Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Abu Dhabi Series 2007
Pakistan vs Sri Lanka First ODI
PAK v SL : Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 5 wickets
May 19, 2007
All-rounder Shahid Afridi hit 73 off just 34 balls as Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by five wickets in Friday's first one-day international in Abu Dhabi.
Afridi, who was dropped twice, struck 32 off one over as his side reached their target with eight overs to spare. He was ably supported by wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal, who made an unbeaten 51, as the pair gave Shoaib Malik the ideal start in his first match as captain.
Earlier, Sri Lanka made 235-9, thanks largely to a half-century from Farvez Maharoof. Umar Gul had done the most damage with the ball for Pakistan, taking three wickets for 61. He removed Chamara Kapugedera for 28, Mahela Jayawardene for 18 and Malinga Bandara for three. Maharoof's knock included nine fours and one six to continue a fightback started by Chamara Silva, who hit 47.
The Sri Lankan top order all failed to post a score above 30, with Sanath Jayasuriya going for just one, Upul Tharanga for 17 and Mahela Jayawardene for 18.
The Pakistan innings started promisingly with Imran Nazir hitting a quickfire 38 before being run out by Jayasuriya. Yasir Hameed quickly followed him back to the pavilion, lbw to Malinga for 10. Salman Butt scored a pedestrian 34 before he was run out by Kapugedera, followed by Mohammad Yousuf (12) and Malik (11), but Afridi smacked four sixes and eight fours to steer Pakistan to victory.
ODI Series, Abu Dhabi: Pakistan 239-5 (42 overs) beat Sri Lanka 235-9 (50 overs) by 5 wkts
PAK v SL : Sri Lankans confident of doing well
May 18, 2007
Sri Lankan cricketers led by Mahela Jayawardene walked into the Sheikh Stadium in Abu Dhabi for their final practice session before the first game against Pakistan in a very happy mood. All were in fine fettle to take up the challenge from the Pakistanis today, Friday.
Pakistanis are coming up for this one-day series with the sole intention of catching up their lost prestige. They were thrown out of the World Cup in the early stages and are making every effort to reach the top as early as possible. Many of the players who participated at the World Cup are missing including their captain Inzamam-Ul-Haq. Here they will be led by Sohib Malik and two new faces taking their positions to face on international team: Mahela Jayawardene who led the Lankan team to the final of the World Cup 2007 too is facing the Pakistans minus many experienced team members.
He will have to use all his experience in handling his bowlers well on a pitch that they have never experienced. Pitch conditions and the climate in Abu Dhabi is something that both parties have to concentrate on. The winners of this three match one day series is to receive the Al Wagid Trophy and a cash award of US Dollars 10,000. The location of the Sheikh Zayad Stadium is far away from the City Centre with few access facilities and the roadway to the stadium is half done.
Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Abu Dhabi Series 2007
Scores
Sri Lanka won the toss and decided to bat
|
235 for 9 (50.0 overs)
|
|
239 for 5 (42.0 overs)
|
Runs |
Balls |
4s |
6s |
|||
| W U Tharanga | run out | 17 |
33 | 1 | 0 | |
| S T Jayasuriya | lbw | b Mohammad Asif | 1 |
7 | 0 | 0 |
| C K Kapugedera | b Umar Gul | 28 |
40 | 4 | 0 | |
| D P M D Jayawardene | c Kamran Akmal | b Umar Gul | 18 |
27 | 3 | 0 |
| L P C Silva | run out | 47 |
66 | 6 | 0 | |
| T M Dilshan | c Umar Gul | b Abdul Razzaq | 15 |
22 | 1 | 1 |
| H A P W Jayawardene | run out | 20 |
30 | 3 | 0 | |
| M F Maharoof | not out | 69 |
54 | 9 | 1 | |
| C M Bandara | b Umar Gul | 6 |
16 | 0 | 0 | |
| S L Malinga | b Mohammad Sami | 3 |
7 | 0 | 0 | |
| M K D I Amerasinghe | not out | 1 |
2 | 0 | 0 | |
| Extras | 4nb 3w 1b 2lb | 10 | ||||
| Total | for 9 | 235 | (50.0 ovs) | |||
|
|
Runs |
Balls |
4s |
6s |
|||
| Salman Butt | run out | 34 |
67 | 3 | 0 | |
| Imran Nazir | run out | 38 |
24 | 6 | 1 | |
| Yasir Hameed | lbw | b C M Bandara | 10 |
29 | 1 | 0 |
| Mohammad Yousuf | b M F Maharoof | 12 |
26 | 1 | 0 | |
| Shoaib Malik | run out | 11 |
26 | 0 | 0 | |
| Kamran Akmal | not out | 51 |
51 | 8 | 0 | |
| Shahid Afridi | not out | 73 |
34 | 8 | 4 | |
| Extras | 5nb 4w 1lb | 10 | ||||
| Total | for 5 | 239 | (42.0 ovs) | |||
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Umpires: M R Benson, S L Shastri
Pakistan: Imran Nazir, Salman Butt, Yasir Hameed, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Yousuf, Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Sami, Mohammad Asif, Umar Gul
Sri Lanka: W U Tharanga, S T Jayasuriya, C K Kapugedera, D P M D Jayawardene, L P C Silva, T M Dilshan, H A P W Jayawardene, C M Bandara, M F Maharoof, S L Malinga, M K D I Amerasinghe