Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by 37 runs to win first T20 match
This was not to be as Pakistan struggled to get a foothold for the entire innings, succumbing to 12 for three before the fourth over ended. While opener Ahmed Shehzad tried to stabilise the innings, he found little support from any of his partners.
Shoaib Malik, brought back into the team, managed to support Shehzad in a 32 run partnership before he was caught by Perera. Shahid Afridi too failed to make an impact on the innings, making a solitary run before his dismissal.
Sri Lanka too had seed a horrendous start, losing early wickets, but they recovered to reach 132 for seven in their allotted 20 overs.
Sri Lanka had were teetering at 89-for seven when Thisara Perera helped his team reach a respectable score.
For Pakistan, Sohail Tanveer finished as the pick of the bowlers claiming three wickets, conceding 12 runs in his allotted four overs.
Earlier, Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene elected to bat after winning the toss against Pakistan in the opening Twenty20 international in Hambantota on Friday.
Pakistan made a promising start, reducing Sri Lanka to 39 for 3 with Sohail Tanveer claiming the scalps of the captain Jayawardene, Sangakkara and Dilshan.
The second and final Twenty20 match will be played on Sunday.
Sri Lanka: Mahela Jayawardene (capt), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kumar Sangakkara, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Thisara Perera, Kaushal Lokuarachchi, Nuwan Kulasekera, Sachithra Senanayake, Lasith Malinga.
Pakistan: Mohammad Hafeez (capt), Ahmed Shehzad, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi, Khalid Latif, Shakeel Ansar, Sohail Tanvir, Saeed Ajmal, Umar Gul, Mohammad Sami.
Umpires: Asoka de Silva (SRI) and Ranmore Martinesz (SRI)
TV umpire: Ruchira Palliyaguruge (SRI)
Match referee: Chris Broad (ENG)
COMMENTS (23)
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@malik: thus slapping the faces of Indian??? get some life dude!!!!!!!
I can understand batsmen playing shots and getting out to catches on the boundary line. But, see the shots played by Umar Akmal and Shahid Afridi. Even school kids would be ashamed to play such shots, especially when the wicket had something for the bowlers.
By the way, don't criticise Shoaib Malik. He is being rewarded for bringing Indian idol to Pakistan and thus slapping the faces of Indian.
Was it fixed by Indian bookies?
I blame this loss squarely on Afridi and Umar Akmal both of them are intent on trying to fail Hafeez as a captain. Malik at least didn't try to give his wicket away and tried to play in. He was out on a good catch. It seems Afridi really wanted to lose this match badly and he succeeded. Poor Hafeez, Now we understand how difficult it is to win these misfits every person playing for himself and no one is playing for their country and team, Afridi should never be made captain again and should be kicked out of the team, Sami what the heck he is doing in the team? Even Lankan beginning bowler had a brain. Gul also doesn't belong t20 team. It was a shameful performance all around except Ahmed Shazad, Ajmal and Tanvir who always gives his 100 per cent when playing.
Sri Lanka played well thrashing Pakistan by 37 runs. I hope Sri Lanka win the ODI series as well.
Misbaah ki aah!! Pushing aside a winning captain...! The old saying "Dont fix what is not broken!" And what our selectors do change captains and bring in 7 new players. What do you expect! Batting looked seriously short on experience! Umar Akmal and Afrdi threw their wickets playing appaling shots! A misbah or Yunis could have taken them closer!
We should not judge team's performance after one defeat. Its a long series and players have enough time to adjust except Shoaib Malik, who should not be with team.
Afridi is a great dissapointment and should be banished for life. Malik tried his best but that stunner of a catch was not expected to be accepted.Misbah should have been there "as the calming effect". He may not be captain but should be in the team. Haffez has to learn the bowling combinations and permutations. No one is born a captain, except Misbah and Imran Khan of course.
happens when u play Khalid Latif and Sami and pathetic batting order . Remember when Pakistan won T20 WC .. Afridi used to come one down .. why pakistan doesnot learn from past ??
Blame the selectors , they should be sacked for bringing in so many new players at once. Where is misbah, where is younis. If you put in so many raw players you need stability as well and we all know you are never gonna get that from afridi. You cant blame ipl for not buying any pak players after that performance
What is Malik STILL doing in the team?? has there ever been a more useless/non-performing player who has been given SO many pointless chances, can't bat, can't bowl. That aside, the whole batting unit failed, they had no idea what to do. I have reservations about Hafeez too against quality sides, I can't recall any innings of authority. He is a bowling all rounder at best but unfortunately has to open the batting too. And the wicket keeper was a shocker too, if this is to come then I may as well not waste my time.
The batting is cringe-worthy.
Pakistan will find a way to get all out even in 10 over game !
@Khan: Your argument has lot of weight. Afridi has been (not is) a great all-rounder for Pakistan no doubt about it. Pakistan did not lose the match because of bowling but batting. Only one batsman tried to say put the rest could not last even an over. One would not have any problem with team's performance if they were all new and young but it is the attitude and abject failure of the experienced ones. Of course if Pakistan needs a LBG bowler, I would still rate Afridi at the top. He can be selected as a spinner among the three available if Pakistan needs one. Younus Khan retired from 20's after he won the championship and still going strong, not after becoming questionable. Regards, Mirza
Afridi is now over the hill, the team should get rid of Afridi and Shoib Malik.....they are useless in the team. I dont know why the selectors select these two guys in the first place. Over all the team is wrongly balanced, ill selected, poor planning and strategy.
Who selected the team. You can't put in 7 new players in one go... Come on!!! Anyone??
That's what happens when you play M.Sami, Shoaib Malik and some random wicketkeeper who averages 12.7 in first class cricket
@Mirza: Afridi is one of the best all rounder but people always judge him by his batting .. he is one of the best wicket taker for Pakistan. It was a shame that Hafeez didn't let him bowl all of his over. The new guys seemed immature and scared, they should be taught how to play without getting scared and wasting balls. Congratulations to Sri Lanka .. they bowled very well.
All thanks to Umer Gul's last 2 overs.
Insane batting epitomized by the way afridi threw his wickets...
Stability and presence of Misbah missed...
Don't know what Shoaib Malik is doing in the team. Also, Sami is tried, tested and failed. Cheema is a better option.
Missing Misbah ...,