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| 15 October 2004 | Friday | 29 Shaban 1425 |
Pakistan romp home to easy victory
LAHORE, Oct 14: Pakistan made light of chasing an imposing target to overcome Sri Lanka by six wickets in the dress rehearsal for Saturday's all to play for tri-nation final at Qadhafi Stadium on Thursday.
Batting under lights Pakistan set to overhaul 293 by Sri Lanka reached 297 for four wickets with seven balls to spare to post their second successive triumph over Sri Lanka in the three-nation competition to maintain their hundred per cent record.
The hosts had earlier won both their encounters against Zimbabwe, the third team in the tournament. For Sri Lankan skipper Marvan Atapattu the match ended in a disappointment as his sparkling century went in vain and the team failed to defend more than a challenging total.
But Pakistan's emphatic victory was blotted by Mohammed Sami who was penalized by the umpires for hurling two beamers at a Sri Lankan batsman and given marching orders.
He was unceremoniously taken off having delivered the first ball of his ninth over. Appropriately, skipper Inzamamul Haq, who had decided to field first after winning the toss, led the big chase to remain unbeaten on 76 made off only 58 balls. He struck eight fours and one towering six in an innings of controlled aggression. But Inzamam's task was made easier by the opening stand of 99 between Salman Butt (57) -- his first one-day fifty - and Yasir Hameed (48) and an equally invaluable 56 by one-down Shoaib Malik.
Pakistan were also assisted in their quest of runs by some very ordinary out cricket and wayward bowling by the Sri Lankans although the visitors were certainly handicapped by the wet ball as the dew factor came into play.
Like Pakistan, the Sri Lankans, were charitable in the field. Yasir (twice) and Salman were dropped early in their innings. Inzamam was also put down while wicket keeper Kumar Sangakkara made a mess of an easy run-out chance offered by Shoaib Malik.
The foundation of Sri Lankans' imposing total was built around the third-wicket stand of 146 between Atapattu and Sangakkara after the visitors had lost openers Saman Jayantha and dangerous Sanath Jayasuria cheaply.
Both were sent packing by Rana Naveedul Hasan who was impressive with the new ball but got hammered in the slog overs to finish with the figures of two for 65.
Atapattu was more solid, but Sangakkara rode his luck courtesy buttered-fingered Pakistani fielders who let off the lefthander three times. Yasir Hameed dropped him twice, on 31 and 54. Mohammad Sami was the guilty party when he failed to hang on to an uppish drive off Abdul Razzaq at the same score of 54.
Pakistanis also missed the opportunity of getting Atapattu and Sangakkara run out through sloppy out cricket. Sangakkara's charmed stay finally ended, stumped off Shahid Afridi for 69 that contained eight fours scored of 82 deliveries. He, however, ensured that the Islanders posted a challenging target for the home team.
Atapattu deservedly went on to complete a fine century (111), but was run out attempting to sneak a non-existent single by Naveed in his follow through. The classy right hander struck eight fours and two sixes, one of them an outrageous lofted stroke over extra-cover off Shahid Afridi. He faced 114 balls for his outstanding innings.
Of the later batsmen, Tillekeratne Dilshan (32 not out) off 25 deliveries took the toll of a tired-looking home attack that looked anything but menacing on a surface full of runs.
Surprisingly, Pakistan's prime strike bowler Shoaib Akhtar, once again asked to bowl one change, fired only four overs that cost him 30 runs. Both teams made one change. All-rounder Thilina Kandamby replaced injured pacer Farveez Maharoof. Pakistan included fit-again Moin Khan. Younis Khan who had donned the gloves in the last two matches was unlucky to be left out.
SCOREBOARD
SRI LANKA:
W.S. Jayantha c Moin b Rana Naveed 9
S.T. Jayasuriya lbw b Rana Naveed 10
M.S. Atapattu run out 111
K.C. Sangakkara st Moin b Afridi 69
D.P.M.D. Jayawardene c Malik b Sami 18
T.M. Dilshan not out 32
S.H.T. Kandamby c Afridi b Razzaq 6
U.D.U. Chandana not out 10
EXTRAS (LB-4, W-18, NB-6) 28
TOTAL (for six wkts, 50 overs) 293
FALL OF WKTS: 1-18, 2-26, 3-171, 4-233, 5-244, 6-270.
DID NOT BAT: W.P.U.J.C. Vaas, D.N.T. Zoysa, C.R.D. Fernando.
BOWLING: Muhammad Sami 8-1-35-1 (4nb, 4w); Rana Naveedul Hasan 10-1-65-2 (5w); Shoaib Akhtar 4-0-30-0 (1nb); Shoaib Malik 10-0-45-0 (1nb, 3w); Abdul Razzaq 10-0-57-1; Shahid Afridi 8-0-57-1 (6w).
PAKISTAN:
Salman Butt c Sangakkara b Vaas 57
Yasir Hameed b Chandana 48
Shoaib Malik b Fernando 56
Inzamamul Haq not out 76
Yousuf Youhana c Chandana b Vaas 30
Abdul Razzaq not out 4
EXTRAS (B-3, LB-9, W-9, NB-5) 26
TOTAL (for four wkts, 48.5 overs) 297
FALL OF WKTS: 1-99, 2-139, 3-210, 4-284.
DID NOT BAT: Shahid Afridi, Moin Khan, Rana Naveedul Hasan, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Sami.
BOWLING: Vaas 9.5-1-62-2; Zoysa 7-0-44-0 (1w); Fernando 10-0-57-1 (5nb, 2w); Chandana 10-1-45-1 (2w); Dilshan 5-0-25-0; Jayasuriya 7-0-52-0 (4w).
RESULT: Pakistan won by six wickets.
UMPIRES: Nadeem Ghauri (Pakistan) and S.J.A. Taufel (Australia).
TV UMPIRE: Zamir Haider (Pakistan).
MATCH REFEREE: J.J. Crowe (New Zealand).
MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Marvan Atapattu.
FINAL: Pakistan v Sri Lanka at Lahore on Saturday.
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