Sri Lanka completely annihilated Pakistan by 165 runs to win the 5th ODI and recouped lost pride at Hambanthota on Sunday.
Sri Lanka claimed a consolation win though it did not affect the Pakistanis as they won the series, 3-2. Sri Lanka’s top six fired them to their highest ever ODI score of 368 against their friendly counterparts. Pakistan batsmen failed to chase down as the Lankan bowlers and fielders combined well to dismiss the visitors for 203.
During the chase, Shehzad was the first to be dismissed as he was cleverly stumped by Chandimal off Sachithra for just 18.
Pakistan captain Azhar Ali was run-out for 35 courtesy Angelo Mathews and later on their top batsman, Mohammed Hafeez was trapped LBW by the Sri Lankan skipper for 39.
None of the Pakistani batsmen crossed the 40-run mark as they did not have any momentum failed to gain any momentum in their innings. Pakistani wicket-keeper batsman Sarfraz Ahmed was run-out by a stunning direct-hit by Suranga Lakmal from third-man.
The biggest surplus for Sri Lankan bowling was the performance of spinner, Sachithra Senanayake who grabbed 3 scalps in his first ODI in the series. Thisara Perera bowled good line and length to claim two wickets of Shoaib Malik and Mohammed Rizwan.
Pakistan lost wickets at regular intervals and the hosts took less than 38 overs to bowl out the visitors, which is the first instance during the whole series.
After opting to bat first, Sri Lanka got off to the best possible start as their devastating opening pair, TM Dilshan and Kusal Janith Perera added 164 runs in 25.2 overs.
Stats – Kusal’s Ballistics, Recalling Statistics
Dilshan reached his 45th ODI half-ton and joined the elite club of 10,000 runs in one-day international matches. He is the 4th Sri Lankan to achieve this feat and the 11th in the history of the game. Sri Lanka finally lost their 1st wicket when Dilshan was run-out by a direct hit from Ahmed Shehzad to end his 70-ball knock of 63.
Kusal was risk-free in his batting approach as he built the innings on singles and twos while scoring the occasional boundary. He reached his second ODI century with a powering pull shot to the leg side.
Lahiru Thirimanne and Kusal gradually maintained the run-rate and powered their way to a 48-run stand for the 2nd wicket before Kusal was run-out at the non-strikers’ end attempting a second run.
Thirimanne and Chandimal played two crucial cameo knocks in the latter part of the innings scoring 30 and 29 respectively before both were dismissed by Rahat Ali.
Mathews and Siriwardana completely clobbered the lackluster Pakistani bowling to reach their 100-run stand in just 48 balls. They amassed 119 runs in the final 10 overs. The two middle-order batsmen smashed 114 runs in 55 balls for the 5th wicket.
Pakistan’s lead spinner Yasir Shah went for 73 in his 8 overs. Siriwardana got to his maiden half-ton with a towering six off Mohammed Irfan while Mathews blistered to his 26th half-century.
Sri Lanka – 368/4 in 50 overs: Kusal Janith Perera 116, Tillakarathne Dilshan 62, Lahiru Thirimanne 30, Dinesh Chandimal 29, Angelo Mathews 70*, Milinda Siriwardana 52*, Rahat Ali 2/74.
Pakistan – 203 all out in 37.2 overs: Mohommad Hafeez 37, Azhar Ali 35, Mohommad Rizwan 29, Sarfraz Ahmed 27, Sachithra Senanayake 3/39, Thisara Perera 2/38.
Man of the Match – Kusal Janith Perera (Sri Lanka)
Man of the Series – Mohommad Hafeez (Pakistan)
