http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482 confirmed, while Mahela Jayawardene flies
back home to leave Dilshan high and dry.
The hosts cashed on some lacklustre performance from the Lankan contingent in the previous limited overs fixture, courtesy of a sublime all-round display by Shahid Afridi. The player proved the difference between the two sides, scoring a crucial knock of
75 off just 65 deliveries before surprising the tourists with some clinical leg break bowling to grab a five wicket haul.
The Lankans have a lot to ponder after their batting frailties were easily exploited by the Men In Green contingent. Chasing 201 to win, they were cruising at one stage at 155 for 3 before a dramatic collapse saw them squander on 174 all out.
For starters, it has been a shambolic decline after being one of the finalists in the World Cup 2011, to being on the brink of losing three important series after that. A disappointing away tour of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013 was followed by an embarrassing home series defeat
against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746, and their woes were completed with yet another miserable outing in the UAE.
Relying on the veteran duo http://www.senore.com/Cricket/TM-Dilshan-c2691. The all-rounder finds himself in a precarious scenario where his form and leadership capabilities
both have come under serious questioning.
The other team members have hardly helped him to grow in his new role as all have been short of runs. The likes of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/AD-Mathews-c913 were supposed to take on a little more responsibility but with him not coming to the foil, it certainly hinders the balance
of their composition, as he still not contributing with the ball.
The final One Dayer will allow the team to tinker with their formation. With Jayawardene out due to a knee injury, it makes room for either http://www.senore.com/Cricket/SL-Malinga-c2540 not having the
best of tours.
Their opponents have been firing on all cylinders and seem hungry to emerge as a power house, following the end to their hierarchy struggles. Misbah-ul- Haq has grown in his role as a capable leader, allowing his players to express themselves.
However, the team is still far from a finished article, and only individual performances have held them in good stead through the course of the series. The likes of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Umar-Akmal-c94595 have been good in patches, but it’s their
bowling contingent that has stood up appreciably to deliver some thumping performances throughout the campaign.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Saeed-Ajmal-c87859 again asserting his
dominance in the shorter version, while Hafeez displaying his competitiveness.
However, it has been the return of Boom Boom that has really spurned the team to reach to that extra level. He has performed with both bat and ball, earning the respect of the UAE fans and especially, his captain’s.
Assault will be completed if the Men In Green win the final game, which consequently allow them to retain their no 5
spot in the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/ICC-World-Cup-2011-c100625 ODI ranking.
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