Pakistanis surrender without a fight:

Majestic Dilshan century propels Sri Lanka to 76- run triumph

By Dr Elmo RODRIGOPULLE Reporting from Pallekale Stadium

A majestic unbeaten century 119 from opener Tillekeratne Dilshan, a dazzling knock of 53 from skipper Mahela Jayawardena and a devastating spell from Thisara Perera 6 for 44 in 10 overs helped the Sri Lankan cricketers to regain their winning ways and post a 76 run victory and square the best of five one-day international series one-all against Pakistan at the Pallekelle International Cricket Stadium, here today.

In the process wicket keeper Kumar Sangakkara grabbed his 300th catch in one-day internationals when he dived full length to catch Sahid Afridi for 17 off Lasith Malinga.

After the batsmen provided the runs, the bowlers kept the free scoring Pakistani batsmen on a tight leash and did not allow the batsmen to pile on the runs in their quest for victory.

Perera after his blast of 24 in 14, showed his capabilities with the ball bowling his medium pacers intelligently and wicket to wicket and the batmen found him unplayable. It was his third 5 wicket haul in ODIs.

Jayawardena used him judiciously giving him attacking and run saving fields and did not Perera enjoy his spell and deliver with wickets for runs. He varied his deliveries well and his slow ball was well disguised to tease the batsmen.

The only batsman to impress for Pakistan was opener Azhar Ali who was unlucky falling short by 4 runs to make a century. He made a fighting 96 in 119 balls with 12 fours.

Dilshan who was involved in a rollicking stand of 86 in 88 balls for the fourth wicket with Jayawardena propelled Sri Lanka to 280 for 4 in 50 overs.

Dilshan who reached his century in 120 balls with 11 fours remained unbeaten on 119. Thisara Perera 24 not out and Dilshan added 40 for the 5th wicket in 26 balls with Perera slamming 2 sixes and 2 fours.

After Chandimal went, skipper Jayawardena joined forces with Dilshan and showing no mercy scattered the Pakistanis bowers all over the field with some daring stoke play.

Dishan was back in the form that he is renowned for and in playing some exquisite drives and cuts, put on show his innovation, the ‘Dil Scoop’ which was delicious to watch Jayawardena who was in a run drought came out of it beautifully and batting like the champion he is famous for raced to a grand 53, his 67th one-day fifty in 45 balls with 8 fours. His stand with Dilshan was a joy to watch.

The conditions were overcast with dark clouds threatening as Captains Misbah-Ul-Haq and Mahela Jayawardena walked out to spin the coin. Jayawardena who has the knack of winning tosses, won it again.

This game is being played on the same pitch on which the previous game was played. There was no rain on Friday and the wicket looked dry and Jayawardena made the right decision to strike first. The Lankans went in with the same team that lost the previous game, while Pakistan brought in another left arm medium pacer and right hand bat Rahat Ali for the injured Mohammed Sami.

The Lankans made a batting change opening with the old firm of Tillekeratne Dilshan and Upul Tharanga who enjoyed a good 2011 World Cup as partners and with Jayawardena opting to drop down.

Openers Dilshan and Tharanga showed more purpose and urgency in their approach and with the ball coming nicely on to the bat, began to play the strokes that they are renowned for.

Gul and Tanvir who bowled tight and got good movement in the previous game, were off line and with no help from the wicket, failed to trouble the batsmen.

After a stand of 37, Tharanga who played some well timed drives in hitting three fours lunged forward to Tanvi, got an outside edge and wicket keeper Safraz Ahmed gobbled the catch – 37 for one. Tharanga 18.

Kumar Sangakkara seemed to be settling down when off spinner Mohammed Hafeez foxed him with the slower ball which Sangakkara lollied a return catch to the bowler after making 18. Promising Dinesh Chandimal joined Dilshan and stepped on the accelerator and the runs were coming at a good pace.

Dilshan slipped into top gear and played his signature shots and reached his 27th one-day 50 in 60 balls with 8 fours.

Candimal was batting and timing his shots well and when he seemed set to make a big score after making 32 with 3 fours in 51 balls went LBW to Sahid Afridi.

He added 70 runs in 89 balls with Dilshan. Pallekelle, Saturday.

		scoreboard
		
SRI LANKA
U. Tharanga c Ahmed b Tanvir				18
T. Dilshan not out				       119
K. Sangakkara c and b Hafeez				18
D. Chandimal lbw b Afridi				32
M. Jayawardene b Ajmal					53
T. Perera not out					24
Extras (b1, lb7, nb1, w7)				16
Total (for four wkts; 50 overs)			       280

Fall of wickets: 1-37 (Tharanga), 2-84 (Sangakkara)
		 3-154 (Chandimal), 4-240 (Jayawardene)
Bowling: Gul 9-0-58-0
	 Tanvir 9-1-51-1 (nb1, w1)
	 Afridi 10-0-50-1 (w3)
	 Rahat 4-0-34-0 (w3)
	 Ajmal 10-0-49-1
	 Hafeez 8-1-30-1

PAKISTAN
Mohammad Hafeez c and b Perera				14
Azhar Ali b Kulasekara					96
Younis Khan c Sangakkara b Perera			04
Misbah-ul-Haq lbw b Perera				27
Umar Akmal c Sangakkara b Perera			03
Shahid Afridi c Sangakkara b Malinga			17
Sarfraz Ahmed lbw b Kulasekara				20
Sohail Tanvir c Tharanga b Perera 			03
Umar Gul lbw b Perera					14
Saeed Ajmal c Sangakkara b Malinga			04
Rahat Ali not out					00
Extras (lb2)						02
Total (for all out; 46.2 overs)			       204

Fall of wickets: 1-48 (Hafeez), 2-78 (Younis), 3-127 (Misbah)
		 4-139 (Akmal), 5-157 (Azhar), 6-165 (Afridi)
		 7-170 (Tanvir), 8-197 (Gul), 9-204 (Ajmal), 10-204 (Ahmed)
Bowling: Kulasekara 8.2-1-33-2
	 Malinga 8-1-40-2
	 Mathews 10-0-48-0
	 Perera 10-0-44-6
	 Herath 10-1-37-0