KARACHI: Opener Mukhtar Ahmed struck a stroke-filled 96 as Pakistan ‘A’ scored a six-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the third and final one-day match in Colombo on Saturday.

But despite the tourists emerging winners at the R. Premadasa Stadium, Sri Lanka ‘A’ had already wrapped the series by having won the first two games in Matara and Hambantota.

Chasing 278, Pakistan ‘A’ reached 281-4 at the start of the penultimate over. Skipper Fawad Alam anchored the chase with his third straight half-century of the tour. The doughty left-hander made an 88-ball 76 not out containing six boundaries and one six.

Read: Ton-up Perera helps Sri Lanka ‘A’ win one-day series

Partnering Fawad was wicket-keeper/batsman Mohammad Rizwan (18 off 20 balls); they added 42 for the unbroken fifth wicket.

But it was Mukhtar who set up the victory. The 22-year-old right-hander, who made his international in the T20 loss to Bangladesh in Dhaka late last month, hammered 11 fours and two sixes while facing only 93 deliveries.

After his opening partner Israrullah (9) fell on the total of 31, Mukhtar was joined by discarded Test opener Khurram Manzoor in a second-wicket stand worth 77. Khurram was then deceived by unorthodox left-arm spinner Lakshan Sandakan and was trapped lbw for a 40-ball 31.

The 23-year-old Sandakan, playing his first game in the series, also accounted for Mukhtar to break another partnership of 77 between the opener and Fawad. Ali Waqas also made a handy 26 as he helped Fawad put on 54 for the fourth wicket. Sandakan took 2-53 from 10 overs.

Earlier, Kusal Perera continued his excellent form to top-score for the third game on the trot. Following centuries in the first two fixtures, the left-hander bludgeoned a 68-ball 87 featuring 11 fours and three sixes.

Sri Lanka ‘A’, who were invited to have first use of the wicket, were all out for 277 in 47.2 overs. Perera outscored Shehan Jayasuriya (67 off 92 balls, eight fours and one six) in their first-wicket stand of 118 in 19.5 overs.

All-rounder Imad Wasim bowled brilliantly to strict Sri Lanka ‘A’ as his slow left-armers fetched him four wickets for 29 in 10 overs.

Paceman Bilawal Bhatti, soon to fly off to Dhaka to reinforce the Pakistan senior side for the second Test against Bangladesh, claimed two for 34 in 7.5 overs before going off the field, while left-arm seamer Zia-ul-Haq grabbed 2-50 in 7.2 overs.

Sri Lanka ‘A’ and their Pakistani counterparts will now play a three-match unofficial ‘Test’ series with the first four-day game scheduled for the Premadasa Stadium from Wednesday. The remaining two fixtures will be staged in Pallekele (May 13-16) and Dambulla (May 20-23).

Summarised scores:

SRI LANKA ‘A’ 277 in 47.2 overs (M.D.K.J. Perera 87, D.S.N.F.G. Jayasuriya 67, K.D.K. Vithanage 29, M.D. Gunathilaka 21; Imad Wasim 4-29, Bilawal Bhatti 2-34, Zia-ul-Haq 2-50); PAKISTAN ‘A’ 281-4 in 48.1 overs (Mukhtar Ahmed 96, Fawad Alam 76 not out, Khurram Manzoor 31, Ali Waqas 26; P.A.D.L.R. Sandakan 2-53).

Published in Dawn, May 3rd, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play