22 July 2004	Thursday	04 Jamadi-us-Saani 1425

COLOMBO, July 21: Sri Lanka made Pakistan look an ordinary side and the hosts' convincing seven-wicket triumph in the Asia Cup Super League match at the Premadasa Stadium on Wednesday was well deserved by a professional outfit.

After this demoralizing defeat, it is going to be mighty difficult for the Pakistanis to make an impact in this competition and reach the final.

Pakistan virtually handed this crucial tie to Sri Lanka on a platter after being bundled out for 122 - their lowest ever total against the Islanders in the shorter version of the game - after Inzamamul Haq won the toss and opted to bat first, which is an advantage as batting under lights is much more taxing.

The batsmanship was spineless against a not-so-lethal attack on a good track. Once again it showed that Pakistan batting is brittle and even failed to last the full quota of overs. They consumed just 39.5 overs.

Pakistan's middle-order collapsed like a house of cards as Inzamam, Yousuf Youhana, Younis Khan and Shoaib Malik could manage just 14 runs between them. So bankrupt was Pakistan's batting that only three men - Abdul Razzaq (43), Yasir Hameed (22) and Imran Nazir (14) - managed to reach double figures.

At one juncture it appeared that the team would not be able to cross the three-figure mark after five wickets had gone down for 52. The highest partnership of the innings was for the eighth-wicket, between Razzaq and Mohammad Sami. That tells the story.

Pakistan's think-tank also blundered when it included Imran Nazir to open the innings and promoted Shoaib Malik at the vital one-down position. So it was no surprise that both failed and put the incoming batsmen under tremendous pressure which in the end proved disastrous.

Bowling out Sri Lanka for such a low target required an extraordinary spell from one of the four seamers, which never materialized as the hosts cantered home in 32 overs to earn a bonus point.

Although the seamers bowled well in patches, the new ball was wasted as both Shoaib Akhtar and Sami remained off target in their exuberance to bowl the opposition out with pace.

As usual, the Pakistani bowlers conceded far more extras by giving away 17 wides and four no-balls. The ground fielding too was not up to international standard. Shabbir Ahmed and Moin Khan grassed two straightforward catches and the batsman to benefit on both occasions was opener Avishka Gunawardene.

In contrast, the Sri Lankans were simply outstanding in the field. They did not miss a single chance and also ran out three Pakistani batsmen with agile and alert ground work. Upul Chandana's effort in running out Yasir Hameed was a wonderful piece of pickup and throw.

Win or loss is part of the game, but the manner in which Pakistan surrendered was nothing less than a disaster as an inspired Sri Lankan side outclassed their opponents in every department of the game.

Sri Lanka, who the other day edged out India in the league encounter, now must be favourites to qualify for the final. As for Pakistan, they will now have to beat India and Bangladesh in their remaining matches to have any chance of advancing to the final.

A defeat against India will mean early return home and a disastrous end to the holders campaign to retain the title and a rude reminder for team management which appeared over the moon after having disposed of novices Bangladesh and Hong Kong.

Sunday's clash against India is going to decide Pakistan's fate in the competition. Another loss to their great rivals will make the clash against Bangladesh irrelevant. Pakistan will have to improve hundred per cent.

SCOREBOARD

PAKISTAN:

Imran Nazir c J'wardene b Zoysa 14

Yasir Hameed run out 22

Shoaib Malik c Dilshan b Zoysa 4

Inzamamul Haq b Muralitharan 9

Yousuf Youhana run out 0

Younis Khan c J'wardene b Maharoof 1

Abdul Razzaq c Dilshan b Maharoof 43

Moin Khan c Sangakkara b Zoysa 3

Mohammad Sami b Jayasuriya 9

Shoaib Akhtar run out 1

Shabbir Ahmed not out 0

EXTRAS (LB-7, W-8, NB-1) 16

TOTAL (all out, 39.5 overs) 122

FALL OF WKTS: 1-19, 2-25, 3-45, 4-46, 5-52, 6-72, 7-88, 8-120, 9-122.

BOWLING: Vaas 7-3-14-0; Zoysa 10-3-29-3 (4w); Maharoof 6-0-25-2 (2w); Muralitharan 8-0-14-1 (2w); Chandana 7-0-28-0 (1nb); Jayasuriya 1.5-0-5-1

SRI LANKA:

D.A. Gunawardene c Imran b Razzaq 26

S.T. Jayasuriya c Younis b Sami 20

M.S. Atapattu c. S. Malik b Razzaq 19

K.C. Sangakkara not out 14

D.P.M.D. Jayawardene not out 19

EXTRAS (LB-4, W-17, NB-4) 25

TOTAL (for three wkts, 32 overs) 123

FALL OF WKTS: 1-51, 2-84, 3-88.

DID NOT BAT: T.M. Dilshan, U.D.U. Chandana, W.P.U.J.C. Vaas, M.F. Maharoof, D.N.T. Zoysa, M. Muralitharan.

BOWLING: Shoaib Akhtar 8-1-29-0 (5w); Mohammad Sami 9-0-34-1 (1nb, 7w); Shabbir Ahmed 8-1-25-0 (4w); Abdul Razzaq 6-2-21-2 (2nb); Shoaib Malik 1-0-10-0 (1nb).

RESULT: Sri Lanka won by seven wickets.

UMPIRES: B.F. Bowden (New Zealand) and P.D. Parker (Australia).

TV UMPIRE: A.F.M. Akhtaruddin (Bangladesh).

MATCH REFEREE: M.J. Procter (South Africa).

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Nuwan Zoysa.

STANDINGS

(Tabulated under played, won, lost, points, net run-rate):



Sri Lanka       1       1       0       6      +1.40



India           1       1       0       6      +1.08



Bangladesh      1       0       1       0      -1.08



Pakistan        1       0       1       0      -1.40