Mathews, Thisara set up big win

Aug 26, 2014

Sri Lanka chose to bat in Hambantota, but they were dealt an early blow when Tillakaratne Dilshan was adjudged to have edged behind, even though replays were inconclusive•AFP

Wahab Riaz got one to shape away and had Upul Tharanga caught behind, as Sri Lanka were reduced to 62 for 3•AFP

Mathews had nudged towards the leg side for singles at the start, but showed more aggression as the innings wore on and hit a career-best 93•AFP

Seekkuge Prasanna and Ashan Priyanjan were both removed cheaply, as Sri Lanka fell to 194 for 6•AFP

Ahmed Shehzad played the supporting act in a 96-run partnership, scoring a composed 56 •AFP

Thisara then capped off an all-round performance by snaring three wickets in seven deliveries, as the hosts closed in on leveling the series•AFP

Like in the first ODI, Kumar Sangakkara was unable to make good on his start and departed for 11 •AFP

Mahela Jayawardene, coming in at No.4, revived the innings by scoring at a brisk pace•AFP

Jayawardene and Mathews added 122 for the fourth wicket as Sri Lanka closed in on the 200-run mark•AFP

Thisara Perera, however, counterattacked with a 36-ball 65 which included five fours and four sixes, as he and Mathews lifted Sri Lanka to 310 for 9 •AFP

However, three wickets in a 10-over period turned the game around. Seekkuge Prasanna first trapped Hafeez lbw for 62 before having Shehzad caught behind, as Sri Lanka wrested the advantage•AFP

Lasith Malinga duly completed a 77-run victory by breaching Junaid Khan's defence with a yorker•AFP

Angelo Mathews provided ample support at the other end, continuing his fine form in 2014 with a second consecutive half-century•AFP

Mohammad Hafeez, however, struck thrice in successive overs to once again peg the hosts back. Jayawardene was the first to go after being bowled for 67•AFP

Sharjeel Khan fell early in the chase, but Mohammad Hafeez tore apart the new-ball bowlers to give Pakistan a bright start, as he raised a 21st ODI fifty•AFP

Rangana Herath got rid of Misbah-ul-Haq and Sohaib Maqsood in successive overs, as he collected 2 for 38•AFP