Pakistan experienced another defeat on Lankan shores as they failed to defeat a strong Sri Lanka Board President’s XI in their warm-up game for the upcoming ODI series concluded at De Soysa Stadium, Moratuwa with the home team registering a 13-run win according to the D/L method.
Lahiru Thirimanne won the toss and elected to take the first lease of the wicket. The opening pair of TM Dilshan and Dhanushka Gunathilake raced to 48 in the 8th over before veteran Dilshan was trapped in front of the stumps by Mohammed Talha. Lahiru Thirimanne’s torrid run continued as he departed without troubling the scores in the same over. Danushka continued his purple patch as an opener with yet another half-century and he put on 69 runs for the 3rd wicket with Dinesh Chandimal before both batsmen were dismissed in 2 consecutive balls. Ashan Priyanjan and Kithruwan Vithanage provided the much needed impetus as the young middle-order pair rebuilt the innings with a counter-attacking stand of 98 runs for the 5th wicket.
Ashan top scored with 65 while Kithruwan scored 56 runs in 51 balls before Mohammed Hafeez sent both the batsmen back to the pavilion. Thisara Perera provided a brilliant late-innings knock to entertain the crowd as he scored a quick-fire unbeaten 52 runs with 3 fours and 3 sixes in the final 10 overs as Sri Lanka Board President’s XI posted a commanding 325/7 in 50 overs. Hafeez impressed with a spell of 4 wickets for 44 runs.
Chasing a massive target of 326 runs to win, the Pakistani openers got off to a flying start as Ahmed Shehzad and Mohammed Hafeez struck 72 runs in the mandatory power-play overs. Lankan bowlers chipped in at regular intervals to halt any big partnerships as the Pakistani batsmen failed to convert their good starts into match-winning scores. Misbah Ul-Haq (38), Fawad Alam (28), Shoaib Maqsood (29) were the culprits who failed to convert their starts.
Shahid Afridi smashed 3 big sixes in the final overs as Pakistan were 290 runs for the loss of 8 wickets with 22 balls remaining before bad light brought a premature end to the game declaring Sri Lanka Board President’s XI winners by 13 runs. Thisara Perera, Dushmantha Chameera and Suraj Randiv captured 2 wickets apiece for the hosts.
Chief Scores:
SL Board President’s XI – 325/7 in 50 overs: Ashan Priyanjan 65, Kithruwan Vithanage 56, Thisara Perera 52*, Dhanushka Gunathilake 51, Dinesh Chandimal 37, Mohammad Hafeez 4/44, Mohammed Talha 2/54.
Pakistan – 290/8 in 46.2 overs: Mohammad Hafeez 54, Ahmed Shehzad 39, Misbah Ul-Haq 38, Shahid Afridi 37, Suraj Randiv 2/52, Thisara Perera 2/51, Dushmantha Chameera 2/56.
