Afridi, Ajmal heroics help Pakistan win first ODI
Pakistan chased down the target in 21.5 overs on the back of half-centuries from Imran Farhat and Younus Khan.
Earlier, the Sri Lankan batting line up collapsed for 131 on a bowler friendly track, after a match winning comeback performance by Shahid Afridi who took 3-27 while Saeed Ajmal took 2-21.
LD Chandimal was the highest run getter for Sri Lanka, scoring 28.
Earlier Sri Lanka captain Tillakaratne Dilshan won the toss and decided to bat in the first day-night international against Pakistan at Dubai stadium here on Friday.
Sri Lanka preferred leg-spinner Seekkuge Prasanna over the more experienced off-spinner Syraj Randiv, while they also gave debut to 26-year-old allrounder Kosala Kulasekara.
As expected, Pakistan included Shahid Afridi but left out Shoaib Malik. Afridi was recalled for the series after he last month went back on his decision to retire decision.
Pakistan: Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), Shahid Afridi, Mohammad Hafeez, Imran Farhat, Younis Khan, Umar Akmal, Sarfraz Ahmed, Saeed Ajmal, Umar Gul, Aizaz Cheema, Abdul Razzaq
Sri Lanka: Tillakaratne Dilshan (captain), Upul Tharanga, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Kosala Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Suranga Lakmal, Seekkuge Prasanna, Dilhara Fernando
Umpires: Marais Erasmus (RSA) and Ahsan Raza (PAK)
TV umpire: Richard Illingworth (ENG)
Match referee: Andy Pycroft (ZIM)
COMMENTS (17)
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Shame on SL for showing such dismal performance. We know SL players have disagreement with their board and their salaries are unpaid but it does not mean a club cricket level player can make fun of their batting line up. If Pakistan had shown such poor performance, everyone would have been demanding investigation.
@Ch Allah Daad: yes...inthat case..opponents lose.
@Mirza: now you have changed your instance.
Afridi ma Man is back. Awesome Bowling man. Team played really well Mash'Allah. My best wishes are for them for the rest of ODI and T20.
@geeko
The fact that Afridi does so well in matches is the reason why he is so loved amongst masses, and when he does well as an individual cricketer- he increases the chances of Pakistan doing well. After all cricket is a team sport and everyone has to contribute. So, yes, I am proud that Afridi keeps on proving "haters" wrong because he does deserve his spot in the national team.
Most people do not dislike Afridi as a bowler in short format. The problem starts with his leadership, politics and big mouth whether chewing the ball or mouthing off. He is fine as long as he plays under a highly educated leader and keeps his mouth shut.
Pakistan wins when Afridi does not bat.
I am a big fan of afridi and really miss his batting fire power. There is a joke in BD that even our pacers can't bowl as fast as afridi. Anyway a great victory for PAK and hope they win the series 5-0.
@Haris: Even ? Sorry to say, but Waqar Younis is not a kid unlike some 'Boom Boom', he has nothing personal against Afridi and just said that 'play for your country, not yourself'; and reading some comments here, I'm sure that most are more pleased to Afridi doing well than Pakistan winning.
Good game Afridi. Good game Pakistan.
Even Waqar Younus Praised the afridi..!
where are the antagonists who wanted afridi out?
Excellent performance indeed. However, there are 2 things i am not sure about in this article. one, Muhammad Hafeez took the juice out of the Srilankan batting line, he did not get a mention. Secondly, the track was not bowler friendly and was reasonably good for ODI cricket. It was good Pakistani bowling plus the terrible sri lankan batting that allowed such a low score.
GEO lala GEO. . .
afridi haters... you still think afridi has no place in the squad?
welcome lala with good show . . .!!!