Pakistan bounce back with Sri Lanka win
Chaminda Vaas' pace could not prevent Sri Lanka's first loss
Also In The News
|
France got their Rugby World Cup campaign back on track after demolishing Namibia 87-10 in Toulouse. |  |
Monday, 17, Sep 2007 09:45
Pakistan recorded a 33-run win over Sri Lanka to get their World Twenty20 campaign back on track with an accomplished performance in Johannesburg.
After losing to India in a bowl-out on Friday, Shoaib Malik's men needed a victory to keep their tournament hopes alive and Shahid Afridi obliged with a fine bowling display that ensured the famed Sri Lankan batting line-up never found the momentum necessary to overhaul a target of 190.
Top-order mainstays Upul Tharanga, Sanath Jayasuriya and Kumar Sangakkara had all fallen with just 35 runs on the board, before Afridi extinguished their fading hopes by taking three wickets at a cost of just 18 runs.
Mahela Jayawardene (28) and Chamara Silva (38) saw their threatening partnership swiftly dismantled as they were returned to the pavilion in consecutive overs by Afridi.
And from 111-5 the tail soon disintegrated to leave Sri Lanka stranded well short on 156-9.
Earlier Malik had done most of the damage with the bat for Pakistan as he culled a rapid 57 with able support from Younes Khan who sneaked past the half-century mark alongside his captain.
Their 101-run partnership pushed the Pakistan score on after it had threatened to stall amid a flurry of early wickets.
Chaminda Vaas and Dilhara Fernando's pace and variety had looked as if it may prove decisive as Pakistan faltered to 33-3, but Malik and Khan steadied the ship to put in place the foundations for a comfortable win.