Pakistan down Sri Lanka in second ODI to seal three-match series

#Pakistan #Sri #Lanka #ODI #seal #threematch #series

Star batsman Babar Azam hit an unbeaten ton after a gap of two years as Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by eight wickets in the second ODI of the three-match series at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Friday.

Set to chase 289, Pakistan comfortably chased down the target for the loss of just two wickets and 10 balls.

The Green Shirts got off to a dominant start to their chase as their opening pair of Fakhar Zaman and Seem Ayub put together a blistering partnership, putting on 77 runs in just 9.3 overs before the latter fell victim to Dishantha Chimera.

SAIM scored 25 off 33, smashing five fours and a six.

Walking out to bat at No. 3, Babar joined Phakar in the middle, and the veteran duo ensured Pakistan’s momentum was maintained by putting on a 100-run stand, which eventually culminated in Chimera’s dismissal of the opening batsman in the 31st over.

Fakhar scored 78 runs off 93 deliveries with the help of eight fours and a six.

Babar Azam, on the other hand, remained strong and ended his two-year international century drought before giving Pakistan a series victory when he hit the winning runs on the second delivery to finish off the winning runs.

The right-handed batsman top-scored for Pakistan with an unbeaten 102 off 119 deliveries, studded with eight fours.

He shared an unbeaten partnership of 112 runs with wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan, who scored 51 runs from 54 balls, hitting five fours and a six.

Chimera was the lone wicket-taker for the touring side, scoring 58 runs in 10 overs.

The eight-wicket victory helped Pakistan take an unbeaten 2-0 lead in the three-match series against Sri Lanka, with the final fixture at the same venue on Sunday.

Pakistan’s stand-in captain, Salman Ali Agha’s decision to field first proved beneficial as Sri Lanka’s batting unit could manage 288/8 in the allotted 50 overs despite Janet Liang’s half-century.

The touring side got off to a good start in their innings as their opening pair of Pitham Nissanka and Kamil Mishara put on 51 runs inside the 10 over mark.

The opening stand ended agonizingly for Sri Lanka when Nissanka ran out on a 10th over delivery trying to run for three. He returned with 24 runs from 31.

Sri Lanka then suffered another blow in the immediate succession when Abrar stumped Mishara in the 14th over. The left-handed opener scored 27 runs off 39 deliveries.

After back-to-back dismissals, wicketkeeper-batsman Kosal Mendis and Sudira Samarukarma steadied Sri Lanka’s innings briefly with a cautious 28-run partnership.

Abrar broke the emerging stand by dismissing Kosal Mendis (20) and sending in Sri Lanka captain Cherith Asalinka (six) again in his next over to reduce them to 98/4 in 21.2 overs.

After the breakdown, Liyang joined Samarukrama in the middle, and the two added valuable runs to Sri Lanka’s total, adding 61 for the fifth wicket until Harris cleaned it up in the 32nd over.

Samarukarma was a notable run scorer for Sri Lanka, scoring 42 off 52 deliveries with three fours and a six.

Lineage then joined forces with Kamando Mendes, and the pair took the 200-run mark past the 200-run mark with a 73-run partnership for the sixth wicket before perishing in a span of nine deliveries.

Leeyang was the top scorer for Sri Lanka, hitting 54 off 63 deliveries with two fours and a six, while Kamindu Mendis smashed four fours and two sixes en route to a 38-ball 44.

Harris dealt another blow to Sri Lanka’s batting charge in the next over, trapping Dashimatha Chimera (Zero) lbw to reduce the total to 244/8 in a further 44.2 overs.

All-rounder Vanindu Hasaranga then added crucial runs at the back end with an easy 37 off 26 deliveries and three fours. He was supported by Promod Madhushan, who remained unbeaten on 11.

For Pakistan, Haris and Abrar picked up three wickets each, while Mohammad Wasim Jr chipped in with one.