Ahmed Shehzad and Mohammad Hafeez scored half-centuries to guide Pakistan to a convincing seven-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in their fourth one-day international (ODI) on Wednesday, securing an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series.
Batting first after winning the toss, Sri Lanka made 256-9 in 50 overs — a target that Pakistan chased down with more than nine overs to spare at the R. Premadasa Stadium.
Shehzad missed out on a seventh ODI century as he was dismissed for 95, which he made off 90 deliveries, hitting a six and 12 boundaries.
Photo: AFP
Hafeez made 70, continuing his good form in the series. He faced 88 deliveries; hitting a six and eight boundaries.
Pakistan captain Azhar Ali said that his players had been good in all aspects of the game, with his batsmen in top form.
“We have not won an ODI series [in Sri Lanka] for the past nine or 10 years. We wanted to win badly and the boys responded brilliantly,” he said.
Pakistan won their last ODI series in Sri Lanka in 2006.
Sri Lanka coach Marvan Atapattu said his team had failed across the board.
“It was disappointing in all departments, we honestly have not played the best cricket that we know and we are known for. Fielding is a major concern. The energy that Sri Lanka should show on the field — we have not seen,” he said.
Pakistan opening pair Shehzad and captain Ali dominated the bowling from the start of their chase, at times scoring eight runs per over.
The opening partnership was worth 75 runs off 67 deliveries before Ali was brilliantly caught in the outfield by substitute fielder Sachithra Senanayake off fast bowler Lasith Malinga.
Shehzad was then joined by Hafeez, with their partnership of 115 runs taking 120 deliveries.
Kusal Perera took a stunning catch diving forward in the outfield to dismiss Shehzad off seamer Suraga Lakmal.
Pakistan’s batsmen were brilliant in their stroke play, picking the gaps, hitting over the fielders and skillfully maneuvering the spinners.
Earlier, Lahiru Thirimanne recorded a second consecutive half-century and put on a 109-run stand with Tillakaratne Dilshan.
Thirimanne hit five boundaries in his 90 off 126 balls. He scored 56 in the third ODI on Sunday. He joined Dilshan for their 133-ball partnership before Dilshan was bowled by Imad Wasim for 50 off 59 balls at 109-2.
Thirimanne survived a chance on 84 when his sweep was caught and dropped by a diving Ahmed Shehzad off Yasir Shah.
The damage was light, as the pair combined two overs later to get Thirimanne, with Shehzad taking another diving catch behind square and holding it in the 42nd over.
Nobody else scored more than 20 runs.
The final match of the series is scheduled to be played in Hambantota, Sri Lanka, on Sunday.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
One of Malaysia’s top soccer clubs has pulled out of today’s season-opening Charity Shield after a spate of assaults, including an acid attack, on players in the country. It leaves the kickoff of Malaysia’s season this weekend under a cloud following the unprecedented acts of violence against players, which have left the country shocked and angry. Authorities said they have imposed tighter security, but Selangor said that they would not play in the showpiece curtain-raiser against Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) citing “a series of criminal incidents and recent threats.” Selangor and Malaysia winger Faisal Halim is in intensive care