Mukthar Ahmed and Fawad Alam made match-winning half centuries for Pakistan A as they won the third and final unofficial ODI by 6 wickets against Sri Lanka A at R. Premadasa Stadium on Saturday.
The hosts made couple of changes to their bowling attack bringing young left-arm speedster Binura Fernando and left-arm chinamen Lakshan Sandaken for this dead rubber after Pakistan A skipper Fawad Alam won the toss and elected to field.
Sri Lanka A got off to another fabulous start with their left-handed opening duo of Kusal Janith Perera and Shehan Jayasuriya putting on a 118-run stand in 119 deliveries. Kusal Janith was well on track for his 3rd consecutive ton but unfortunately he was dismissed for 87 off 68 balls by Tabish Khan. Danushka Gunathilake joined Shehan and they steadied the innings adding 54 runs for the 2nd wicket.
The home team were aiming for a 300+ score at the 30-over mark with the score reading 190 for 2 but the quick dismissals of Shehan Jayasuriya and Milinda Siriwardana, pegged back the Lankans. Shehan’s knock of 67 consists of 8 fours and a six. Regular wickets in the latter part of the innings brought down the run-rate and Sri Lanka A had to settle for 277 all out in 47.2 overs as the visitors bowled tremendously well in the death overs. Left-arm spinner Imad Wasim was the pick of the bowlers taking 4 for 29 in his 10 overs while Zia-Ul-Haq and Bilawal Bhatti scalped 2 wickets each. 
Chasing a daunting target of 278 runs to avoid the series whitewash, Pakistan A lost Israrullah for 9 when he was trapped LBW by Nisala Tharaka in the 7th over. Khurram Manzoor was the next to go when he missed a straighter-one from Lakshan Sandaken in the 18th over and he had to depart after scoring 31 off 40 balls. Mukthar Ahmed and Khurram made 75 runs in quick time. Ahmed was then joined by his skipper Fawad Alam and they too added 77 runs amongst them before right-handed Ahmed was given LBW off Lakshan Sandaken for a well-compiled 96 off 93 inclusive of 11 fours and 2 sixes.
Fawad Alam needed to stay unbeaten to see his team home and he did exactly that as the experienced right-hander made a 88-ball 76 runs to hit the winning runs. Number 5 batsman, Ali Waqas constructed 54 runs with Fawad Alam before losing his wicket to Shehan Jayasuriya when Pakistan required a further 37 runs for victory. Wicket-keeper batsman Mohammed Rizwan gave his support to his skipper in order to achieve the target with 11 balls to spare.
Chief Scores:
Sri Lanka A – 277 all out in 47.2 overs: Kusal Janith Perera 87, Shehan Jayasuriya 67, Kithruwan Vithanage 29, Danushka Gunathilake 21, Imad Wasim 4/29, Bilawal Bhatti 2/34, Zia-Ul-Haq 2/50.
Pakistan A – 281/4 in 48.1 overs: Mukthar Ahmed 96, Fawad Alam 76*, Khurram Manzoor 31, Ali Waqas 26, Lakshan Sandakan 2/53.
Both teams will now change into whites’ to play four-day cricket when the 1st unofficial Test commences on 6th May at R. Premadasa Stadium.
