Pakistan v Sri Lanka – 2nd One Day International – Match Recap
Sri Lanka 235 v http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 won by 25 runs
Emphatic Sri Lanka levelled the five-match one-day series against Pakistan after beating the Men in Green in the second match of the series by 25 runs on Monday, November 14, 2011 at Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Coming into this match with a defeat behind their backs, the Sri Lankans desperately needed to subdue Pakistan to not only make the ongoing series a bit more interesting but also prove their countrymen that their national team was heading in a right direction.
Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan captain Tillakaratne Dilshan also needed a win this game to salvage his under fire captaincy which is gaining criticism from most quarters since duo to unimpressive record of the national team.
Dilshan was named as the captain of the Sri Lankan team after former skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 in the final of the mega event on
April 02.
After winning the toss, Sri Lanka chose to bat first in a bid to put enough runs on the board to give Pakistan a run for their money.
From the Lankans openers http://www.senore.com/Cricket/TM-Dilshan-c2691 took the field and starting dominating the bowlers early on.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan bowlers looked out of colour as they failed to make an early breakthrough which was vital for them to subdue the Lankan openers who were beginning dictate terms.
The Lankans suffered their first loss in the 12th over when skipper Dilshan after playing a hefty knock of 28 runs was clean-bowled by Pakistan’s ace all-rounder http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482. At the time of this wicket, Sri Lanka had managed to post 56 runs
on the board.
Sangakkara was the next man to find his way back to the pavilion when he was caught and bowled by all-rounder http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Abdul-Razzaq-c41623 after scoring only five runs.
Meanwhile, Tharanga on the other end kept batting with zeal and confidence as he saw his fellow batsmen lose their wickets almost randomly.
Later in the Sri Lankan innings it was the fourth-wicket partnership between Tharanga and veteran middle-order batsman http://www.senore.com/Cricket/DPMD-Jayawardene-c1397 which left Pakistan flabbergasted as the duo posted 85 runs together.
In the end, Sri Lanka managed to post a formidable total of 235 runs on the board in 50 overs.
Needing 236 runs to win, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Imran-Farhat-c64218 took the field for Pakistan, aiming to give their side a good start for the rest of the batsmen to capitalize on later in the innings.
However, both openers failed to put a good show for the side as they lost their wickets without even getting into double figures.
Number-three batsman http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Younis-Khan-c98325 also went back to the pavilion without scoring a run which put Pakistan under tremendous pressure as this was not what they wanted as they needed to better start to their innings to create a winnable situation for themselves.
It was then youngster http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Umar-Akmal-c94595 who almost crafted a victory for Pakistan by smashing a belligerent knock of 91 runs, nonetheless, his stupendous knock was also not enough for the Men in Green to beat the Lankans as they fell after scoring only 210 runs
in 46.3 overs.
Sri Lankan pacer http://www.senore.com/Cricket/SL-Malinga-c2540 was named as the Player of the Match was taking three wickets in the game.
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