Shahid Afridi wasn't an entirely happy man after orchestrating "a very big
win" over Sri Lanka at the R Premadasa, a result likely to have
significant repercussions on Group A as the tournament progresses
Shahid Afridi wasn't an entirely happy man after orchestrating "a very big
win" over Sri Lanka at the R Premadasa, a result likely to have
significant repercussions on Group A as the tournament progresses.
Afridi was at the centre of the triumph, picking up four key wickets as
Pakistan overcame a late implosion in the field to sneak out with an
11-run win. The haul included his 300th ODI wicket, the third Pakistani to
do so and only the second player after Sanath Jayasuriya to complete 300
wickets and 4000 runs in the format. With nine wickets in two games, he is
for now the leading wicket-taker in the tournament.
But Pakistan's inability to finish off games over the last year has
worried coach Waqar Younis and tonight's performance, deservedly
triumphant ultimately, would not have eased those concerns. Sri Lanka lost
their top order with less than 100 on the board, so by the 22nd over
of the chase, the game seemed done.
Pakistan relaxed and proceeded to spill three catches, fluff two stumpings
and miss a host of run-out attempts over the next 20 overs, allowing
Chamara Silva, Kumar Sangakkara and Angelo Mathews to fight back. Amid the
bedlam, they swiftly wasted two referrals and totted up 29 extras and
though Afridi felt that "80%" of the task was done by then, he warned that
improvement was needed.
"It's a very big win for us, beating Sri Lanka before a capacity crowd,
their own people and a strong team which has been playing very well
recently," Afridi said. "I think when we go ahead in this tournament our
destination will get tougher and tougher and if we commit the same
mistakes, then we will return to Pakistan very soon. We must improve. Our
fielding has been improving since the New Zealand tour, but I don't know
why in this match we dropped catches and failed to take run-out chances."
The win was built on the back of contributions from older players; fifties
from Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan set up the total and two wickets from
Shoaib Akhtar, as well as Afridi's haul, helped defend it. Given the blend
of youth and experience in the squad, it was an important contribution.
"I'm happy that seniors have taken responsibility," he said. "Younis and
Misbah are the backbone of the team, and it's important that the captain
performs well as it sets an example for others."
Pakistan have a couple of days off now before their next game against
Canada on March 3, also at the R Premadasa. There are likely to be changes
for that game, to rest some players, but also for strategic reasons.
Pakistan took an unchanged line-up into today's game, which meant they
were using just three specialist bowlers and again not fully exploiting
Abdul Razzaq: he faced four balls at the death and bowled five tidy overs.
Another specialist bowler is likely to be considered. Misbah also picked
up a hamstring strain during his innings and though it is not thought to
be serious just yet, it might impact on the line-up for the Canada game.
"I will sit down and plan, I will take advice from my coach and from my
senior players as it is everyone's team," Afridi said. "Winning is very
important for us, it is a good habit and we should try to win every match
and play hard with our strength. I think we will give rest to some of our
players but definitely we want to win each and every game."