Col (Retd) Rafi Nasim
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4th Match: Pakistan v Sri Lanka at Colombo (RPS), 9 Jul 2000 Col (Retd) Rafi Nasim |
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Pakistan innings:
Sri Lanka innings: Pre-game: |
Russel Arnold took the crease and drove Azhar Mahmood to the point boundary for four. Sri Lanka was now very close to the target needing 17 runs in 22 balls to win. With 6 wickets in hand, they faced no problem in achieving the target. With runs piling up slowly, the target came as close as 10 runs in 13 balls. At last Sri Lanka surpassed the target of 241 runs when Arnold flicked Azhar Mahmood for a four to the 3rd man position. Sri Lanka thus defeated Pakistan by 6 wickets.
By winning this match, Pakistan is out of the tournament while Sri Lanka's landing in the finals is confirmed. It was an excellent as well as exciting contest in which Sri Lanka excelled over Pakistan in all departments of the game. The fact that Sri Lanka won the match with only four balls to spare indicates that with a slightly better performance in any field like batting, bowling or fielding, Pakistan could have prevented the defeat.
The second sixer of the day came when in the 34th over, Jayawardene lifted Shabbir Ahmed straight over the heads of fielders. Pakistan achieved the 3rd break through when Atapattu edged Shabbir Ahmed into the hands of Moin Khan for a well played 25 rendering Sri Lanka to 167 for 3.
Kumar Sangakarra came in to bat, supporting his partner in piling up runs. In 40 overs Sri Lanka were 189 for 3.
Mahela Jayawardene joined Marvan Atapattu at the crease. Both of them being accomplished batsmen were quite capable of following in the footsteps of the opening pair in advancing the innings further with the same efficiency. In 30 overs, Sri Lanka was 141 for 2. Atapattu (16) and Jayawardene (8) were at the crease.
Arshad Khan came in to bowl in the 14th over and was hit for a four to square leg by Jayasuriya. A little later in the same over Jayasuriya was rewarded with the benefit of doubt when he was nearly stumped by Moin Khan. Had Moin Khan not fumbled and knocked off the bails with instant action, the doubt would not have been there.
It appeared to be the Sri Lanka's day with both the batsmen in full command and scoring runs at jet speed. Pakistan achieved the first break through when in the 17th over Abdur Razzaq bowled Gunawardene after playing an enterprising innings of 47. Sri Lanka lost the 1st wicket at 96. The 100 of Sri Lanka's innings came in 19 overs. In 20 overs Sri Lanka was 103 for 1 Jayasuriya (40) and Atapattu (4) were holding the crease.
Jayasuriya was off the mark with a four off Shabbir Ahmed to the point region. Shabbir Ahmed was smashed for another four by Gunawardene to the 3rd man boundary. Amidst the excitement of the two early boundaries, in the next over by Azhar Mahmood there were two loud LBW appeals against Gunawardene but declined by the umpire. Both times the brush with the pads was so close that the decision caused a lot of disappointment to the fielders. Even the commentators expressed some surprise.
Sri Lanka got an impressive start on account of some loose bowling by new comer Shabbir Ahmed, serious fielding lapses and Jayasuriya dropped by Moin Khan behind the stumps. He celebrated it by hitting Shabbir Ahmed for a fabulous six to point boundary. Sri Lanka's 50 came in 58 balls, a fantastic start of the innings. In 10 overs Sri Lanka was 52 for no loss with Jayasuriya (21) and Gunawardene (23) going strong.
Abdur Razzaq took the crease but his partner Yousuf Youhana could not keep his company for long. Trying a big shot off Jayasuriya, he was caught by Jayawardene at deep mid wicket after playing a valuable innings of 39. Pakistan lost the 6th wicket at 182. Azhar Mahmood came in and tried to accelerate the score. The 200 of the innings came in the 47th over.
With 3 overs left to the finish medium pacer Zoysa was called in to bowl. Runs were now coming at a faster pace, even some fours were there to be seen. Azhar Mahmood hit Vaas for 3 consecutive fours in all directions of the field. Vaas conceded 15 runs in one over. Zoysa bowled the last over and was lofted for the only 6 of the innings by Azhar Mahmood. The Pakistan innings ended at 240 for 6.
What Pakistan lacked was made up by the tail-enders, especially Azhar Mahmood who ruthlessly punished the Sri Lanka bowlers by scoring an enterprising 43 in 25 balls. Abdur Razzaq keeping company with him remained not out with 17. Piling up 45 runs in the last 4 overs was an incredible performance by Pakistan.
Sri Lanka has a target of 241 to win, which is not an easy one. The result will depend on how good the Pakistan bowlers can bowl, and how well the fielders support them.
Sri Lanka met with another success when Younis Khan in an effort to hit a big shot in the vicinity of square leg was bowled by Jayasuriya. Younis Khan had played a defiant innings of 59. Pakistan lost the 4th wicket at 146. Skipper Moin Khan joined Youhana at the crease.
The ball was changed after 38 overs, Chandana bowling. A welcome boundary was added to the Pakistan score when in the next over Youhana lifted Jayasuriya for a straight four. After 40 overs, Pakistan was able to raise the total to 161 for 4. Youhana (25) and Moin Khan (6) were making all efforts to lead Pakistan to a respectable total.
Pakistan suffered a vital tragedy when Inzamam-ul-Haq after playing a masterly innings of 47 was caught at short fine leg by Atapattu off Jayasuriya. Pakistan lost the 3rd wicket at 101. Surprisingly playing a safe and steady innings Inzamam-ul-Haq was out on a very casual shot. In 30 overs Pakistan was 116 for 3. Younis Khan (39) and the new comer Yousuf Youhana (8) were trying to build up a good innings.
In the 15th over Younis Khan hit his first four by smashing Dharmasena to the square leg boundary. The runs were coming through singles and twos, though on occasions the batsmen were hitting some flying shots to safe regions of the ground. The alert and agile fielders were not allowing the ball to cross the boundary line so easily. In 20 overs, Pakistan was at 81 for 2. Inzamam-ul-Haq (35) and Younis Khan (24) were showing the intentions of playing a long innings, by taking no risks.
Pakistan, trailing behind in the tournament with no point so far opened the innings with Saeed Anwar and Imran Nazir. The team made two changes in the combination that played against South Africa on Saturday, speedster Shabir Ahmed and off spinner Shoaib Malik replacing Waqar Younis and Mushtaq Ahmed.
Sri Lanka attacked with Chaminda Vaas and Nuwan Zoysa. Saeed Anwar started aggressively punishing Zoysa for two fours in the 1st over. Both were bristling shots to mid wicket and cover point. The game commenced with its due share of excitement created by the chances that the batsmen availed. Imran Nazir was dropped by Russel Arnold in the slips in the 2nd over, while Saeed Anwar survived a run out chance.
The adventurism showed its colors when Imran Nazir was declared run out in the 3rd over for 2 runs. The score board showed Pakistan at 16 for 1. Sri Lanka achieved the 2nd important break through immediately after when Saeed Anwar was bowled by Chaminda Vaas on a short pitched delivery for 13. Pakistan was at 19 for 2.
With Younis Khan and Inzamam-ul-Haq, the new batsmen at the crease, the rate of scoring fell down. They were hard pressed in collecting run on account of some excellent fielding. Accurate returns to the wicket were not allowing them undue liberties. In 10 overs, Pakistan was 32 for 2, Inzamam-ul-Haq (9) and Younis Khan (4) were holding the crease quite cautiously.
Pakistan and Sri Lanka have played lot of cricket between them this summer. While Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan on a visit to the country both in tests as well as one day series, Pakistan almost equalized the score by defeating them in the Asia Cup followed by the recently concluded test series in Sri Lanka. While Sri Lanka appears to have rejuvenated itself, Pakistan has slipped down the ladder. Knowing each other's strength and weaknesses, it should be easy for Pakistan to defeat Sri Lanka than South Africa.
While the other two teams can easily maintain their position or even go higher, with no points in the kitty, Pakistan has a very difficult task to come at par with them. The very fact that Pakistan entered the Tri-nation series chasing their fourth consecutive one day title after winning at Sharjah, the West Indies and Bangladesh will indicate that the team has the potential to rise up. But somehow it is not performing to the optimum.
The Pakistan team appears to have become the victim of disasters. In the opening match against Sri Lanka, it was in a winning position at one stage. Against South Africa again on Saturday it faced an achievable target of 242 runs. The team had the benefit of an opening stand of 101 runs while it lost the second wicket at 144.It was a remarkable position to register a win but unfortunately it lost the advantage and bundled out only 18 runs short of the target.
As for today's encounter, Sri Lanka is surely in a dominating position. With two victories in the bag its morale is sky high. The fighting spirit they have never lacked while in fielding they excel over Pakistan.
To defeat a team reigning supreme in the tournament, Pakistan's batting shall have to click showing its true potential. The batsmen shall have to apply themselves in the right earnest avoiding loose shots and throwing away wickets.
Date-stamped : 09 Jul2000 - 18:22