http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 – Cricket News Update
Sri Lankan Head Coach, Graham Ford, commended his team’s display after watching them square the 5-match series, 1-1, by dismantling Pakistan in the second ODI, played at Pallekele.
The hosts put in an all-round effort to break their jinx against Asian rivals, winning the clash by a convincing 76-margin. The result was all more pleasing after the playing XI were outsmarted in the opening 50-over game where the senior players in the team were criticised for their lack of conviction.
However, the Lankan management stood with the same playing XI, re-shuffling the balance of the formation by dropping skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/WU-Tharanga-c2802 to open the innings.
That fiddle proved fruitful as the opening pair added 37 for the first wicket – a solid platform against a daunting bowling lineup. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/TM-Dilshan-c2691 then managed to overcome his poor run of form with a composed unbeaten century.
He found support from his teammates, all of whom chipped in notably. It included a 47-run stand with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/LD-Chandimal-c1831 in the middle-overs.
The late onslaught was then carried forward by the Lankan skipper, who scored a brisk fifty, along with sharing 86 for the fourth-wicket with Dilshan. The final few touches were then provided by the inform Thisara Perera, who contributed a brisk 24 – the hosts racking up 280 for 4.
The bowling department then held their end of the bargain. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/SL-Malinga-c2540, Lankan’s new-ball pair, grabbed a brace each while Perera displayed his all-round prowess with career best 6 for 44 – bowling out the tourists on 204 in 46.2 overs.
The win allowed the Lankans to improve their stats against Pakistan after they had suffered four successive losses in the ODI format. Ford, their head coach, was further impressed by the team’s series’ levelling win after a heavy defeat in the opening game.
"The cricket that we played was superb. We were obviously down and disappointed with what happened the other day. There was lot of chatting and thinking done during the last two days, and the hats off to the guys for the character they have shown," Ford said.
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