MORATUWA (Sri Lanka): Pakistan’s hopes of bouncing from the 2-0 Test series debacle against Sri Lanka were quashed on Wednesday when the tourists suffered a 13-run defeat in the one-day practice match here.

The fixture — a prelude to the three-match ODI series which starts in Hambantota from Saturday — at the De Zoysa (formerly Tyronne Fernando) Stadium against the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Board President’s XI ended prematurely with Pakistan finishing on 290-8 after they were set a revised target of 304 in 46.2 overs under Duckworth-Lewis method after rain curtailed their innings.

SLC Board President’s XI, who chose to bat first after Lahiru Thirimanne won the toss, amassed 325-7 in their 50 overs after openers Tillakaratne Dilshan (19) and Danushka Gunathilaka (51 off 53 balls, four fours and one six) put on 48 in 7.2 overs.

Fast bowler Mohammad Talha struck twice in his fourth over to dismiss Dilshan and Thirimanne (0). Dinesh Chandimal (37) and Gunathi­laka were out on successive balls with the total on 117.

But Pakistan were thwarted a 98-run partnership between Ashan Priyanjan (run-a-ball 65, four fours and three sixes) and Kithuruwan Vithanage (56 off 51, eight fours and one six) before Thisara Perera bludgeoned three sixes and as many fours in making an unbeaten 52 from 45 deliveries.

Mohammad Hafeez, who joined the Pakistan squad after playing in the Caribbean Premier League, was the best bowler with 4-44 in 10 overs with Talha taking 2-54.

Hafeez also excelled with the bat by top-scoring with a 60-ball 54 (six boundaries) and shared in an opening stand of 73 in 62 balls with Ahmed Shehzad who hit a 28-ball 39 (six fours and one six).

Younis Khan made 27 off 34 balls with a solitary boundary, skipper Misbah-ul-Haq scored a 52-ball 38 (three fours) while adding 68 for the fifth wicket with Fawad Alam (28 off 40, two fours).

Sohaib Maqsood (29 off 22 balls, one six and one four) and Shahid Afridi (37 off 20, three sixes and one six) then added 68 in 37 deliveries but once they were out, the local side sealed the match. Perera, Suraj Randiv and Dushmantha Chameera claimed two wickets each.

Scoreboard SLC BOARD PRESIDENT’S XI:

M.D. Gunathilaka c Umar b Wahab51 T.M. Dilshan lbw b Talha19 H.D.R.L. Thirimanne c Umar b Talha0 L.D. Chandimal c Ahmed b Hafeez37 S.M.A. Priyanjan c Wahab b Hafeez65 K.D.K. Vithanage lbw b Hafeez56 P.C. de Silva c Sohaib b Hafeez9 N.L.T.C. Perera not out52 S. Randiv not out18

EXTRAS (LB-4, W-8, NB-6)18

TOTAL (for seven wkts, 50 overs)325

FALL OF WKTS: 1-48, 2-48, 3-117, 4-117, 5-215, 6-233, 7-262.

DID NOT BAT: P.L.S. Gamage, P.V.D. Chameera.

BOWLING: Anwar Ali 8-1-67-0 (1nb, 1w); Mohammad Talha 9-0-54-2 (1nb, 2w); Wahab Riaz 9-0-65-1 (2nb, 1w); Sohaib Maqsood 2-0-19-0 (1nb, 1w); Mohammad Hafeez 10-1-44-4; Shahid Afridi 8-0-52-0 (1nb, 3w); Fawad Alam 4-0-20-0.

PAKISTAN:
Ahmed Shehzad c Gunathilaka b Chameera39

M. Hafeez c Priyanjan b Randiv54
Younis Khan run out27
Umar Akmal lbw b Randiv7
Misbah-ul-Haq c Randiv b Perera38
Fawad Alam c Gunathilaka b Perera28
Sohaib Maqsood c Gunathilaka b Chameera29 Shahid Afridi c sub b Gamage37 Anwar Ali not out13
Wahab Riaz not out3

EXTRAS (LB-1, W-10, NB-4)15

TOTAL (for eight wkts, 46.2 overs)290

FALL OF WKTS: 1-73, 2-118, 3-132, 4-137, 5-205, 6-206, 7-272, 8-281.

DID NOT BAT: Mohammad Talha.

BOWLING: Perera 9-0-51-2 (2w); Gamage 9-0-79-1 (2nb); Chameera 8.2-0-56-2 (2nb, 2w); de Silva 8-0-41-0; Randiv 9-0- 52-2 (3w); Dilshan 3-0-10-0.

RESULT: SLC Board President’s XI won by 13 runs (D/L Method).

UMPIRES: L.E. Hannibal and P.N. Udawatta.

MATCH REFEREE: G.F. Labrooy.

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2014