2nd Match: Pakistan v Sri Lanka at Sharjah, 4 Apr 2003 CricInfo Live Report

2nd Match: Pakistan v Sri Lanka at Sharjah, 4 Apr 2003
S Rajesh

Pakistan innings: 25 Overs, End of match,
Sri Lanka innings: 25 Overs, 50 Overs,
Pre-game: Toss & Teams,

PAKISTAN COMPLETE TENSE SEVEN-WICKET WIN AGAINST SRI LANKA
Pakistan’s batsmen had put in a scratchy display in the Sharjah Cup opener, but today they got their act together, chasing down a target of 224 to register their second win in consecutive days. The win gave Pakistan five points to add to the six they took yesterday, making them firm favourites to reach the final.

It was a splendid performance by a team which, just a few weeks ago, looked completely dispirited and beaten. The inclusion of young players injected a spark and vitality which transformed Pakistan in the field. Despite Kumar Sangakkara’s spunky century - his first in one-day internationals - Sri Lanka managed just 223 after winning the toss. Then, Yousuf Youhana (64 not out) and Younis Khan (57 not out) clinically won the match with common-sense batting, putting together 124 for the fourth wicket at better than a run a ball.

Sri Lanka had an excellent opportunity to nip the partnership long before it assumed alarming proportions. Youhana, on 10, lofted Sanath Jayasuriya to long-on, where Jehan Murabak spilled a regulation catch. Youhana celebrated by sweeping the next ball for four, and from there on, there was only one team which looked like winning.

The foundation for Pakistan’s run-chase was laid by a circumspect 76-run second wicket partnership by Mohammad Hafeez and Faisal Iqbal, after Taufeeq Umar was bowled by a Dilhara Fernando special which pitched on off and straightened (21 for 1). Hafeez was particularly impressive with his defensive technique, handling the seamers and Muttiah Muralitharan with an ease which belied the fact that he was only in his second ODI.

Then, both of them departed in a three-ball period, courtesy two run-outs. First, Hafeez - after reaching a well-controlled half-century - was stranded when he played to mid-on and Faisal refused a single (97 for 2). A ball later, it was Faisal’s turn to be sent back, when Youhana nudged a ball to midwicket and stayed in the crease. Marvan Atapattu’s throw at the bowlers’ end dismissed Faisal for 32, but that brought Pakistan’s senior batsmen to the crease.

Both Youhana and Younis took the attack to the bowlers with powerful hits and cleverly placed singles. They were also aided by the dew in the outfield, which significantly hampered the effectiveness of the Sri Lankan spinners. Muttiah Muralitharan was economical, but hardly got the usual prodigious turn.

Earlier, Sangakkara’s hundred lit up an otherwise disappointing batting effort by Sri Lanka. It was Sri Lanka’s first match since Aravinda de Silva retired, and with Mahela Jayawardene left out, the onus was largely on Jayasuriya and Atapattu to deliver. They failed, but Sangakkara’s spunky hundred - his first in one-day internationals - averted complete humiliation.

Being asked to field first against a powerful batting line-up on a placid pitch was a daunting task, but Pakistan’s bowlers showed superb control, and the fielders - led by Hafeez patrolling the covers - ensured that Pakistan never lost their grip on the game.

Pakistan’s alertness in the field was exemplified early on by an excellent piece of captaincy to remove Atapattu for 13. Atapattu creamed a typically fluent cover-drive off Umar Gul, then found the gap plugged immediately, as Rashid Latif removed the slip and strengthened the off-side cordon. Two balls later, Atapattu attempted to chop the ball, and only managed an inside edge onto his stumps (26 for 1).

Jayasuriya (27) was seldom given width to play the crashing drives through cover, and when Sami did throw one wide, Jayasuriya slammed it straight to Hafeez at cover (44 for 2). Sangakkara shared useful partnerships with Avishka Gunawardene, Mubarak and Hashan Tillekeratne, but none of them stayed long enough to put Sri Lanka in charge.

Naved-ul-Hasan, the medium-pacer in his debut match, then got into the act with wickets off consecutive yorkers. Tillekeratne - the fifth left-hander in Sri Lanka’s top six - was the first victim, while Prasanna Jayawardene fared no better than his namesake, with a first-ball duck (166 for 6).

Kumar Dharmasena saw off the hat-trick ball, and then stitched together a crucial 57-run stand off just 48 balls with Sangakkara, who played a splendid, measured innings. On a slow pitch, he nurdled the singles early on, eschewing risks and yet scoring at a busy rate - with wickets falling regularly at the other end, there was little room for cavalier batsmanship.

Then, in the last overs, he opened out with straight-drives and pulls. Sangakkara started the last over on 94, smashed Sami over point for four, and then dabbed a single to leg to reach a well-deserved century. In the end, his one-man show was forced to yield to Pakistan’s allround efficiency.

HAFEEZ STEADIES PAKISTAN AFTER CIRCUMSPECT START
Pakistan made a circumspect start in their quest of 224, making just 81 after 25 overs. They were restricted in equal measure by a slow pitch and accurate Sri Lankan bowling. Both Charitha Buddika and Dilhara Fernando bowled with exceptional control with the new ball, and the spinners kept up the good work after the first 15.

As in his debut match, Mohammad Hafeez started his innings with a four – this time, he fetched a short one from Buddika and pulled it to the midwicket fence. An extra-cover drive followed as nine came in the first over, but the Sri Lankans tightened their act immediately, and only 11 more came off the next six.

To make matters worse for Pakistan, they lost a wicket too, when Taufeeq Umar was bowled by a magnificent delivery from Fernando. Bowling from round the wicket, Fernando got the ball to pitch on off, straighten, and clip the off bail (21 for 1). Umar made just 6.

Faisal Iqbal joined Hafeez in a 60-run stand, compiled mostly by nudges and nurdles. There were a few adventurous strokes – Faisal clipped Fernando and cover-drove Buddika for fours – but they were rare in a period of play which was dominated by dot balls. Hafeez showed impressive technique, handling Muttiah Muralitharan with a solid defensive blade. However, the asking rate had climbed to 5.72 per over, and Pakistan needed to step it up a gear.

SPUNKY SANGAKKARA HUNDRED LIFTS SRI LANKA TO DECENT TOTAL
A splendid, unbeaten 100 by Kumar Sangakkara was the bright spot in an otherwise disappointing batting effort by Sri Lanka in the second match of the Sharjah Cup.

Electing to bat after winning the toss, Sri Lanka’s powerful batting line-up was restricted to just 223 by Pakistan’s young outfit, which kept up the discipline they had shown in the field yesterday.

It was Sri Lanka’s first match since Aravinda de Silva retired, and with Mahela Jayawardene left out, the onus was largely on Sanath Jayasuriya and Marvan Atapattu to deliver. They failed, but Sangakkara’s spunky hundred – his first in one-day internationals – averted complete humiliation.

Being asked to field first against a powerful batting line-up on a placid pitch was a daunting task, but Pakistan’s bowlers showed superb control, and the fielders – led by Mohammad Hafeez patrolling the covers – ensured that Pakistan never lost their grip on the game.

Jayasuriya (27) walloped a couple of powerful flicks off his wrist, but he was seldom given width to play the crashing drives through cover. And when Sami did throw one wide, Jayasuriya slammed it straight to Mohammad Hafeez at cover (44 for 2).

The two early wickets forced the Sri Lankan batsmen into circumspection, as only 49 came off the first 15. And just when Avishka Gunawardene and Sangakkara appeared to be gaining momentum, Sami pulled off a direct hit from mid-off as Gunawardene attempted to steal a quick single (84 for 3).

Sangakkara, meanwhile, played a measured knock, avoiding risks and yet scoring at a busy rate. An off-drive and flick for fours off Naved-ul-Hasan – Pakistan’s debutant medium-pacer – indicated the form he was in, but with wickets falling regularly at the other end, there was little room for cavalier batsmanship.

Jehan Mubarak, in the team due to the absences of Jayawardene and de Silva, stitched together a useful 42-run partnership with Sangakkara, but then charged down the track off Shoaib Malik, presenting Latif with an easy stumping.

Naved, who had been fairly innocuous till then, then got into the act with wickets off consecutive yorkers. Hashan Tillekeratne – the fifth left-hander in Sri Lanka’s top six – was the first victim, while Prasanna Jayawardene fared no better than his namesake, with a first-ball duck.

Sangakkara kept the innings going, though. Striking the ball cleanly, he played some exquisite drives down the ground and through cover. Then, towards the end of the innings, he uncorked a few audacious pull shots. With Kumar Dharmasena offering splendid support with an unbeaten 23, the seventh-wicket stand put together 57 off just 48 balls. Sangakkara started the last over on 94, smashed Sami over point for four, and then dabbed a single to leg to reach his hundred.

Sangakkara's knock ensured that Muttiah Muralitharan would have a few runs to defend. With Chaminda Vaas failing a fitness test earlier this morning, Pakistan would still fancy their chances of pulling off the run-chase.

PAKISTAN MAKE DISCIPLINED START IN THE FIELD
Pakistan kept up the discipline they showed in the field yesterday, restricting Sri Lanka to 89 runs in the first 25 overs. Even better, they snared three wickets, including their two best batsmen. Mohammad Sami was the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan, taking a wicket and conceding just 17 runs in eight fiery overs, and then effecting a splendid run-out.

Marvan Atapattu was in fine fettle at the start, but an excellent piece of captaincy ended his brief innings of 13. Rashid Latif removed the slip but strengthened the off-side cordon after Atapattu had creamed an exquisite cover-drive off Umar Gul. Two balls later, Atapattu attempted to steer through the vacant slips, and only managed to chop it onto his stumps (26 for 1).

Sanath Jayasuriya (27) executed a couple of powerful flicks off his wrist, but he was seldom given width to play his trademark crashing drives. And when Sami did throw one wide, Jayasuriya slammed it straight to Mohammad Hafeez at cover (44 for 2).

The two early wickets forced the Sri Lankan batsmen into circumspection, as only 49 runs came off the first 15. Sangakkara and Gunawardene were both cautious to begin with, but when Sami and Gul were taken off after impressive first spells, both batsmen cashed in.

Timing the ball fluently, Sangakkara flicked and cover-drove Naved-ul-Hasan for fours in consecutive overs, while Gunawardene punished Hafeez’s offspinners whenever he pitched short.

The partnership had added 40, and was gaining in momentum, when a smart piece of fielding - and some dire running-between-wickets - did for Gunawardene. He played Naved to mid-off and dashed off for a run, even as Sami swooped on the ball and scored a direct hit, catching Gunawardene (17) well short of the crease. Jehan Mubarak - another in an army of left-handers - trooped in, with Sri Lanka in desperate need of a substantial partnership.

SRI LANKA OPT TO BAT FIRST
Sanath Jayasuriya called correctly and had little hesitation in opting to bat. The disturbing news from the Sri Lankan camp was that Chaminda Vaas failed a fitness test and was ruled out. Charitha Buddika came in to replace him.

Pakistan made two changes to the team which convincingly beat Zimbabwe yesterday. Faisal Iqbal came in for Naved Latif, who failed with the bat at No. 3, while Danish Kaneria was replaced by Naved-ul-Hasan, a medium-fast bowler playing his first international match.

The pitch had a dry look with a few cracks, and was entirely shorn of grass. Rashid Latif indicated that he would have preferred to bowl anyway, but that sounded more like brave talk than anything else.

Both sides show the after-effects of a disappointing World Cup campaign, with key middle-order batsmen rested after a horrendous tour. Inzamam-ul-Haq managed just 19 runs in six innings, while Mahela Jayawardene mustered 21 in seven. With Aravinda de Silva calling it a day as well, Sri Lanka have a hugely inexperienced middle order, with Avishka Gunawardene and Jehan Mubarak filling in the gaps.

Pakistan enjoy a 58-35 win-loss record against Sri Lanka, and have beaten them 18 times in 31 tries in Sharjah. However, there is little to choose between the two teams in recent games: in their last eight matches at this venue, both have won four apiece.

Teams: Sri Lanka: MS Atapattu, *ST Jayasuriya, M Muralitharan, HAPW Jayawardene, HP Tillakaratne, +KC Sangakkara, DA Gunawardene, TCB Fernando, HDPK Dharmasena, J Mubarak, CRD Fernando.

Pakistan: Taufeeq Umar, Mohammad Hafeez, Faisal Iqbal, Yousuf Youhana, Younis Khan, Shoaib Malik, *+Rashid Latif, Mohammad Sami, Naved-ul-Hasan, Umar Gul, Abdur Razzaq.