Sri Lanka Thrash Pakistan by 115 Runs
MOHALI (India): World Champions Sri Lanka crushed Pakistan by 115 runs in the first match of the best-of-three final of the four-nation Indian Independence Cup, May 24.
Chasing a victory target of 340, Pakistan’s batting collapsed tamely on an easy-paced pitch as they managed to muster only 224 in 43.5 overs.
Inzamam-ul-Haq, who hurt his finger while fielding, and Abdul Razzak did not bat due to injuries.
Pace bowler Sanjeeva De Silva wrecked any chance Pakistan had by grabbing three wickets at the start of their innings, including that of Saeed Anwar, who set a world record earlier in the series by scoring 194.
The Pakistani collapse was in sharp contrast to the Sri Lanka innings.r Sanath Jayasuriya smashed 96 off only 67 balls while Aravinda De Silva made a flawless run a ball 90.
Jayasuriya and fellowr Marvan Atapattu put their side in control right from the start with a Sri Lankan record one-day internationalng partnership of 148. Atappattu made 53.
Captain Arjuna Ranatunga completed Sri Lanka’s total dominance of the Pakistan bowling with an elegant 80.
"It was a very good batting track and all the top order batted very well," said Ranatunga.
In contrast Pakistan lost four wickets with only 85 on the board amid some tight fielding by Sri Lanka.
With Inzamam injured, once Ijaz Ahmed was dismissed for 23, Pakistan’s all big hitters were gone.
Ramiz Raja and Salim Malik put on a brisk 56 runs off 60 balls and Moin Khan made a valiant 57 not out, but in the face of Sri Lanka’s massive total it was always a lost cause.
Jayasuriya completed 3,000 runs in 123 innings in 131 one-day internationals during the course of his dashing innings which contained 12 boundaries and a six. He was dropped twice, on five and 58.
Jayasuriya was finally caught by substitute Mohammed Wasim at deep mid-off, attempting a second six in one over off left-arm spinner Mohammed Hussain.
De Silva, who hit 10 fours and a six, added 153 off 130 balls for the third wicket with Ranatunga whose 70-ball innings included a delightful array of wristy strokes and glances.
De Silva and Ranatunga were both stumped by Moin Khan off Saqlain Mushtaq almost at the end of their 50 overs.
Ranatunga said he expected tough competition from Pakistan in the remaining matches. "Pakistan are a very good batting side," he said.
In Sri Lanka’s innings Jayasuriya had made only five when Saeed Anwar at cover put down a difficult chance off the bowling of paceman Aaqib Javed. Later Abdul Razzak dropped a simple catch at backward point off leg-spinner Shahid Afridi’s bowling point when Jayasuriya was on 58. (Reuter)
Score Board
Sri Lanka
S.Jayasuriya c sub (M.Wasim) b Hussain 96
M.Atapattu lbw b Hussain 53
A.De Silva st Khan b Saqlain 90
A.Ranatunga st Khan b Saqlain 80
R.Kaluwitharana not out 1
D.Liyanage not out 1
Extras (lb-8 nb-2 w-
Total (for four wickets in 50 overs) 339
Did not bat: R.Mahanama, H.Tillekeratne, K.Dharmasena, S.De Silva, M.Muralitharan.
Fall of wickets: .
Bowling: Razzak w, 2nb) Javed 9-0-64-0, Afridi
10-0-63-0, Saqlain w), Hussain 10-0-56-2, Malik
w).
Pakistan
S.Anwar c Liyanage b S.De Silva 14
S.Afridi c Atapattu b S.De Silva 18
M.Hussain b S.De Silva 8
R.Raja run out 42
I.Ahmed c sub (Chandana) b Dharmasena 23
S.Malik by A.De Silva 29
M.Khan not out 57
S.Mushtaq c Atapattu b A.De Silva 18
A.Javed lbw b Dharmasena 5
Inzamam ul-Haq absent injured
A.Razzak absent injured
Extras (lb-1 nb-1 w-
Total (43.5 overs) 224
Fall of wickets: 7-212
8-224.
Bowling: Liyanage 6-0-40-0, S.De Silva w),
Dharmasena , Muralitharan nb), A.De Silva
w), S.Jayasuriya 7-0-23-0.
Result: Sri Lanka won by 115 runs.
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