Sri Lanka edged out Pakistan by two wickets to level the series 1-1 in the 2nd ODI played in Dubai
Sri Lanka were setback before the game even began, as both Suranga Lakmal and Lahiru Thirimanne were ruled out of the side due to injury. Their problems were compounded when both Thisara Perera and Angelo Mathews sustained injuries early in the Pakistani innings, and could no longer bowl. The rest of the Sri Lankan attack lacked venom on a slow Dubai pitch as Pakistan posted a strong total of 284/4 led by a solid century by opener Ahmed Shehzad.
Pakistan were unable to get off to the strong start that they achieved in the first game, but Shehzad seemed determined to play a long innings from the outset. He was supported by Pakistani skipper Misbah-ul-Haq who scored yet another half century. Shehzad was slow at first, but opened up towards the death before finally being dismissed for 124. A whirlwind 30 off 15 by an in form Shahid Afridi helped Pakistan score 92 off the last ten overs, pushing their score well beyond mere respectability.
Sri Lanka’s openers started proceeding with customary flamboyance, pushing the opposition onto the back foot with their aggression, but undid their good work with a couple of horror runouts. Tillekaratne Dilshan first ran his partner Kusal Perera out, calling him through for a suicidal single. He himself was runout not long afterwards as his bat got stuck in the ground inches from the crease. The departure of the openers brought in Kumar Sangakkara and Dinesh Chandimal, who set about consolidating for the Sri Lankans. Sangakkara hit a half century, passing 12000 runs in ODI on the way, but both he and Chandimal were dismissed in a short space of time with Sri Lanka still behind the pace.
A belligerent cameo by Nuwan Kulasekera, who hit 32 off 26 brought Sri Lanka back into the game, but some fine bowling by Junaid Khan at the death meant that Pakistan were still always one step ahead. Sri Lanka’s shuffling of the batting order meant that Dimuth Karunaratne came in at number 9, and so even with 7 wickets down, Sri Lanka had 2 genuine batsmen at the crease. With the required rate hovering around seven an over, Karunaratne joined skipper Angelo Mathews in picking up ones and twos calmly, bringing Sri Lanka within touching distance.
With 21 runs required off the last three overs, and Sri Lanka suddenly in the ascendency, Sohail Tanvir had to bowl well to keep Pakistan in the game. Having been expensive in his previous overs, he responded excellently, only giving away 5 runs. Misbah then turned to Junaid Khan once more, to try and shut the door on Sri Lanka in the penultimate over. The pressure of the situation seemd to get to him however, as he bowled an above the waist no ball, and then got hit for four by Mathews, conceding 12 runs off the over and effectively putting the game firmly in Sri Lanka’s favour.
There were more twists to come however, as Shahid Afridi, entrusted with the final over, picked up the wicket of Angelo Mathews off his first delivery as the Sri Lankan skipper slapped a rank long hop straight into the hands of mid wicket. Four runs was two little to defend however, and Sachithra Senanayake ensured that his teammates efforts were not in vain, as he hit a boundary off the 4th delivery of the over, ensuring that Sri Lanka got home with 2 wickets and 2 deliveries to spare.
