Kusal and Chandimal excels in Sri Lanka’s scrappy two-wicket win

Kusal Perera’s devastating 5th ODI half-ton and sensible knocks from the lower middle order helped Sri Lanka level the five-match series beating Pakistan by 2 wickets in the second game concluded at Pallekelle on Wednesday night.

 Sri Lanka chased down a challenging target of 288 thanks to a record-equaling knock of 68 by opener Kusal Perera and a timely unbeaten innings of 48 by Dinesh Chandimal. Pakistan posted 287/8 in their 50 overs courtesy excellent half-centuries by Azhar Ali (79), Shoaib Malik (51) and Mohammed Rizwan (52). 

Trenchant Kusal showered Pallekelle with sixes and fours as he blasted his way to a scintillating 68 off 25 balls and in the process emulated Sanath Jayasuriya’s feat of scoring the second fast ODI fifty in 17 balls. Perera bludgeoned the Pakistani bowling to all parts of the ground in a power-packed opening stand of 92. His devastating innings comprised of 13 fours and 2 sixes ended when he pulled a Mohammad Irfan delivery straight to deep square leg.  

Sri Lanka hammered 98 runs in the first 10 overs as Tharanga joined Dilshan to consolidate the blistering start adding 48 runs for the second wicket. Tharanga’s off-stump was uprooted by Rahat Ali in the 19th over as the left hander fell for 28. 

Dilshan played the back fiddle for most of his innings until he was bowled by Rahat Ali ending a valiant knock of 43. Batting at number 4, Mathews could not make a huge difference to the score as he was involved in an ugly run-out with Thirimanne. Sri Lanka fell into a deep hole when they were restricted to 159 for 5 after being 140 for 1 when Thirimanne holed out to a diving Anwar Ali at third-man off Rahat Ali. 

Milinda Siriwardana chipped in with a valuable 26 in 28 balls to stem the pressure before he was trapped LBW by Mohammed Hafeez. Pathirana and Chandimal partnered up for the 7th wicket to add 52 runs in 49 balls. Left-handed Pathirana played a positive knock of 33 off 28 with 4 fours and six before he was stumped off Hafeez. Thisara played a risk-free 15 off 22 to help Sri Lanka come closer to the target before he off the bowling of Anwar Ali. 

Earlier, Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat but a slight shower delayed the start of play by 30 minutes but no overs were deducted. Angelo Mathews and Nuwan Pradeep bowled superbly with the two new balls but could not breakthrough the steady opening stand of Azhar Ali and Ahmed Shehzad.  

Debutant, Sachith Pathirana was introduced in the 12th over and he immediately struck in his 2nd over dismantling Shehzad for 30 as the 59-run stand ended. The Pakistani opener opted for a big slog sweep but could only get an inside edge onto the stumps. Last match’s centurion, Mohammed Hafeez became Pathirana’s second victim when he was caught sharply at short cover by Mathews.

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Pakistan suffered another setback when youngster Babar Azam was castled by Siriwardana’s left-arm spin in the 24th over as the visitors were struggling at 96 for 3. Experienced Shoaib Malik and skipper Ali rebuilt the innings brilliantly with a counter-attacking 83-run stand. Malik took only 49 balls for his half ton but two balls later, he misjudged Mathews’ leg-cutter and got himself bowled in the 37th over. 

The Pakistani captain was rotating the strike efficiently and striking well but he lost his composure in the 40th over and attempted a slog sweep against TM Dilshan but only found Siriwardana at mid-wicket. Ali scored 6 fours in his gallant 104-ball 79 as the pendulum once again swung in favour of Sri Lanka with Pakistan was 199 for 5 at the 40-over mark. 

Lasith Malinga trapped down Sarfraz Ahmed LBW for 7 but Mohammad Rizwan and Anwar Ali completely flummoxed Sri Lanka’s plans in the last 10 overs scoring 88 runs. The number 6 batsman, Rizwan took only 36 deliveries to reach his stunning half-ton.

Pakistan – 287/8 in 50 overs: Ahmed Shehzad 30, Azhar Ali 79, Shoaib Malik 51, Mohammad Rizwan 52, Anwar Ali 29*, Sachith Pathirana 2/70, Lasith Malinga 2/64, Angelo Mathews 1/36.

Sri Lanka – 288/8 in 48.1 overs: Kusal Janith Perera 68, TM Dilshan 47, Upul Tharanga 28, Dinesh Chandimal 48*. Milinda Siriwardana 26, Sachith Pathirana 33, Rahat Ali 3/73, Mohammad Hafeez 2/61. 

Full Scorecard (Courtesy BBC Sport)

Pakistan Innings287 for 8 (50.0 overs)

Sri Lanka Innings288 for 8 (48.1 overs)