Pakistan thumps Sri Lanka in series opener – Cricket News Update
Pakistan draws first blood in the five-match One-Day International series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 with a 6-wicket win in the series opener, played at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Thursday, June 7, 2012.
It was a low scoring fixture at Pallekele, after rain reduced the game to 42 overs per side, which the tourist managed to win with 47 balls still left to be played.
Sri Lankan skipper, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/DPMD-Jayawardene-c1397, won the toss and opted to bat first hoping that the wet outfield will make it difficult for Pakistani spinners to grip the ball. However, the decision back fired as the pace attack of Green
Shirts made early inroads and restricted http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Thomas-George-Burrows-c93472he hosts to a meagre score of 135 for the loss of eight wickets.
Umar Gull, the right-arm fast bowler, lead the pace attack from the front and grabbed three early wickets, that of Jayawardene, T Dilshan and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/LD-Chandimal-c1831, which put the Lankans on the back foot. The Lanky pacer was declared
Player of the Match for his sizzling bowling performance.
Receiving the award post match, Gul said, “First of all I would like to thank the almighty. I am happy with my performance. I am coming back after a long time. My body needs to bowl as much as possible. I was talking with my colleagues
that this is my lucky ground as I took 5 wickets in the World Cup also.”
Chasing a minute total, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Younis-Khan-c98325, were back in the pavilion with just 27 runs on the board.
However, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Umar-Akmal-c94595 saw the side over the finish line in 35th over.
The Pakistani skipper was full of praise for his side. Misbah who got run-out just two runs short of the total, said, “That run-out is part of the game, but the good thing is we have won the game. The conditions were really difficult
for batting, but the way Hafeez and Umar played it was really handy. We have got world-class spinners, and whenever the fast bowlers get the conditions, they come good.”
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