HAMBANTOTA: Kusal Perera led Sri Lanka’s strong batting display to give the hosts a comprehensive, but academic, 165-run win over Pakistan in the fifth and final One-day International in Hambantota on Sunday.

The left-handed opener struck 116 off 109 balls and Tillakaratne Dilshan joined the 10,000-run ODI club as Sri Lanka piled up their highest one-day total against Pakistan of 368-4 in 50 overs.

Pakistan managed only 203 in reply, but took the series 3-2 to build on their 2-1 success in the preceding Test series, clinching a double in Sri Lanka for the first time since 2006.

Pakistan were sailing at 116-2 in the 20th over following an opening partnership of 51 between skipper Azhar Ali and Ahmed Shehzad, before the last eight wickets crashed for 87 runs at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium.

Mohammad Hafeez (37) and Azhar (35) were the principal contributors as the tourists faltered badly under lights despite good batting conditions.

Off-spinner Sachithra Senanayake claimed 3-39 in his first appearance in the series, while seamer Thisara Perera chipped in with two wickets.

Kusal Perera, who was adjudged man-of-the-match, reached his second century after a 164-run stand for the first wicket with Dilshan, who became only the 11th batsman and the fourth Sri Lankan to compile 10,000 one-day runs.

Skipper Angelo Mathews hammered an unbeaten 70 and Milinda Siriwardana clubbed 52 not out off 26 balls as Sri Lanka plundered 136 runs in the last 11 overs to surpass their previous best against Pakistan of 349-9 in Singapore in 1996.

“It was a clinical performance, but unfortunately it came a bit too late, “Mathews said. “We had to go back to our basics, especially in the bowling department.

“We also showed a bit of improvement in the fielding, but one needs to keep improving.”

Kusal Perera, whose only other one-day ton came against Bangladesh last year, smashed nine boundaries and four sixes before he was run out in the 34th over.

The flamboyant Dilshan reached the 10,000-run landmark in his 319th match when he took a single off Shoaib Malik to move to 55, before he was run out for 62.

The 38-year-old now has 10,007 runs, joining compatriots Kumar Sangakkara, Sanath Jayasuriya and Mahela Jayawardene in a coveted list headed by Indian great Sachin Tendulkar.

Mathews and Siriwardana added a brisk 114 off just 55 deliveries for the undefeated fifth wicket to complete Sri Lanka’s best batting display of the series.

Mathews hit eight boundaries and two sixes, while left-handed all-rounder Siriwardana smacked four fours and three sixes.

Mohammad Hafeez, who top-scored with 37 on Sunday, was declared man-of-the-series.

Azhar said Pakistan were keen to sign off on a winning note, but conceded Sri Lanka played a better game.

“We really wanted to win this match, but credit must go to Sri Lanka,” the Pakistan captain said. “I am very happy we won the series. We played positive cricket all through and the fielding was very good. It was after a long time that we saw a Pakistani side field so well.”

The hosts made three changes from the last match, dropping sling-arm fast bowler Lasith Malinga, seamer Nuwan Pradeep and Sachith Pathirana.

Pakistan batsman Mohammad Rizwan plays a shot as Sri Lankan wicket-keeper Dinesh Chandimal looks on.—AFP

They were replaced by Senanayake, Thisara Perera and fast bowler Lahiru Gamage.

Pakistan retained the same team.

Pakistan will round off their six-week tour with two Twenty20 Internationals at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on July 30 and Aug 1.

Scoreboard

SRI LANKA:

M.D.K.J. Perera run out 116 T.M. Dilshan run out 62 H.D.R.L. Thirimanne c Rizwan b Rahat 30 L.D. Chandimal c Sarfraz b Rahat 29 A.D. Mathews not out 70 T.A.M. Siriwardana not out 52

EXTRAS (LB-6, W-3) 9

TOTAL (for four wkts, 50 overs) 368

FALL OF WKTS: 1-164, 2-212, 3-219, 4-254.

DID NOT BAT: A.S.A. Priyanjan, N.L.T.C. Perera, S.M.S.M. Senanayake, R.A.S. Lakmal, P.L.S. Gamage.

BOWLING: Mohammad Irfan 10-1-73-0 (1w); Anwar Ali 9-0-71-0; Rahat Ali 10-0-74-2 (1w); Imad Wasim 3-0-27-0 (1w); Shoaib Malik 10-0-44-0; Yasir Shah 8-0-73-0.

PAKISTAN:

Azhar Ali run out 35 Ahmed Shehzad st Chandimal b Senanayake 18 Mohammad Hafeez lbw b Mathews 37 Sarfraz Ahmed run out 27
Shoaib Malik c Thirimanne b T. Perera 11 Mohammad Rizwan c Chandimal b T. Perera 29 Imad Wasim c and b Senanayake 15 Anwar Ali c T. Perera b Gamage 11 Yasir Shah c T. Perera b Senanayake 9
Rahat Ali c Senanayake b Siriwardana 0 Mohammad Irfan not out 4

EXTRAS (LB-1, W-2, NB-4) 7

TOTAL (all out, 37.2 overs) 203

FALL OF WKTS: 1-51, 2-71, 3-116, 4-121, 5-140, 6-170, 7-178, 8-197, 9-197.

BOWLING: Gamage 10-0-62-1 (4nb, 1w); Lakmal 6-0-35-0 (1w); Senanayake 8-1-39-3; N.L.T.C. Perera 8-0-38-2; Mathews 3-0-9-1; Siriwardana 2.2-0-19-1.

RESULT: Sri Lanka won by 165 runs; Pakistan win series 3-2.

UMPIRES: R.E.J. Martinesz (Sri Lanka) and I.J. Gould (England).

TV UMPIRE: R.J. Tucker (Australia).

MATCH REFEREE: J. Srinath (India).

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Kusal Perera.

MAN-OF-THE-SERIES: Mohammad Hafeez.

FIRST MATCH: Dambulla, Pakistan won by six wickets.

SECOND MATCH: Pallekele, Sri Lanka won by two wickets.

THIRD MATCH: Colombo (RPS), Pakistan won by 135 runs.

FOURTH MATCH: Colombo (RPS), Pakistan won by seven wickets.

Published in Dawn, July 27th, 2015

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