Jayawardene pulled Aamer for 4 and 10 runs came off the over.
Then at 28.4 another fine square drive off Aamer by Atapattu for four more. Aamer was proving to be expensive for Pakistan.
Pakistan fielding also showed signs of flagging under the pressure of good running between the wickets.
After 30 overs Sri Lanka were 128/2 with Jayawardene on 32 off 54 balls and Atapattu at 41 off 56 balls.
Aamer was hit for another 4 by Jayawardene in the 31st over as runs continued to come easily for Sri Lanka.
Shahid Nazir replaced Aamer for the 33rd over and at 32.3 a fine save by Younis Khan at long on prevented a Jayawardene four.
Saqlain came back after 1 over by Shahid Nazir and at 33.2 Atapattu reached his third consecutive half century off 68 balls.
Atapattu had made 119 not out in the first ODI followed by a 57 in the second.
Pakistan struck back at 33.3 when Saqlain caught and bowled Jayawardene for 43 off 68 balls and Russel Arnold came in at 148/3.
Sri Lanka reached their 150 at 33.4 overs. Atapattu continued his fine form and at 33.4 Wasim fielded well at long on preventing a four.
Aamer Sohail was brought back for the 35th over and at 34.1 Atapattu chopped a ball to short third man and a direct hit by Saeed Anwar found Arnold short. Arnold was run out for 4 off 4 balls.
Atapattu seemed headed for another century as runs came easily. Faisal Iqbal, a medium pacer came on for the 38th over and proved expensive giving 10 runs in his first over.
Sri Lanka got another bonus at 38.6 when a leg bye went for four off Aamer.
After 40 overs, Sri Lanka were 189/4 with Atapattu in full cry on 71 off 86 balls and Dilshan at 9 off 16 balls.
In the 41st over Atappatu smashed a four over extra cover's head off Shahid Nazir and when Wasim replaced Faisal Iqbal, got the important wicket of Atapattu caught by Saeed Anwar at cover for 77 runs off 91 balls.
Vaas came in to bat and snicked the first ball he faced for 4. Wasim was not pleased. A run out was missed off Razzaq at 42.2 with an overthrow bonus.
However, Razzaq was quickly rewarded when sub Imran Nazir caught Vaas at cover for 6 off 5 balls.
Chandana came in and at 42.6 a loud lbw appeal was declined. Chandana proceeded to cover drive Wasim for 4 at 43.4. Singles kept coming to keep the Pakistan fielders on their toes. After 46 overs Sri Lanka were 221/6.
Razzaq had Dilshan edge the 3rd ball to Moin and Sri Lanka were 224/7 when new man Muralitharan caused the crowd to roar in joy, having his off stump sent flying and Razzaq was on a hat-trick.
Wickramasinghe fended the next ball back in the air but Razzaq could not get to it.
Zoysa was the new bat and was dropped at 46.4 off Wasim by Moin going to his left, a difficult one handed chance.
At 50 overs Sri Lanka were 241/9 with Wickramasinghe at 10 off 12 and Zoysa at 3 off 5 for their lowest total of this series. Everyone was asking, can Pakistan reach the target of 242?.
Pakistan started of with quiet afternoon first session with the Pakistan openers, captain Saeed Anwar and former captain Ammer Sohail taking up the chase against some accurate bowling by Zoysa and Vaas.
The crowd was basking in the afternoon sun and looking forward to this evening's start of 'basant' the kite flying festival.
This session saw a superb cover drive by Anwar at 4.1 followed by an amusing incident when ball met ball and caused Anwar to fold up in agony on the fifth ball of the same Zoysa over.
Anwar edged ball 6.1 over the third man rope and Aamer Sohail was caught behind off Zoysa at 8.1.
New man Younis Khan came in at one down having scored 46 on debut at Karachi and 28 at Gujranwala.
Pakistan has high hopes for this young batsman.After 10 overs Pakistan were 29/1 with Saeed Anwar 22 of 35 and Younis Khan 0/9.
A typically Pakistani start where the openers could not set up a good partnership. Some fine on target bowling by the Lankan fast bowlers prevented a faster start. Could Younis set himself up as the next find for Pakistan?.
Younis Khan showed some fine shots with a couple of boundaries but his partner Saeed Anwar fell to a brilliant diving catch at mid wicket by Arnold. Anwar made 30 off 45 balls with 2 fours thrown in for good measure.
In came Yousuf Youhana and the Pakistan scoring rate slowed down. Zoysa made one come back and Younis Khan was trapped leg before and departed at 11 off 21 balls with Pakistan at 48/4.
Faisal Iqbal came in and decided to get his eye in ant took 10 balls to get off the mark.
After 15 overs Pakistan were still at 48/1. Jayasuriya brought on Muralitharan for the 17th over to display his wares. He bowled a maiden to Youhana. Pakistan crawled to 50 at 17.2 with the Lankan bowlers fully in command.
After 20 overs Pakistan were 56/3 with Youhana 5 off 17 balls and Faisal 3 off 20. This did not look too good for Pakistan as their top order, once more, were unable to hold together.At 20.3, trying for a desperate run Faisal Iqbal was found short after a direct throw to the bowlers end from Jayawardene from midwicket.
Faisal made 4 off 21 balls and Pakistan were 57/4 when Moin Khan came in to prevent further rot.
Youhana ran off at 21.5 for a single but this time it was the Sri Lankan captain who threw down the stumps and Youhana forlornly walked back having made 7 off 25 balls and Pakistan now at 60/5.
Razzaq came in and brightened up the proceedings with three consecutive fours off Muralitharan, 22.2 to fine leg, 22.3 to third man and 22.4 to third man again, hitting 14 off the over.
Chanana replaced Muralitharan and Jayasuriya brought himself on for Wickramasinghe. After 25 overs Pakistan were at 84/5.
Hopes were raised some more for Pakistan fans when Moin hit a nice sweep for four off Chandana but quickly dashed as he was castled by Jayasuriya at 27.4 and departed after scoring 14 off 19 balls.
At 29.2, Pakistan's 100 was reached and after 30 overs were 103 for 6. Some ardent Pakistan fans were still holding out some hope.It was not to be because at 30.3, Wasim drove Muralitharan to mid on for 4, at 30.5 Razzaq survived a lbw appeal but was cleaned up on the next ball scoring 22 off 28 balls and Pakistan at at 112 for 7.
Saqlain came in and they took a few singles and at the end of the 35th over Pakistan were 118/7 with Saqlain 2 off 21 balls and Wasim 17 off 18 balls. At 36.1 a leg bye for 4 added to the Paksitan score but 36.5, Saqlain was lbw off Vaas.
Shahid Nazir came in and Wasim protected him, hogging the bowling and at 37.1 hit Jayasuriya for the only 6 of the match and followed up with a four to mid wicket on 37.5. The flurry came to an end at 39.3 when Wasim was clean bowled by Jayasuriya with 29 off 32 balls and Azhar Mahmood did not come in to bat.
Sri Lanka won by 104 runs white-washing Pakistan and proving to be the better team. The Man of the Match was Atapattu who has been in excellent form throughout this ODI series.
So a consolation win for Pakistan was not to be and now Pakstan have to fend off the triumphant Sri Lankans in the upcoming 3 Test series.
Sri Lanka are definitely the favourites for the Test Series too.
