Pakistan's batsmen had put in a scratchy display in the Sharjah Cup
opener, but today they got their act together, chasing down a target of 224 to
register their second win in consecutive days. The win gave Pakistan
five
points to add to the six they took yesterday, making them firm favourites
to
reach the final.
It was a splendid performance by a team which, just a few weeks ago,
looked
completely dispirited and beaten. The inclusion of young players
injected a
spark and vitality which transformed Pakistan in the field. Despite
Kumar
Sangakkara's spunky century - his first in one-day internationals - Sri
Lanka managed just 223 after winning the toss. Then, Yousuf Youhana
(64 not
out) and Younis Khan (57 not out) clinically won the match with
common-sense
batting, putting together 124 for the fourth wicket at better than a run a
ball.
Sri Lanka had an excellent opportunity to nip the partnership long
before it
assumed alarming proportions. Youhana, on 10, lofted Sanath
Jayasuriya to
long-on, where Jehan Murabak spilled a regulation catch. Youhana
celebrated
by sweeping the next ball for four, and from there on, there was only
one
team which looked like winning.
The foundation for Pakistan's run-chase was laid by a circumspect
76-run
second wicket partnership by Mohammad Hafeez and Faisal Iqbal,
after Taufeeq
Umar was bowled by a Dilhara Fernando special which pitched on off
and
straightened (21 for 1). Hafeez was particularly impressive with his
defensive technique, handling the seamers and Muttiah Muralitharan
with an
ease which belied the fact that he was only in his second ODI.
Then, both of them departed in a three-ball period, courtesy two
run-outs.
First, Hafeez - after reaching a well-controlled half-century - was
stranded
when he played to mid-on and Faisal refused a single (97 for 2). A ball
later, it was Faisal's turn to be sent back, when Youhana nudged a ball
to
midwicket and stayed in the crease. Marvan Atapattu's throw at the
bowlers'
end dismissed Faisal for 32, but that brought Pakistan's senior
batsmen to
the crease.
Both Youhana and Younis took the attack to the bowlers with powerful
hits
and cleverly placed singles. They were also aided by the dew in the
outfield, which significantly hampered the effectiveness of the Sri
Lankan
spinners. Muttiah Muralitharan was economical, but hardly got the
usual
prodigious turn.
Earlier, Sangakkara's hundred lit up an otherwise disappointing batting
effort by Sri Lanka. It was Sri Lanka's first match since Aravinda de
Silva
retired, and with Mahela Jayawardene left out, the onus was largely on
Jayasuriya and Atapattu to deliver. They failed, but Sangakkara's
spunky
hundred - his first in one-day internationals - averted complete
humiliation.
Being asked to field first against a powerful batting line-up on a placid
pitch was a daunting task, but Pakistan's bowlers showed superb
control, and
the fielders - led by Hafeez patrolling the covers - ensured that
Pakistan
never lost their grip on the game.
Pakistan's alertness in the field was exemplified early on by an
excellent
piece of captaincy to remove Atapattu for 13. Atapattu creamed a
typically
fluent cover-drive off Umar Gul, then found the gap plugged
immediately, as
Rashid Latif removed the slip and strengthened the off-side cordon.
Two
balls later, Atapattu attempted to chop the ball, and only managed an
inside
edge onto his stumps (26 for 1).
Jayasuriya (27) was seldom given width to play the crashing drives
through
cover, and when Sami did throw one wide, Jayasuriya slammed it
straight to
Hafeez at cover (44 for 2). Sangakkara shared useful partnerships with
Avishka Gunawardene, Mubarak and Hashan Tillekeratne, but none of
them
stayed long enough to put Sri Lanka in charge.
Naved-ul-Hasan, the medium-pacer in his debut match, then got into
the act
with wickets off consecutive yorkers. Tillekeratne - the fifth left-hander
in Sri Lanka's top six - was the first victim, while Prasanna
Jayawardene
fared no better than his namesake, with a first-ball duck (166 for 6).
Kumar Dharmasena saw off the hat-trick ball, and then stitched
together a
crucial 57-run stand off just 48 balls with Sangakkara, who played a
splendid, measured innings. On a slow pitch, he nurdled the singles
early
on, eschewing risks and yet scoring at a busy rate - with wickets falling
regularly at the other end, there was little room for cavalier
batsmanship.
Then, in the last overs, he opened out with straight-drives and pulls.
Sangakkara started the last over on 94, smashed Sami over point for
four,
and then dabbed a single to leg to reach a well-deserved century. In the
end, his one-man show was forced to yield to Pakistan's allround
efficiency.