Sri Lanka A suffer third loss in tri-series
NORTHAMPTON: A 139-run third-wicket stand between opener Jaahid Ali and captain
Babar Azam set up a four-wicket win for Pakistan A over Sri Lanka A in
Northampton. The partnership, coming off 154 balls, helped Pakistan A ride a
mini-collapse to win with 11 balls to spare.
Sri Lanka A made brisk progress after opting to bat, largely thanks to Niroshan
Dickwella’s 31-ball 44 and Bhanuka Rajapaksa’s 63-ball 56. But wickets fell at
regular intervals - by the 34th over, Sri Lanka A had slipped to 173 for 6.
Thisara Perera, coming in at No. 8, chipped in with 45 off 40, hitting five
fours and a six to give the innings a late boost, but Sri Lanka A were bowled
out for 254, failing to utilise three overs from their full quota.
Pakistan A started shakily as Sharjeel Khan and Fakhar Zaman were dismissed
within the first nine overs. It was at this point that Jaahid (77) and Azam (73)
took charge with a century stand that put their side firmly in control. However,
their dismissals within two overs of each other, both falling to Lahiru Gamage,
left Pakistan A in a hint of trouble 186 for 4 in 36 overs.
Sri Lanka had a whiff of an opportunity, but it was snuffed out by handy
lower-order contributions from Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Nawaz. Though neither
of them stayed to see the job through, they had done enough to ensure that
Pakistan A won with time to spare.
The win was Pakistan A’s second in three matches, while Sri Lanka A are
languishing at the bottom with three losses in as many matches.
Scores: Sri Lanka A 254 in 46.5 overs (N Dickwella 44, B Rajapaksa 56, A
Priyanjan 34, A Perera 35, T Perera 45, Hasan Ali 2/50, Mohammad Nawaz 2/39,
Shadab Khan 3/51)
Pakistan A 258-6 in 48.1 overs (Jaahid Ali 77, Sharjeel Khan 29, Babar Azam 73,
Saud Shakeel 25, Mohammad Nawaz 21, L Gamage 3/43, S Pathirana 2/49) |