Great knock by Maharoof
Afridi's hard hitting paves way for Pakistan win over
Sri Lanka:
Bernard Perera in Abu Dhabi
CRICKET: Pakistan made a strong comeback to win the first ODI in the
Warid Trophy series on Friday when they beat Sri Lanka by five wickets
in a day night affair in Abu Dhabi. It was Shahid Afridi's usual style
of hard hitting tactics that paved the way for his side's victory.
Afridi went onto trash the bowling to all parts of the ground scoring
an agressive 73 from only 59 balls. During his innings he clo[
These are mistakes that we have to put in the right direction. We are
prepared to come out for the next game with more aggression, said Mahela.
It was Afridi who took the game from us. He is a sort of player who
goes for the attack in a furious manner. He struck the ball well. We
have to give credit to him. He strikes the ball hard and see that all
his power is put to it. On Friday everything worked for him. That was
the reason Pakistan cruised to victory comfortably. Mahela added that
the Lanka had only two practice session before arriving here.
We have played cricket for a long time. Since our return from West
Indies players had to have to with their families. It was a must but the
players are professionals in this game. We have to come out with
everything in the next game.
There were few mistakes we made in the fielding department. This have
to be rectified, this lapse too helped Pakistan take this match. Adding
further he said the bowlers did their part well in the earlier overs but
failed maintain the same right through.
He also praised Ishara Amarasinghe for courageous bowling in the
first spell. This is his debut. In time to come he could well master the
style of play in this sort of encounters.
When asked whether team management wants a change for the next game
he said that has to be done after discussion with the selectors after
Saturday's practice session. Mahela said he will put things in order to
counter the Pakistani attack in the next game.
Shoait Malik the victorious captain said that Afridi's knock was a
brilliant one and that too came at the correct time. If not his knock
and Akmal's half century we could have lost the game.
Two of them had pressure on them. After my departure from the wicket
it took hard for us. But Afridi who had more experience took up the
challenge in his usual form. It was Afridi's day, said Malik. Afridi had
full confidence with Kamran Akmal at the other end.
He never hesitated to go for his shots, said Malik. Malik praised all
his players for this victory. He said Pakistan cricket experienced a
very bad patch during the past few months. This victory we consider as
strong comeback get onto the correct track. I hope to do well in the
next two games, he added.
W. Tharanga run out 17
S. Jayasuriya lbw b Mohammad Asif 1
C. Kapugedera b Umar Gul 28
D. Jayawardene c Kamran Akmal b Umar Gul 18
L. Silva run out 47
T. Dilshan c Umar Gul b Abdul Razzaq 14
H. Jayawardene run out 20
M. Maharoof not out 69
C. Bandara b Umar Gul 6
S. Malinga b Mohammad Sami 3
M. Amerasinghe not out 1
Extras (b1, lb3, w3, nb4) 11
TOTAL (9 wickets; 50 overs) 235
FALLF OF WICKETS: 1-4, 2-34, 3-61, 4-72, 5-103, 6-141, 7-177, 8-203, 9-215.
BOWLING: Mohammad Asif 10-1-26-1, Mohammad Sami 10-0-49-1,
Umar Gul 10-0-61-3, Abdul Razzaq 10-0-52-1, Shahid Afridi 10-0-43-0.
Salman Butt run out 34
Imran Nazir run out 38
Yasir Hameed lbw b Bandara 10
Mohammad Yousuf b Maharoof 12
Shoaib Malik run out 11
Kamran Akmal not out 51
Shahid Afridi not out 73
Extras (lb1, w4, nb5) 10
TOTAL (5 wickets; 42 overs) 239
DID NOT BAT: Abdul Razzaq, Mohammad Sami, Mohammad Asif, Umar Gul.
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-53, 2-84, 3-88, 4-105, 5-137.
BOWLING: M. Maharoof 8-1-47-1, S. Malinga 9-1-53-0, M. Amerasinghe 7-2-31-0,
T. Dilshan 3-0-9-0, C. Bandara 10-1-69-1, S. Jayasuriya 5-0-29-0.
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