Afridi’s ton in vain as Lanka win by 16 runs
June 15, 2010 11:37 pm
Defending champions
Chasing 243 at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium,
Earlier,
Afridi braved cramps and kept fighting but his batting colleagues completely let him down, something that could be gauged from the fact that the next best score was Umar Akmal’s 30.
Sitting pretty when
Hampered by a groin injury, the gallant Afridi struck as many as seven sixes and eight boundaries while producing his fifth ODI century. He dominated the Lankan attack until Muralitharan, battered and bruised by Afridi’s onslaught, had the last laugh.
Earlier, a two-wicket burst at the start of the innings by
Malinga had put
If Pakistan had blooded Shahzaib Hasan and Umar Amin with a hope of preparing their team for the 2011 World Cup, the two young top-order batsmen failed to live up to expectations.
They struggled against Malinga and Nuwan Kulasekara, with neither having a clue against the seaming ball.
But Afridi made little of the pressure, smashing successive sixes of Farveez Maharoof and heaving the wily Muralitharan over the pickets on five occasions.
Malinga (5 for 34) was the pick of the bowlers, overshadowing an encouraging performance by Shoaib Akhtar who bowled his heart out on an unresponsive wicket.
Playing his first international match in 13 months, the
controversial
But his comeback wasn’t as telling as
Evidently, he lacked rhythm and fitness, indicating that he could possibly break down during the course this four-nation tournament. His run-up was staggered and direction wasn’t pin-point but he was never short of effort, putting his heart into every delivery he hurled at the Lankans.
Akthar bagged the scalps of Upul Tharanga (11), Chamara Kapugedara (2) and Farveez Maharoof (1).
The hosts were in a spot of bother at 36 for two when the two most experienced batsmen in the side came up with the rescue act.
At 150 for five in the 32nd over, Lanka were still in the
woods. But Mathews found responsive and gutsy allies in Kulasekara, with whom
he raised 43 runs for the eighth wicket, and Malinga (12) to take his side to a
winning total, a score that