Perera hat trick hands Pakistan 44 run defeat in fourth ODI

Sri Lanka take 2-1 lead in the series after Perera took four wickets in five balls.


Afp June 16, 2012

COLOMBO: A hat trick from Thisara Perera handed Pakistan 44 run defeat in the fourth one day international. 

The rain-hit match at Premadasa was moving in Pakistan's favour with opener Azhar Ali and captain Misbahul Haq shared a 113 run partnership, chasing Sri Lanka's 243 for the loss of eight wickets.

But after Haq was dismissed for 57, Pakistani batsmen found the going quite tough, and Perera too hot to handle as the team collapsed from 166 for three to 179-9.

Spinner Saeed Ajmal tried to offer support to Ali to the best of his ability. The pair added 20 more runs before Ajmal tried to lob one over mid-off and was caught by Thirimanne to bring the match to a close.

Azhar Ali remained not out, having made 81 runs.

Sangakkara had shared a 110 run partnership with captain Mahela Jayawardene, who scored 40 runs.

Off-spinners Mohammad Hafeez and Saeed Ajmal, and paceman Sohail Tanvir each bagged two wickets for Pakistan in the day-night match.

Earlier, Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene elected to bat after winning the toss against Pakistan in the fourth one-day international in Colombo on Saturday.

The five-match series is currently tied 1-1, with Pakistan winning the opening one-dayer by six wickets and Sri Lanka winning the second game by 76 runs in Pallekele.

The third match was abandoned due to rain in Colombo on Wednesday.

Sri Lanka: Mahela Jayawardene (capt), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Upul Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Lahiru Thirimanne, Thisara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Sajeewa Weerakoon.

Pakistan: Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), Mohammad Hafeez, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Umar Akmal, Asad Shafiq, Shahid Afridi, Sarfraz Ahmed, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Sohail Tanvir.

Umpires: Ranmore Martinesz (SRI) and Paul Reiffel (AUS)

TV umpire: Ruchira Palliyaguruge (SRI)

Match referee: Chris Broad (ENG)

COMMENTS (20)

kamran ahmed | 11 years ago | Reply

Since many of our senior player or continously fail better to try our bench strength. Yonus ,shahid, Umer Akmel and Umer Gulneed complete rest.Hafeez should come down at #6.

Dr. Saleem Siddiqi | 11 years ago | Reply

Time has come to say Good bye to:

Mohammad Hafeez [6 ducks in a row - World record for an opener) Mohd. Younus Umar Akmal Afridi

They are un-reliable and burden on our Team. They must be replaced by young ones. Young blood will have the ability to fight which is lacking in these aging players.

Regards Dr. Saleem Siddiqi

VIEW MORE COMMENTS
Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ