Maqsood, Alam heroics give Pakistan four wicket win over Sri Lanka
58
HAMBANTOTA: Pakistani batsmen Sohaib Maqsood and Fawad Alam batted beautifully and put on a 147-run stand to chase down a daunting target of 276 and helped Pakistan win first one day international against Sri Lanka on Saturday to take the lead in the three-match series.
The tourists, chasing a Duckworth-Lewis target of 275 in 45 overs, fought back after being 106-5 to scrape home off the penultimate ball of the match in Hambantota.
Maqsood remained unbeaten on a glorious 89 off 73 balls as Shahid Afridi smashed the winning boundary off seamer Nuwan Kulasekara to the point fence.
Alam was dismissed for 62 by Lasith Malinga when 22 still remained for victory off the last three overs, but Maqsood and Afridi battled on to help Pakistan record a good win.
Sri Lanka had made 275-7 after being sent in to bat in overcast conditions, but rain after six overs of their innings reduced the game from a full 50-overs-a-side contest to 45.
Opener Ahmed Shehzad scored 49 but no other top-order batsman settled in to make a big score till Maqsood and Alam turned the game Pakistan's way.
Earlier, Sri Lankan skipper Angelo Mathews smashed 89 off 85 balls and Mahela Jayawardene made 63 to give their side a seemingly commanding total.
Jayawardene, 37, who retired from Tests earlier this week to concentrate on one-day cricket till next year's World Cup, hit eight boundaries in his 73rd half-century in the shorter format.
Sri Lanka slumped to 75-4 by the 18th over before Jayawardene and Mathews put on 116 for the fifth wicket.
Mathews hit nine fours in his best score in one-day cricket, but it was Ashan Priyanjan's unbeaten 39 off 15 balls at the end that bossted the total.
Lanky left-arm fast bowler Mohammad Irfan, who stands at seven feet, one inch (2.16 metres), generated good bounce from the moisture-laden pitch to claim two wickets for 48 runs.
Wahab Riaz, one of the three left-arm seamers for Pakistan alongside Irfan and Junaid Khan, took three for 50.
The tourists were without their top spinner Saeed Ajmal, who has flown to Australia to undergo tests of his bowling action after being reported by the umpires during the preceding Test series which Sri Lanka swept 2-0.
Meanwhile, Hambantota will also host the second one-dayer on Tuesday due to bad weather in Colombo, the original venue. The third and final match will be played in Dambulla on August 30.
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (58) Closed
Aug 23, 2014 11:40am
No offence but might they all were busy in thinking that how to become CAPTAIN instead of concentrating on their performance : :D
Recommend
0
Aug 23, 2014 03:55pm
It has been proved tens of times that Junaid Khan is not a limited over matches. He has always hammered in T20s and ODIs. Pakistani batting line will never be able to score 275 runs in 45 overs and that too while chasing. It looks as we will get grand white wash here.
Recommend
0
Aug 23, 2014 04:08pm
What a progress - YK back in the team.
Recommend
0
Aug 23, 2014 05:07pm
plsss get rid of these old horse Misbah,Younus and Afridi,and let this team groom with younger one.
Recommend
0
Aug 23, 2014 06:06pm
Congrats Pakistan. Great Batting by Maqsood and Alam !!!
Recommend
0
Aug 23, 2014 06:29pm
Sohaib Maqsood wins it for Pakistan - Brilliant finish.
If he can do it on a regular basis, Team Misbah will be world beater!
Recommend
0
Aug 23, 2014 06:31pm
Mirror shown to Captain and Vice Captain by Sohaib Maqsood. Pakistani nation is truly proud of you Sohaib and you really brought us ashore when we were drowned. I salute you. Iqbal Hadi Zaidi / Kuwait / zaidiformerdiplomat@hotmail.com
Recommend
0
Aug 23, 2014 06:37pm
Sir,
Fawad Alam and Sohaib Maqsood have played beautifully to guide Pakistan home. Their success have proved again that the batting talent is available to replace the ageing and misfiring batsmen.
Misbah and Yunus khan have failed again and their game is over in limited over cricket. Since in the subcontinent the players themselves do not quit so the PCB selection committee must send them home.
Another important point is that Umar Akmal always moan about batting down the order but he has always failed to score when he is given an opportunity higher up the batting order and Sarfaraz Ahmed must get an opportunity in his place.
Regards
Recommend
0
Aug 23, 2014 06:38pm
great performance by young men Congratulation. Needed this cricket effort after Dog and pony show in Islamabad.
Recommend
0
Aug 23, 2014 06:38pm
Siri Lanka let Pakistani team win.
Recommend
0
Aug 23, 2014 06:41pm
@NAVEED KHAN
No, they are all busy thinking how to become IK and then grab PM chair with the help of few thousand fans, because this is the only short-cut to entertain masses instead of serving them.
Recommend
0
Aug 23, 2014 06:42pm
The innings of Sohaib and Alam reminded me of Javed Miandad and Saleem Malik partnerships in one era and then Inzi and Yousuf partnerships in another era. Wonderful to watch and very good cricket!
Recommend
0
Aug 23, 2014 06:45pm
Despite a unexpected win, its very obvious that our bowling which used to be our strong point, is no where near Pakistan standards. Junaid Khan has never been a good limited over bowler and gets hammered whenever he is played in T20 or ODIs. Waqar needs to work on his line and length because on Australian wickets, he may prove to be different. Only four batsmen are a sure inclusion and they are Ahmad Shehzad, Umar Akmal, Fawad and Maqsood. Hafeez chooses himself due to bowling and we are left with the two oldies who need to perform and accelerate their run making. As a unit they do not look as good as they are needed to be.
Recommend
0
Aug 23, 2014 07:00pm
Misbah, Younis and Akmals glory days are over. There are youngsters who could do as well if not better. This trio is hindering the development of the future, Pak has to groom them even if it means short term loses. The trio has paid its dues, thank you but its time to think of the future. These old guys are not going to get better, they are past their prime, be patient and let the youngsters play. Question is do the fans have the patience?
Recommend
0
Aug 23, 2014 07:02pm
I think we can easily drop Misbah, play with 10 men, and still win
Recommend
0
Aug 23, 2014 07:09pm
It's time for old horses be let go. Youngster can be reliable if they are trusted
Recommend
0
Aug 23, 2014 07:19pm
Where is the scoreboard?
Recommend
0
Aug 23, 2014 07:19pm
@Iqbal bhai
Last yr or two if misbah wasn't there Pakistan would probably have lost all matches. He was the highest scorer in one yr. I think 2013. Do you remember his consecutive 50 plus score , only few months back. New guys are good but as of now they need more experience. That is if PCB gives fair chances to the deserving.
Recommend
0
Aug 23, 2014 07:57pm
I am guessing Masood will not be selected for the World Cup.
Selection committee will have a logical explanation for doing it.
Recommend
0
Aug 23, 2014 08:10pm
@zem 100% right,
Recommend
0
Aug 23, 2014 08:10pm
meanwhile kpk players all failed, younus, afridi and junaid; and once we were about to drop suhaib to place younus somewhere; Afridi you please join pti and leave the cricket, have mercy
Recommend
0
Aug 23, 2014 08:22pm
Unbelievable come back against the most professional cricket team. Very impressive performance by youngsters.
When was the last time Pakistan chased more than 275?
From 106/5 and successfully chasing over 275, Have Pak team ever done this before?
Recommend
0
Aug 23, 2014 08:22pm
Younis Khan has cemented his position in the team by scoring a century in the first inning. I hope he is going to perform better soon.
Recommend
0
Aug 23, 2014 08:34pm
We missed Fawad Alam in test matches. He should be permanent in all formats.
Where is Sarfraz Ahmed? He was top scorer in all test matches, why he is not he with the team?
Recommend
0
Aug 23, 2014 08:43pm
Afridi, can you have mercy on us and leave the cricket to join PTI; see IK has invited you as well
Recommend
0
Aug 23, 2014 08:48pm
Afridi have mercy on Pakistan cricket and join PTI please
Recommend
0
Aug 23, 2014 09:00pm
@Lucky Star - "Siri Lanka let Pakistani team win". Is that how NS came to power?
Recommend
0
Aug 23, 2014 09:14pm
@Lucky Star - Don't show your narrow mindedness by involving politics in sports.
Recommend
0
Aug 23, 2014 09:37pm
Fawad Alam has won the last 4-5 matches for Pakistan. He has been a part of partnerships with M Hafeez, Afridi, Misbah and now the young & talented Shoaib. He is the only & thus first Pakistani batsman to score a century in his first test match OUTSIDE Pakistan (when he scored a century against Sri Lanka). Please make him a part of Pakistan team in all formats including test matches. Keeping him sitting outside when the team is loosing tests after tests is just mind boggling. Also where is Sarfraz, why is he not in the ODI team ??? The more these youngsters will play the more they will grow in confidence & eventually win matches for Pakistan......
Recommend
0
Aug 23, 2014 09:51pm
I will rather lose after giving a supurb performance than win after such a pathetic show both from bowlers and most batsmen. First of all I can't understand why Zulfiqar Baber wasn't played instead of Talha. Secondly, I have always been against Junaid playing limited over matches as its not his cup of tea. But then Talha and Anwer Ali are even worse. For me Irfan, Yaser Arfat, Wahab and Umar Gul are still the best fast bowling options. I would very much like Waqar Younis to work further on Wahab and Bhatti. Regarding batting, be careful and don't discard Younis Khan as in World cup in NZ and Australia he might be the one who would perform better than others. I would love PCB to try out Sami Aslam before the worldcup.
Recommend
0
Aug 23, 2014 09:55pm
For the World cup, You need an allrounder like Razzaq who can bang fast bowling and if not then play Wahab and Umar Gul both to slog a few boundries.
Recommend
0
Aug 23, 2014 10:07pm
@Lucky Star And NS is serving masses? huh..
Recommend
0
Aug 23, 2014 10:35pm
Younis sir though great batsman of test but Asad would have been a much better choice for ODIs. Misbah is terribly out of form and not impressing with captaincy either. May need a break, I guess. Hafeez a handy bowler but still struggling with the bat. Waqar need to do some work with the bowlers. They were very erratic.
Recommend
0
Aug 23, 2014 10:52pm
Congratulations Pak Team. Keep it up.
Recommend
0
Aug 23, 2014 10:55pm
Positives
-Fawad Alam in the mix of another winning partnership. We need him in Test eleven also
-Pakistan lower middle order won the match.
-Pakistan won the game without Ajmal
-Irfan looking good. (Irfan you are too big to fall on the ground. Be careful. Don't take chances in fielding.)
-Wahab Riaz using his head.
-Pakistan successfully chasing over 275 runs against the top team
-Youngsters winning the game. Youngsters thinking BIG. Youngsters doing BIG.
Negative
- Still same old Umar Akmal.
- No bowling variations by Junaid
Recommend
0
Aug 23, 2014 11:10pm
Well done green-shirts. Keep it up and hang on tough.
Recommend
0
Aug 23, 2014 11:10pm
Well played Pakistan Team! You can always do it when you put your heart and soul into the game. Best of luck for the remaining two matches!
Recommend
0
Aug 23, 2014 11:23pm
congratulations to Pakistan team ..may this win give thm confidence fr future games..n lead to proper strategy n team ethics...I seriously think afridi n hafeez shld ve held more accountable...hafeez is doin nothing wd bat fr ages..n fr afridi. bowling has dipped down a lot..evn though I hv admired misbah fr bringing a stability in team cz bfr him thr were lots of captain changes almost every tour. .n group fighting. .whch hs almost vanished nw..but still he needs to be replaced with someone who can inspire team .
Pakistan team can be very exciting on its day..n world cricket needs it to perform at best of thr ability. .evn though current crop is nt evn half of wat it ws in 1990s...haa!!!! wat a days ths were...
good luck. from an Indian cricket fan.
Recommend
0
Aug 23, 2014 11:26pm
They should bring Sarfraz in and drop umer akmal. Also you do not need both younis and Misbah one of them should be dropped and new youngster should be given a chance
Recommend
0
Aug 24, 2014 12:09am
It's slap on PCB face all 3rd class contract player were the match winners !!!!
Recommend
0
Aug 24, 2014 12:31am
we will remain stuck with proven-beyond-doubt eternal failures like Hafeez and Past-his-Shelf-life like Younis to field a wobbly bating line-up. And with this random bating burst which brings up occasional victories, all sins are suddenly forgiven and all seems well till yet another bating blunder.
Recommend
0
Aug 24, 2014 12:37am
The good batting performance by Fawad, Sohaib Maqsood, Sarfaraz Ahmad and good bowling by Wahab Riaz is heartening. One from Younus or Misbah needs to be rested till some Batsman fails regularly.
Recommend
0
Aug 24, 2014 02:01am
Seems like the batting order worked today. Younis needs the door.
Recommend
0
Aug 24, 2014 02:04am
@Pakfan yes..They are good at chasing. Batting order worked today. Younis needs to be shown the door. And we can win without Ajmal. Junaid is not performing to his potential. .why?
Recommend
0
Aug 24, 2014 02:38am
Not to worry, selectors will be consistent and send Maqsood along with Safraz back home. Shoaib Malik will be flown in while Fawad Alam will be issued a stern warning.
Recommend
0
Aug 24, 2014 02:50am
@sami How could you miss the BIG negative of Misbah's captaincy and performance?
Recommend
0
Aug 24, 2014 05:23am
Come on guys. Just one good performance and we start to heap praise over the performers. Pakistani team is known for such bursts of brilliance. Don't over praise and don't under value so quickly please. Thanks
Recommend
0
Aug 24, 2014 06:54am
@Nadeem Mirza I am not a fan of Misbah but today can't be negative about him. As long as team wins he is a winner. As long as youngsters perform he is performing, and as long as team plays as a team he is successful captain...
Recommend
0
Aug 24, 2014 07:00am
So,finally it was once again Afridi who hit the winning shot and took team to victory :)
Recommend
0
Aug 24, 2014 07:12am
@ben amin Junaid has to keep his head cool. I think he lacks reading the wicket. He needs to use change of pace and bring variety in his bowling. Seems like he is very predictable. Especially when bowling in asia. Hope Waqar Yonius will help him bowling in subcontinent vs Down Under... :)
Recommend
0
Aug 24, 2014 07:18am
Pakistan need to preserve Ifran for World Cup 2015.He is of complete different breed.They need to learn to utilize players like Fawad Alam ,Sohaib Maqsood and Sarfaraz Ahmed in all form of cricket.They are good for all form of cricket and based on Sarfaraz Ahmed I would like to keep him for his batting capability alone.Among spinners Raza Hassan and Zulfiqar Babar can be tried but not sure how effective they going to be in Australia.Younis Khan need to improve his batting in ODI if he is to stay in team.He cannot take his place for granted.Pakistan fielding needs improvement because many are not able to hold on to balls flying through slip cordon.Fawad Alam and Sohaib Maqsood need to be utilized in all format.
Recommend
0
Aug 24, 2014 07:25am
@Sher Khan This is different, praise our youngsters!!! Pakistan cricket is in a very difficult state. We have senior players but not star players. Today we saw stars is our youngsters because chasing over 275 in 45 overs against one of the most intelligent/professional team is special. Two thumbs up for Fawad Alam, Sohaib and Shahzad. Can't believe that all of them are batsmen not bowlers.
Recommend
0
Aug 24, 2014 11:20am
Well done Pakistan. It takes new players with no baggage of the past to fight it out and turn things around. This is what Sohaib and Fawad have shown.
Recommend
0
Aug 24, 2014 06:33pm
Akmal is out of form and given too much time, it is enough, now Selectors should give chance to in-form Sarfraz Ahmed who had done very well both as a batsman and wicket keeper. The selectors should keep in view the 2015 world cup.
Recommend
0
Aug 24, 2014 08:37pm
fawad alam, maqsood and sarfraz....it can be the best trio for pakistan in world cup. I dont know why was sarfraz sent back
Recommend
0
Aug 25, 2014 06:38am
@sami Do not forget we just lost TWO straight tests under his captaincy. His form and performance is on the decline. He 40 +. Leader has to perform from the front. His respect and credibility will be soon gone if he continues like this. He could not be like Imran Khan and Inzimam both of them performed consistenetlyand till their last outings. Both were very good leaders. Young Matthew on the other side alsomaking him look bad by his captaincy and performance.
Recommend
0
Aug 25, 2014 05:06pm
@Jawad Why Pakistan has to lose all matches? Has our talent pool dried? There are countless Fawad Alams and Maqsoods waiting for their chance in Pakistani team. You classify Misbah as a batsman? He is 40 years' of age and he is yet to score a century in one-day cricket. Say it in another cricketing nation and people will laugh at you.
Recommend
0
Aug 25, 2014 05:12pm
@Nadeem Mirza Not disagreeing. Only thing is captaincy is much more than his own performance. Lets's see how he does in remaining one day matches.
Recommend
0
