Sweeping the desert clean

Pakistan win only Twenty20 after Test and ODI series wins as Sri Lanka falter yet again.

ABU DHABI:

Pakistan captain Misbahul Haq was a delighted man after his team put up another clinical show to win the only Twenty20 against Sri Lanka by five wickets, rounding of their UAE tour by blanking out their rivals in all three forms of the game. 

Misbah hit a 38-ball 48 to guide Pakistan’s response to Sri Lanka’s 141, but was quick to credit all-rounder Shahid Afridi, who hit a 15-ball 22, for pulling off the run chase.

“At one point the chase became difficult but Afridi’s sixes in the 19th over turned the tables in our favour,” said Misbah. “It’s remarkable to win all three forms of the game against a top team.”

The victory capped a remarkable performance by Pakistan who won the preceding three-Test series 1-0 and the five-match One-Day International (ODI) series 4-1.

Sri Lanka captain Tillakaratne Dilshan rued the loss of quick wickets after a good start to their innings. “We couldn’t capitalise on a good start but we still had Pakistan in trouble before Afridi hit those two sixes,” said Dilshan.

Pakistan battle through

Fast-bowler Aizaz Cheema took four for 30 to bowl Sri Lanka out in 19.3 overs before Misbah kept his nerves to chase down the target with three balls to spare.

The captain, who hit three boundaries and a six, added 46 for the fourth wicket with Asad Shafiq (33) after Pakistan lost their way. They lost Mohammad Hafeez (13), Imran Farhat (13) and Umar Akmal for a first-ball duck.

With 43 needed off the last four overs, Misbah hit three boundaries in the 17th over of the innings bowled by Dilhara Fernando.

This set the stage for Afridi to step in and with Pakistan needing 23 off the last two overs, the all-rounder hit the hapless Fernando for two sixes over deep mid-wicket before the paceman had him caught behind. Pakistan needed nine off the last over bowled by Malinga whose first ball saw two taken by Misbah but the ensuing throw went for four before Shoaib Malik knocked off the winning runs.

Dejected Dilshan asks for patience

Sri Lanka had contrasting fortunes during the tour, but Dilshan hoped fans back home would show patience.

“I know, like us, every cricket fan in Sri Lanka would be disappointed,” said Dilshan, who has lost three Tests and as many one-day series since taking over in May this year. “I hope fans believe in us and give us more time because we tried our level best. There were times when we were in strong positions but we didn’t capitalise on them and lost track.”

Published in The Express Tribune, November 27^th, 2011.