Published: Dec 20, 2013, 08:55 PM (IST)
Edited: Dec 20, 2013, 08:55 PM (IST)
Dec 20, 2013
Pakistan have scored 284 for four against Sri Lanka in the second One-Day International (ODI) at Dubai on Friday. Ahmed Shehzad scored 124 off 140 balls to lead the way. Captain Misbah-ul-Haq was unbeaten on 59 and Shahid Afridi played a late cameo as he scored 30 off just 15 balls to ensure Pakistan got to a formidable total.
Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews won the toss and elected field. But the start had a slightly delay due to an issue with the sightscreens.
After a thrilling start to the series at Sharjah, Sri Lankan captain Mathews was confident of his team’s chasing prowess and hence decided to field against the in-form Pakistan.
Sri Lanka made two changes from the first match as medium pacer Nuwan Kulasekara replaced Suranga Lakmal and Dimuth Karunaratne replaced Lahiru Thirimanne, who was injured during a practice session.
Pacer Lasith Malinga gave Sri Lanka an early breakthrough, getting Sharjeel Khan trapped in front, after it was reviewed by the Pakistani batsman.
Mohammed Hafeez, on the back of a well made hundred joined Shehzad and the Pakistani duo kept the scoreboard ticking without taking any risks, just like the first game. In the 20th over, the Pakistani duo committed hara-kiri and Hafeez was run-out when he looked set on 30 with the score at 84 for two.
Shehzad was joined by Sohaib Maqsood and were negotiating the Sri Lankan spinners quite credibly before Maqsood tried to up the ante and holed out to an excellent catch by Dinesh Chandimal of the bowling of Seekkuge Prasanna for 18.
Shezhad reached his fourth one-day hundred and his second in this month which contained ones and twos and just six hits to fence of 121 balls.
Captain Misbah-ul-Haq gave him good support alongside Shehzad and the pair added 105 at a run-a-ball for the fourth wicket before Shehzad was finally dismissed leg before off Kulasekara for a workmanlike 124.
Misbah soon brought his fifty with Shahid Afridi joining him at the crease.
Taking off from where he left off in Sharjah, Afridi scored yet another blitzkrieg of an innings in the death overs with his 30 coming of just 15 balls to ensure Pakistan yet again got to a competitive total. Afridi’s knock contained two massive sixes and one boundary.
Brief scores:
Pakistan 284 for 4 in 50 overs (Ahmed Shehzad 124, Mohammad Hafeez 32, Misbah-ul-Haq 59*, Shahid Afridi 30*; Seekkuge Prasanna 1 for 45) vs Sri Lanka.
