Sri Lanka earn consolation victory

Dilhara Fernando, an accurate set of throws and the omnipresent panic button accompanying the Pakistan team earned Sri Lanka a well-deserved victory in the final match of the ODI series in Abu Dhabi and avoid a series whitewash.

Fernando captured three wickets, including a two-in-two, and Tillakaratne Dilshan inflicted two direct hits as Pakistan lost their way after a relatively decent start. Shoaib Malik, the Pakistan captain, showed responsibility of a captain, but was left stranded on 75 as, bar Rao Iftikhar Anjum, no one provided any resistance.

Chasing a stiff 297 to claim a 3-0 series win over World Cup finalists Sri Lanka, Pakistan were in trouble right from the start as Salman Butt, opening with the recalled Mohammad Hafeez, was cleaned up by Farveez Maharoof off an inside edge. Yasir Hameed, growing in stature of late, joined Hafeez in a display of aggression and swing-and-miss. While Hafeez danced down the track at will, missing more often than connecting, Hameed chose to time the ball sweetly from his crease. Dividends for both as boundaries started flowing freely and Fernando replaced Lasith Malinga in the eight over after the latter was hit for a brace of fours by Hameed.

Continue reading this article on Cricinfo
© Faras Ghani 2007
Published on Cricinfo 23rd May 2007