Left-armer dismantles Pakistan’s batting line-up with a five-wicket haul as visitors seal a comfortable victory
KARACHI:
Left-arm pacer Dilshan Madushanka pulled off excellent figures of 5-34 to enable Sri Lanka to qualify for the final when they defeated Pakistan by eight wickets in their crucial match of the ODI tri-series at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore on Tuesday.
Now both Pakistan and Sri Lanka will face each other in the October 31 final at the Gaddafi Stadium. The outcome also put England out of the event. However they will face Sri Lanka in their last game on Thursday at the same venue.
Madushanka ripped through the hosts’ batting and skittled them out for only 110 in the 26th over with Babr Azam top-scoring 29.
Sri Lanka then chased the target in the 19th over after losing two wickets in the process.
It was not a challenge for Sri Lanka to chase such a low total. They started well as Kamindu Mednis and Avishka Fernando (16) provided a solid platform, adding 50 for the opening stand.
Shaheen Afridi got rid of Avishka, who struck two fours from 17 balls. Immediately after left-arm spinner Arafat Minhas removed Sri Lanka’s skipper Kusal Mendis who chipped in with a six-ball eight with two fours.
With the chase in sight both Pavan Rathnayake and Kamindu Mendis did not take any further risk and smartly made their team home to record a solid win.
They added 52 runs for the third wicket unbroken stand. Kamindu, who completed his fifth ODI fifty off 42 balls, smashed eight fours and two sixes in his 60-ball 62 not out.
Pavan, who had hit century against England in the previous game, struck two fours in his unbeaten 26-ball 23.
Shaheen Afridi (1-29) and Arafat Minhas (1-23) were among the wickets.
After being put into bat first Pakistan extended a poor batting performance and were folded for a paltry total.
Hosts, who struggled to build substantial partnerships, lost their last six wickets inside 49 runs after reaching 61-4 at one stage, with Sri Lanka’s bowlers maintaining pressure throughout the innings.
Opener Fakhar Zaman was caught by Rathnayake at gulley off Madushanka for five from 13 balls after the seasoned opener failed to negotiate a short-pitched delivery.
Maaz Sadaqat, who came in place of Saim Ayub who opted to play in domestic cricket, made eight before being trapped lbw by Asitha Fernando to leave Pakistan at 23-2 in seventh over.
Babar Azam offered the strongest resistance, scoring 29 from 33 balls with five fours. However, his dismissal in the 14th over triggered a further collapse. Babar was trapped lbw by Eshan Malinga after Salman Ali Agha had fallen for nine, caught behind off Arachchige
Hasan Nawaz scored 17 from 31 deliveries and Shadab Khan managed only two before being held by Kusal Mendis off Arachchige, reducing Pakistan to 64-6.
Arafat Minhas made ten from 18 balls, hitting one four before becoming Madushanka’s third victim, held by Kusal Mendis in the 22nd over.
Hasan was dismissed one over later, caught by Kusal Mendis off Dunith Wellalage, leaving Green-shirts gasping at 91-8. Haris Rauf (1) then fell before Shaheen Shah Afridi provided a brief late burst, scoring 15 from 13 balls with two sixes but Madushanka removed him to complete his five-wicket haul.
Sahan Arachchige ably backed Madushanka with 2-24.
Earlier Pakistan made two changes, bringing in dashing batsman Maaz Sadaqat and Naseem Shah was drafted into the line-up in place of Razaullah.
Naseem had skipped the previous game due to dislocation of his left hand finger.