2nd ODI: All-round Perera flattens Pakistan
The hosts, spurred by Tillakaratne Dilshan’s unbeaten 119, piled up 280 for four off their quota. Dilshan was supported by captain Mahela Jayawardena who, coming in at number five, scored 53 off 48 balls. Perera then provided some fireworks late in the innings, hitting two sixes and as many fours in his 14-ball 24.
The all-rounder then returned with career-best figures of six for 44, the best ODI figures by any bowler against Pakistan, as starts were thrown away. Sri Lanka, with brilliant catching, remained in control under lights.
Perera, deservingly, was named man of the match for his performance.
"It is a 50-50 pitch,” said the all-rounder. “You can hit and you can get wickets as well. I really enjoyed myself in this game as I could play my natural game. Now it's 1-1 in the series and, despite the manner of the win tonight, we have to carry this performance forward with three matches to go."
Pakistan captain Misbahul Haq, meanwhile, remained a disappointed man, seeking an improved in all three departments to come back strongly in the series.
"Sri Lanka played really well," he said. "Their opening partnership was very good. Dilshan, Mahela and then the late flourish at the end. The pitch was very good too. We started well but when Umar Akmal and myself were dismissed, the game turned.
“We have to work really hard in all three departments as Sri Lanka were better than us in all three departments."
Published in The Express Tribune, June 10th, 2012.
COMMENTS (3)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1734654707-0/luigi-mangione--(1)1734654707-0-405x300.webp "article")
1734651970-0/super-man-(1)1734651970-0-165x106.webp "article")
1734646196-0/Nick-(1)1734646196-0-165x106.webp "article")
1734511806-0/Untitled-design-(5)1734511806-0-270x192.webp "saim ayub breaks brian lara s odi record")
1734587529-0/Express-Tribune-(1)1734587529-0-270x192.webp "pakistan to host another icc event")
1734468458-0/Copy-of-Untitled-(50)1734468458-0-270x192.webp "salman agha shares man of the match award with saim ayub in touching gesture")
Pathetic performance
We will continue to have this kind of matches where bowlers are unable to win matches. If openers don't click we will lose every match. Pakistan is counting on Misbah and openers and bowlers to win every match. One has to ask on what basis Younis is being selected every odi he has ten an over average in almost fifty odi matches. He score only once in UAE. He needs to sit out and retired from ODis. He has been around the block for fifty odd years and he gets out exactly the same odd reason. We need Asad Shafiq, Shoib Malik or some other young players who could have some fire power like Sri Lanka where they have groomed six or seven new players who are winning matches and we are still trying to stick tired old horses like Younis who playerslike a novice every macth and is either consuming the overs by not scoring or getting out. Only performance should not reputations. If Pakistan think they can win matches Younis and Umar then we will keep losing.
Pakistan's playing eleven is imbalanced. Afridi coming at 6 does not give lots of assurance to the fragile batting lineup. The 6th bowler Rahat was only given 4 overs which does not help an upcoming player. This was very poor on Misbah's part, yes Rahat went for runs but there were quite a few edges through the slips for fours. Had Misbah been a proactive captain, those four could have been wickets. Hope, this is not the end of Rahat's International career. He deserves more than just 4 overs to show his potential.