Dashing allrounder Shahid Afridi starred in Pakistan’s exciting three-wicket win over Sri Lanka in their first Twenty20 international at Dubai Stadium on Wednesday.
Afridi scored an unbeaten 20-ball 39, hitting the winning six off the last ball of the final over by paceman Nuwan Kulasekara, to give Pakistan a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
In all, Afridi hit three sixes and two boundaries to help Pakistan overcome a tough challenge from world No. 1 Sri Lanka, who had taken the match to the final over with Pakistan needing six runs.
Photo: AFP
Set a challenging 146 to get, Pakistan lost Ahmed Shehzad (four) in the third over, but Mohammad Hafeez (32) and Sharjeel Khan (34) steadied the innings through their 57-run second wicket stand before they lost three wickets in the space of seven runs.
Sharjeel holed out after hitting three fours off 31 balls, while Hafeez, who hit two fours and a six in his 27-ball knock, fell LBW and Umar Akmal was run out for five.
It was left to Afridi to see Pakistan through.
Photo: AFP
Criticized for his recent poor batting form, Afridi hit two towering sixes in Kulasekara’s 16th over to give Pakistan a sniff of victory.
When on 23, Afridi also became the first player to score 1,000 runs and take 50 wickets in all Twenty20 cricket. In all, he has 73 wickets in 69 matches.
Sent in to bat, Sri Lankan batsmen did not capitalize on the good starts before Mathews (50) and Lahiru Thirimanne (23 not out) added 58 for the fifth-wicket stand to take their team to 145-5 in 20 overs.
Mathews hit five boundaries and a six off 34 balls before holing out in the last over. He hit paceman Bilawal Bhatti for three boundaries in one over, before sending left-arm paceman Sohail Tanvir to long-on ropes to reach his 50 off 32 balls.
Experienced opener Tillakaratne Dilshan managed just seven before he was the first wicket to fall in the second over.
Kusal Perera (15) and skipper Dinesh Chandimal (22) then added 32 for the second wicket, but off-spinner Saeed Ajmal put on the initial brakes with 2-35.
Kumar Sangakkara scored 21.
Pakistan gave an international debut to 19-year-old Usman Shinwari after the left-arm paceman was drafted into the team as late as on Tuesday, but the youngster from the troubled Kahyber Pakhtunkhwa Province bowled only one over, costing nine runs.
Tanvir finished with 2-32, while leg-spinner Shahid Afridi took 1-20 in his four overs.
The second match today is also to be played in Dubai. The two teams are to play a further five one-day internationals and three Tests.
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