Jayawardene hails Malinga and Sangakkara after 44-run win over Pakistan – Cricket News Update
The triumphant Sri Lankan skipper, Mahela Jayawardene, lauded slinger Lasith Malinga and wicketkeeper batsman Kumar Sangakkara for their promising show against Pakistan last night as the Islanders clinched a 44-run win over the tourists in the fourth One
Day International of the five-match series at R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo on Saturday, June 16, 2012.
While chasing a competitive total of 243, which the hosts scored on the back of a 110-run fourth-wicket partnership between http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 looked quite comfortable at 166 for 2 before Slinga Malinga sacked
the visiting skipper on 57, heralding Pakistan's downfall, which saw the team bundled out for just 199 by the 45th over.
Jayawardene hailed the 113-run partnership between Pakistan skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/SL-Malinga-c2540’s fifth over, in which he broke the three-digit stand changed the course of the game.
"They put on a decent partnership. We needed to be patient, wait for our opportunity. The crowd went silent for a bit too, but with the first wicket they got behind us,” said the right-handed batsman, who shared a useful 110-run stand with wicketkeeper batsman
Sangakkara.
"I think it all changed with that aggressive over from Lasith. He is a matchwinner, and I put him under a lot of pressure by asking him to possibly bowl seven overs in a row. Also Kumar batted really well. Good to get him back in form,” he added further.
The tourists lost their last eight wickets in seven overs for just 33 runs, courtesy Thisara Perera, who claimed astounding figures of 4 for 42, including a hat-trick and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sohail-c90628 Tanvir’s run out. The Sri Lankan skipper also praised the Man of the Match,
adding that that the lanky seamer was improving with every passing game.
“Thisara is improving every game, learning form each game. Kulasekara too. The whole unit knows their job pretty well," said Jayawardene, who took over as the Lankan skipper from Dilshan in February this year, adding that their best game is yet to come.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 lead the five-match series 2-1, and the final one-dayer between the two outfits will be played at the same RPS Colombo venue on Monday.
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