We are back for the chase. The umpires are out in the middle, and so are the players of Pakistan, who form a huddle and take their places on the field. It will be the duo of Avishka Fernando and Kamindu Mendis to open the innings for Sri Lanka. Shaheen Afridi will take the new ball himself, as expected. Two slips in place. Let's go...
0.0
... The Run Chase ...
0.0
An intriguing chase awaits - With 306 runs to chase, Sri Lanka will need a strong batting performance to kick-start their Tri-series campaign on a positive note. Can they rise to the challenge? We'll find out soon. Join us shortly for the second innings.
0.0
Sri Lanka fight back in the death overs - Sri Lanka made a promising start with the ball, picking up regular wickets and keeping Pakistan in check until the 20-over mark. However, the visitors struggled to make further inroads during the middle phase before bouncing back strongly in the final ten overs, claiming five wickets to restrict Pakistan to a par total. Eshan Malinga led the bowling effort with an impressive four-wicket haul, while Asitha Fernando chipped in with three wickets and Dilshan Madushanka claimed two. The spinners, meanwhile, found little assistance from the surface, conceding runs without managing to pick up a wicket.
0.0
Salman Agha's ton takes Pakistan to 305 - Pakistan produced a solid batting performance to post 305 in their allotted 50 overs after being asked to bat first. Despite losing both openers early, Babar Azam (45) and Saad Baig (39) steadied the innings with valuable contributions before departing. Salman Agha and Hasan Nawaz then took charge in the middle overs, stitching together a crucial 97-run partnership to put Pakistan back in control. Agha was the standout performer, smashing a brilliant century (107) to anchor the innings and provide momentum. With the Men in Green looking well on course for a total beyond 330 around the 40th over, a few late wickets slowed their progress. Pakistan eventually finished on 305, a competitive total after a strong recovery from an early setback.
49.5
OUT! RAUF IS RUN OUT! That will be that, and Pakistan end with 305 on the board. A low full toss at the stumps, Shaheen Afridi smacks it down to long on for a run, but he wants the strike and sets off for the second run which is never on. Sahan Arachchige picks up the ball and fires it in towards the bowler. Eshan Malinga collects it well and whips off the bails with Haris Rauf nowhere in sight. Pakistan are all out with one ball remaining in the innings.
49.4
Excellent change-up! A sharp bumper now, over middle and leg. Shaheen Afridi is taken by surprise and is rushed on the pull as the ball sails over his blade.
49.3
Through the legs! Another leg-stump yorker and Malinga gets it sot-on. This is right at the toes, and Afridi looks to whip it leg side but misses ad gets nut-megged.
49.2
That's a good comeback delivery. A yorker, right at the toes. Afridi digs it out wide to the left of the bowler and opts against the single.
49.1
FOUR! The skipper is on the charge. Full and straight, it ends up being a juicy full toss. Afridi stays deep and flat-bats it straight down the ground for a boundary.
48.6
Bowled from around the wicket, angled in towards middle and leg. Rauf backs away and swings across the line but gets another inside edge onto the pads, and the ball rolls to the off side.
48.5
Pitched full and around off, Shaheen Afridi stays deep and goes for the lofted shot but slices it wide of mid off for a single. 300 UP FOR PAKISTAN.
48.4
Full and straight, landing it perfectly in the blockhole. Afridi manages to dig it out through square leg and he races back for the second run.
48.3
FOUR! That's swung away perfectly in the gap. Full and straight, not quite yorker-length. Afridi keeps the front leg out of the way and whips it between long on and deep mid-wicket for a boundary. Also, Shaheen Afridi has called for a change of bat, not quite sure why.
48.2
Over the wicket now, spearing it in full towards the off pole. Afridi backs away a bit and jams it firmly to mid off once again.
48.1
Full and outside off, slanted across the left-hander from around the stumps. Afridi drills it straight to mid off.
0.0
Sri Lanka are now penalized for a slow over rate and they will have one less fielder out in the deep.
47.6
Malinga spears one in full and straight, Rauf backs away to swing it leg side but gets a big inside edge onto the back leg. Top over from Malinga.
47.5
Very full and just outside off, tailing back in a bit. Haris Rauf digs it out to extra cover.
47.4
Oh, another appeal for LBW, and again it's turned down. Kusal Mendis does review it, but this one seems more in hope. Full and straight from Malinga, slanted well into the pads. Haris Rauf gets pushed back as he tries to flick and misses, wearing it on the pads. Malinga knew that it was sliding down leg, and Ball Tracking shows the same. No Hat-trick!
0.0
Haris Rauf is the last batter in, and he'll be facing the hat-trick ball.
47.3
OUT! LBW! Excellent review by Sri Lanka, and that's two wickets in two balls for Eshan Malinga. Malinga pitches it up on off and middle, and gets the ball to tail back in sharply. The length isn't all that full but Naseem Shah gets pegged back and is beaten all ends up. The ball beats the inside edge and thuds into the front pad. There's a big appeal, but the umpire turns it down. It is reviewed and Ball Tracking comes up with three reds, sending Shah back for a golde duck.
0.0
The next batter is Naseem Shah.
47.2
OUT! EDGED AND GONE! A third wicket for Eshan Malinga as well, and Pakistan are crumbling at the death, and are in danger of even falling short of the 300-run mark. Malinga goes full and wide outside off, angling it further away. Faheem Ashraf plays away from the body and ends up getting an outside edge through to the keeper. Kusal Mendis makes no mistakes with the gloves on and Pakistan are now 293/8.
47.1
A slingy delivery, angled down leg, Shaheen Afridi tucks it off the pads to the right of short fine leg and picks up a single. It is given as leg byes.
46.6
Full and speared in at the toes, Shaheen Afridi leans on and clips it down to long on for one. Asitha Fernando finishes with 3/59 off his 10 overs.
0.0
Shaheen Afridi walks out to bat next.
46.5
OUT! CAUGHT! Sri Lanka are pulling things back nicely at the death, and this wicket could make a huge difference. Asitha Fernando goes searching for the toe-crushing yorker and just misses his length a bit. Salman Agha is able to take the front leg out and get under it, but he lifts it down to long on, where Dasun Shanaka takes a simple catch. End of a stellar knock from Salman, and Pakistan are 291/7.
46.4
On the money from Fernando. Yorker-length on off, landing it almost right on the popping crease. Ashraf jams it off the inside edge and through backward square leg for just one more.
46.3
Slower one at 106.9 kph, full and wide outside off. Salman lunges across and shovels it down behind square leg for just one more.
On to the next one - The hosts have started the tri-series in fine fashion, and they will now gear up for the next game. It is just the start of the series, but Sri Lanka will look to bounce back quickly in their next game in order to avoid slipping further into the abyss. The 2nd match of this tri-series will be played once again in Rawalpindi, and it will be Pakistan taking on England on October 20, Tuesday. The match is scheduled to start at 8 am GMT, but as usual, you can join us sooner for the build-up as well. Cheers!
0.0
Player of the Match - Who else, but Salman Agha to get the accolade for his match-winning knock of 107 runs. Salman starts by acknowledging that every cricketer goes through tough times and says returning to domestic cricket paid off for him. He adds that the ball was coming nicely, and his focus was on building a partnership and putting pressure on the opposition. Salman explains that he didn’t want to take unnecessary risks, preferring to keep the scoreboard ticking at a run-a-ball. He concludes by saying he targeted the gaps in the field, which worked well towards the end.
0.0
Presentation time...
0.0
Salman's comeback ton proves decisive - After opting to bowl first, Sri Lanka did start really well with the ball, and Dilshan Madushanka got the Pakistan batters into a spot of bother. The short-ball ploy also worked nicely for the Lankans, and they kept on picking up regular wickets. Then came the stand between debutant Saad Baig and Salman Agha. Baig played a handy knock, but it was Salman who really showed his class. Last month, he was dropped from the Test side, but he went back to domestic cricket and scored a triple ton to regain his confidence, and it showed. His century set things up nicely for Pakistan, but the Lankan pacers made a late comeback led by Eshan Malinga's four-fer before Shaheen Afridi got a couple of boundaries away to take Pakistan past the 300-run mark, which was essentially a psychological advantage.
0.0
Middle-overs charge not enough for Lanka - Sri Lanka have never chased down a score in excess of 300 runs against Pakistan, and that unwanted record is still intact. It was a sluggish start with the bat for Sri Lanka as Kamindu Mendis did a decent job at one end and watched his partners fall one by one at the other end, before he too fell, short of his half-century. At that stage, Sri Lanka's hopes were all but gone, but Janith Liyanage and Pavan Rathnayake got together and piled on 119 runs for the 5th wicket. Rathnayake ended up falling cheaply after a fine knock, and Liyanage too fell towards the end as Sri Lanka lost their last 6 wickets for just 58 runs.
0.0
Pacers get the job done - With plenty of runs to play with and a bit of assistance with the new ball under lights, Naseem Shah unleashed a stellar opening spell, one that was backed up by his fellow seamers as well. Pakistan were cruising through and had the opposition reeling at 91/4. However, they had to be patient through the course of the next 18-odd overs as the ball became softer and the dew settled in, making it easier for the batters. Faheem Ashraf then came in and delivered the telling blow and Haris Rauf finished things up. Shaheen Afridi himself took three wickets, whereas the other three pacers picked up two wickets each, rounding up a solid showing.
0.0
Then hosts start on the front foot - Pakistan have sealed a fairly comfortable victory in the opening contest of this ODI Tri-series that also involves England. For a few overs in the middle phase of the chase, it looked like Sri Lanka would make a comeback, but it was only a matter of that partnership between Janith Liyanage and Pavan Rathnayake being broken, and once it did, Pakistan were alwaysfavorites for the win.
48.1
Asitha Fernando b Haris Rauf 7 (10)
OUT! RAUF HITS TIMBER TO END THE GAME! Skiddy length ball, on the off-stump line. Asitha Fernando makes room to guide it down to deep third, but the ball zips through off the pitch and rattles the poles. Sri Lanka are dismissed for 268. Pakistan win by 37 runs.
47.6
Slower full ball at the stumps. Asitha Fernando makes room and drills it uppishly to deep cover for a single.
47.5
Slower length ball, around off. Asitha Fernando plays and misses.
47.4
Banged short, on the middle stump line. Asitha Fernando looks to pull but misses.
47.3
FOUR! How has that missed the stumps? Yorker length ball at the stumps. Asitha Fernando makes room to drive but ends up squeezing it past the left of the keeper for a streaky boundary.
47.2
Short of a length delivery, follows the batter outside the leg stump. Asitha Fernando backs away and gets a thud around the left shoulder.
47.1
Short of a length delivery, around off. Asitha Fernando looks to upper cut but misses.
46.6
Skiddy length ball, around off. Dilshan Madushanka plays and misses again. Sri Lanka need 43 off 18 balls.
46.5
Back of a length, around off. Dilshan Madushanka has a poke at it and gets beaten.
46.4
Full pitcher, on off. Asitha Fernando drags it toward long on for one.
46.3
Good length ball on middle-leg stump. Madushanka backs away and bunts that down to sweeper for a single with an open bat face.
46.2
Short of a length, around off. Left alone.
46.1
Yorker length ball at the stumps. Asitha Fernando gets the bat down in time and squeezes it toward short fine leg for one.
45.6
Yorker length ball on off. Dilshan Madushanka bunts it back to the bowler.
0.0
Dilshan Madushanka is the last batter for Sri Lanka.
45.5
Eshan Malinga run out (Babar Azam / Saad Baig) 2 (6)
OUT! RUN OUT! Another one bites the dust. Fuller than a length at the stumps. Asitha Fernando drags it toward mid on and looks to take a single. Malinga is late to respond, and both the batters are stranded on the bowler's end. Malinga goes past Asitha to complete the run as the throw comes at the keeper's end, who does the rest. Nine down now.
0.0
Asitha Fernando is in at number 10.
45.4
Sachindu Colombage c Saad Baig b Naseem Shah 1 (4)
OUT! EDGED AND GONE! Naseem bowls a back of a length delivery in the channel, just outside off. Sachindu Colombage has a tentative poke at it, away from the body. Gets a feather of an edge, and Saad Baig does the rest behind the stumps. Sri Lanka lose their eighth.
45.3
Fuller than a length, around off. Eshan Malinga tries to thrash through covers but ends up hitting off the toe end toward deep third for one.
45.2
Good length, wide of off. Sachindu Colombage cuts it toward deep backward point for one.
45.1
On a length, wide outside off. Malinga cuts it through the backward point region for a single.
44.7
LEG BYE! Sliding in, full and around leg. Malinga tries to flick it but misses. The ball hits his front pad and rolls down to backward square leg for a leg bye. Sri Lanka need 49 off 30 balls.
44.6
Skiddy, length ball around off. Eshan Malinga looks to cut but misses.
Click it and Unblock the Notifications
SL
We are back for the chase. The umpires are out in the middle, and so are the players of Pakistan, who form a huddle and take their places on the field. It will be the duo of Avishka Fernando and Kamindu Mendis to open the innings for Sri Lanka. Shaheen Afridi will take the new ball himself, as expected. Two slips in place. Let's go...
... The Run Chase ...
An intriguing chase awaits - With 306 runs to chase, Sri Lanka will need a strong batting performance to kick-start their Tri-series campaign on a positive note. Can they rise to the challenge? We'll find out soon. Join us shortly for the second innings.
Sri Lanka fight back in the death overs - Sri Lanka made a promising start with the ball, picking up regular wickets and keeping Pakistan in check until the 20-over mark. However, the visitors struggled to make further inroads during the middle phase before bouncing back strongly in the final ten overs, claiming five wickets to restrict Pakistan to a par total. Eshan Malinga led the bowling effort with an impressive four-wicket haul, while Asitha Fernando chipped in with three wickets and Dilshan Madushanka claimed two. The spinners, meanwhile, found little assistance from the surface, conceding runs without managing to pick up a wicket.
Salman Agha's ton takes Pakistan to 305 - Pakistan produced a solid batting performance to post 305 in their allotted 50 overs after being asked to bat first. Despite losing both openers early, Babar Azam (45) and Saad Baig (39) steadied the innings with valuable contributions before departing. Salman Agha and Hasan Nawaz then took charge in the middle overs, stitching together a crucial 97-run partnership to put Pakistan back in control. Agha was the standout performer, smashing a brilliant century (107) to anchor the innings and provide momentum. With the Men in Green looking well on course for a total beyond 330 around the 40th over, a few late wickets slowed their progress. Pakistan eventually finished on 305, a competitive total after a strong recovery from an early setback.
OUT! RAUF IS RUN OUT! That will be that, and Pakistan end with 305 on the board. A low full toss at the stumps, Shaheen Afridi smacks it down to long on for a run, but he wants the strike and sets off for the second run which is never on. Sahan Arachchige picks up the ball and fires it in towards the bowler. Eshan Malinga collects it well and whips off the bails with Haris Rauf nowhere in sight. Pakistan are all out with one ball remaining in the innings.
Excellent change-up! A sharp bumper now, over middle and leg. Shaheen Afridi is taken by surprise and is rushed on the pull as the ball sails over his blade.
Through the legs! Another leg-stump yorker and Malinga gets it sot-on. This is right at the toes, and Afridi looks to whip it leg side but misses ad gets nut-megged.
That's a good comeback delivery. A yorker, right at the toes. Afridi digs it out wide to the left of the bowler and opts against the single.
FOUR! The skipper is on the charge. Full and straight, it ends up being a juicy full toss. Afridi stays deep and flat-bats it straight down the ground for a boundary.
Bowled from around the wicket, angled in towards middle and leg. Rauf backs away and swings across the line but gets another inside edge onto the pads, and the ball rolls to the off side.
Pitched full and around off, Shaheen Afridi stays deep and goes for the lofted shot but slices it wide of mid off for a single. 300 UP FOR PAKISTAN.
Full and straight, landing it perfectly in the blockhole. Afridi manages to dig it out through square leg and he races back for the second run.
FOUR! That's swung away perfectly in the gap. Full and straight, not quite yorker-length. Afridi keeps the front leg out of the way and whips it between long on and deep mid-wicket for a boundary. Also, Shaheen Afridi has called for a change of bat, not quite sure why.
Over the wicket now, spearing it in full towards the off pole. Afridi backs away a bit and jams it firmly to mid off once again.
Full and outside off, slanted across the left-hander from around the stumps. Afridi drills it straight to mid off.
Sri Lanka are now penalized for a slow over rate and they will have one less fielder out in the deep.
Malinga spears one in full and straight, Rauf backs away to swing it leg side but gets a big inside edge onto the back leg. Top over from Malinga.
Very full and just outside off, tailing back in a bit. Haris Rauf digs it out to extra cover.
Oh, another appeal for LBW, and again it's turned down. Kusal Mendis does review it, but this one seems more in hope. Full and straight from Malinga, slanted well into the pads. Haris Rauf gets pushed back as he tries to flick and misses, wearing it on the pads. Malinga knew that it was sliding down leg, and Ball Tracking shows the same. No Hat-trick!
Haris Rauf is the last batter in, and he'll be facing the hat-trick ball.
OUT! LBW! Excellent review by Sri Lanka, and that's two wickets in two balls for Eshan Malinga. Malinga pitches it up on off and middle, and gets the ball to tail back in sharply. The length isn't all that full but Naseem Shah gets pegged back and is beaten all ends up. The ball beats the inside edge and thuds into the front pad. There's a big appeal, but the umpire turns it down. It is reviewed and Ball Tracking comes up with three reds, sending Shah back for a golde duck.
The next batter is Naseem Shah.
OUT! EDGED AND GONE! A third wicket for Eshan Malinga as well, and Pakistan are crumbling at the death, and are in danger of even falling short of the 300-run mark. Malinga goes full and wide outside off, angling it further away. Faheem Ashraf plays away from the body and ends up getting an outside edge through to the keeper. Kusal Mendis makes no mistakes with the gloves on and Pakistan are now 293/8.
A slingy delivery, angled down leg, Shaheen Afridi tucks it off the pads to the right of short fine leg and picks up a single. It is given as leg byes.
Full and speared in at the toes, Shaheen Afridi leans on and clips it down to long on for one. Asitha Fernando finishes with 3/59 off his 10 overs.
Shaheen Afridi walks out to bat next.
OUT! CAUGHT! Sri Lanka are pulling things back nicely at the death, and this wicket could make a huge difference. Asitha Fernando goes searching for the toe-crushing yorker and just misses his length a bit. Salman Agha is able to take the front leg out and get under it, but he lifts it down to long on, where Dasun Shanaka takes a simple catch. End of a stellar knock from Salman, and Pakistan are 291/7.
On the money from Fernando. Yorker-length on off, landing it almost right on the popping crease. Ashraf jams it off the inside edge and through backward square leg for just one more.
Slower one at 106.9 kph, full and wide outside off. Salman lunges across and shovels it down behind square leg for just one more.
On to the next one - The hosts have started the tri-series in fine fashion, and they will now gear up for the next game. It is just the start of the series, but Sri Lanka will look to bounce back quickly in their next game in order to avoid slipping further into the abyss. The 2nd match of this tri-series will be played once again in Rawalpindi, and it will be Pakistan taking on England on October 20, Tuesday. The match is scheduled to start at 8 am GMT, but as usual, you can join us sooner for the build-up as well. Cheers!
Player of the Match - Who else, but Salman Agha to get the accolade for his match-winning knock of 107 runs. Salman starts by acknowledging that every cricketer goes through tough times and says returning to domestic cricket paid off for him. He adds that the ball was coming nicely, and his focus was on building a partnership and putting pressure on the opposition. Salman explains that he didn’t want to take unnecessary risks, preferring to keep the scoreboard ticking at a run-a-ball. He concludes by saying he targeted the gaps in the field, which worked well towards the end.
Presentation time...
Salman's comeback ton proves decisive - After opting to bowl first, Sri Lanka did start really well with the ball, and Dilshan Madushanka got the Pakistan batters into a spot of bother. The short-ball ploy also worked nicely for the Lankans, and they kept on picking up regular wickets. Then came the stand between debutant Saad Baig and Salman Agha. Baig played a handy knock, but it was Salman who really showed his class. Last month, he was dropped from the Test side, but he went back to domestic cricket and scored a triple ton to regain his confidence, and it showed. His century set things up nicely for Pakistan, but the Lankan pacers made a late comeback led by Eshan Malinga's four-fer before Shaheen Afridi got a couple of boundaries away to take Pakistan past the 300-run mark, which was essentially a psychological advantage.
Middle-overs charge not enough for Lanka - Sri Lanka have never chased down a score in excess of 300 runs against Pakistan, and that unwanted record is still intact. It was a sluggish start with the bat for Sri Lanka as Kamindu Mendis did a decent job at one end and watched his partners fall one by one at the other end, before he too fell, short of his half-century. At that stage, Sri Lanka's hopes were all but gone, but Janith Liyanage and Pavan Rathnayake got together and piled on 119 runs for the 5th wicket. Rathnayake ended up falling cheaply after a fine knock, and Liyanage too fell towards the end as Sri Lanka lost their last 6 wickets for just 58 runs.
Pacers get the job done - With plenty of runs to play with and a bit of assistance with the new ball under lights, Naseem Shah unleashed a stellar opening spell, one that was backed up by his fellow seamers as well. Pakistan were cruising through and had the opposition reeling at 91/4. However, they had to be patient through the course of the next 18-odd overs as the ball became softer and the dew settled in, making it easier for the batters. Faheem Ashraf then came in and delivered the telling blow and Haris Rauf finished things up. Shaheen Afridi himself took three wickets, whereas the other three pacers picked up two wickets each, rounding up a solid showing.
Then hosts start on the front foot - Pakistan have sealed a fairly comfortable victory in the opening contest of this ODI Tri-series that also involves England. For a few overs in the middle phase of the chase, it looked like Sri Lanka would make a comeback, but it was only a matter of that partnership between Janith Liyanage and Pavan Rathnayake being broken, and once it did, Pakistan were alwaysfavorites for the win.
OUT! RAUF HITS TIMBER TO END THE GAME! Skiddy length ball, on the off-stump line. Asitha Fernando makes room to guide it down to deep third, but the ball zips through off the pitch and rattles the poles. Sri Lanka are dismissed for 268. Pakistan win by 37 runs.
Slower full ball at the stumps. Asitha Fernando makes room and drills it uppishly to deep cover for a single.
Slower length ball, around off. Asitha Fernando plays and misses.
Banged short, on the middle stump line. Asitha Fernando looks to pull but misses.
FOUR! How has that missed the stumps? Yorker length ball at the stumps. Asitha Fernando makes room to drive but ends up squeezing it past the left of the keeper for a streaky boundary.
Short of a length delivery, follows the batter outside the leg stump. Asitha Fernando backs away and gets a thud around the left shoulder.
Short of a length delivery, around off. Asitha Fernando looks to upper cut but misses.
Skiddy length ball, around off. Dilshan Madushanka plays and misses again. Sri Lanka need 43 off 18 balls.
Back of a length, around off. Dilshan Madushanka has a poke at it and gets beaten.
Full pitcher, on off. Asitha Fernando drags it toward long on for one.
Good length ball on middle-leg stump. Madushanka backs away and bunts that down to sweeper for a single with an open bat face.
Short of a length, around off. Left alone.
Yorker length ball at the stumps. Asitha Fernando gets the bat down in time and squeezes it toward short fine leg for one.
Yorker length ball on off. Dilshan Madushanka bunts it back to the bowler.
Dilshan Madushanka is the last batter for Sri Lanka.
OUT! RUN OUT! Another one bites the dust. Fuller than a length at the stumps. Asitha Fernando drags it toward mid on and looks to take a single. Malinga is late to respond, and both the batters are stranded on the bowler's end. Malinga goes past Asitha to complete the run as the throw comes at the keeper's end, who does the rest. Nine down now.
Asitha Fernando is in at number 10.
OUT! EDGED AND GONE! Naseem bowls a back of a length delivery in the channel, just outside off. Sachindu Colombage has a tentative poke at it, away from the body. Gets a feather of an edge, and Saad Baig does the rest behind the stumps. Sri Lanka lose their eighth.
Fuller than a length, around off. Eshan Malinga tries to thrash through covers but ends up hitting off the toe end toward deep third for one.
Good length, wide of off. Sachindu Colombage cuts it toward deep backward point for one.
On a length, wide outside off. Malinga cuts it through the backward point region for a single.
LEG BYE! Sliding in, full and around leg. Malinga tries to flick it but misses. The ball hits his front pad and rolls down to backward square leg for a leg bye. Sri Lanka need 49 off 30 balls.
Skiddy, length ball around off. Eshan Malinga looks to cut but misses.