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Shahid Afridi (centre) celebrates with his teammates after he dismissed Dinesh Chandimal (unseen) during the first One Day International (ODI) match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka at the Dubai cricket stadium yesterday. (AFP |
Pakistan eased to an eight-wicket victory over an out-of-sorts Sri Lanka in the first one-day international in Dubai yesterday.
Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi announced his return from retirement with figures of three for 27 as his team hurried their opponents out for a paltry 131 in 40.3 overs.
Dinesh Chandimal’s 28 was the top score in that total, but Pakistan showed their were no demons in the pitch as they coasted past their target for the loss of both openers.
Imran Farhat (50) and Younus Khan (56 not out) saw their side safely over the line in the first of the five-match series.
Sri Lanka skipper Tillakaratne Dilshan opted to bat first after winning the toss but his day went only downhill from there.
He was first out for four in the second over and then watched on as Pakistan’s spinners took control. Between them Afridi, Mohammad Hafeez and Saeed Ajmal took seven for 72.
Pakistan’s batsmen lingered only 21.5 overs to claim the win, though Sri Lanka started well when Suranga Lakmal sent back Hafeez for five.
Farhat and Younus then embarked on a second-wicket partnership worth 103.
Sri Lanka’s key bowler Lasith Malinga failed to fire, shipping 35 in five overs without success, while Dilhara Fernando also struggled to make an impact.
Kosala Kulasekara had a debut to forget, returning nought for 17 in three overs after bagging a duck in the first innings.
Farhat became Lakmal’s second victim shortly after making his half-century, falling lbw with the score on 115 but by then the result was in no doubt.
Younus saw things through to the end, closing with seven fours from 57 deliveries while Sarfraz Ahmed made four from seven balls at the other end.
Earlier, Dilshan dragged on to Aizaz Cheema to leave Sri Lanka 12 for one.
Having got the better of Sri Lanka in the recent Test series between the two, Pakistan were looking to impose themselves further on the tourists at their adopted home, and they snared the key wicket of Kumar Sangakkara in the 11th over.
The score had progressed to 36 when the master batsman fell to Abdul Razzaq in his first over, trying to pinch a single but feathering a chance behind.
Removing him for five was a real boost for Pakistan, and when they sent Upal Tharanga back to the pavilion as well - the opener going for 25 when he skied Hafeez to Cheema - they were in control with Sri Lanka on 66 for three.
Afridi then took the ball and typically assumed centre-stage in doing so, removing Chandimal for a breezy 28.
Afridi was involved in the next dismissal too, with Angelo Mathews attempting to take a quick single off him, only to be sent back and left short of his ground when Razzaq smartly threw to the keeper.
Sri Lanka’s innings was unravelling and Kulasekara became the sixth batsman to lose his wicket when he went for a six-ball duck, chipping Hafeez to Umar Gul.