Sharjeel Khan reacts after being given out as Sri Lankan cricketers celebrate his wicket during the opening match of the Asia Cup one-day tournament between Pakistan and Sri Lanka at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah, on the outskirts of Dhaka on February 25, 2014. PHOTO: AFP
FATULLAH: Pakistan lost the opening match of Asia Cup 2014 by 12 runs , espncricinfo reported.
Chasing a daunting target of 297 runs, Pakistan never looked comfortable as wickets keep falling at regular interval.
Pakistan were all out on 284 runs in 48.5 overs.
Pakistan skipper Misbahiul Haq and wicket keeper Umar Akmal were pick of the batsmen for Pakistan, they made 73 runs off 84 balls and 74 runs off 72 balls respectively.
Lasith Malinga took five wickets for 52 runs in his 9.5 overs.
Earlier, left-handed opener Lahiru Thirimanne scored his second One Day International century to setup a big Sri Lanka score in the first match of the Asia Cup tournament.
Batting first, after winning the toss, the Islanders made the most of batting friendly conditions in Fatullah. Thirimanne and former captain Kumara Sangakkara combined for an Asia Cup record second wicket partnership of 161 runs after Kusal Perera had perished cheaply to Umar Gul.
After Sangakkara’s demise for 67, who also fell to Gul, Pakistan clawed back in the match taking the next five wickets for only 62 runs.
Captain Angelo Mathews gave impetus in the closing stages of the innings with an unbeaten 55 off 50 balls, as Sri Lanka finished at 296 for 6 in their 50 overs.
For Pakistan, Gul and Shahid Afridi took two wickets each, Saeed Ajmal took one wicket for 50 runs off his 10 overs. Junaid Khan, Bilawal Bhatti and Mohammad Hafeez failed to achieve a breakthrough as bowling became increasingly tough due to the placid nature of the wicket.
Bilawal Bhatti preferred over all-rounder Anwar Ali went for 27 runs in his four overs.
Sri Lanka, fresh from victories in the preceding Test, one-day and Twenty20 series against Bangladesh, were without the injured trio of opener Tillakaratne Dilshan, seamer Nuwan Kulasekara and spinner Rangana Herath.
Sri Lanka handed an international debut to Chaturanga de Silva, a 24-year-old all-rounder who bats left-handed and bowls left-arm spin.
India, Bangladesh and Afghanistan are the other teams in the tournament that will decide the regional champion in one-day cricket.
Teams
Pakistan: Misbahul Haq (c) , Abdur Rehman, Ahmed Shehzad, Anwar Ali, Bilawal Bhatti, Fawad Alam, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Talha, Saeed Ajmal, Shahid Afridi, Sharjeel Khan, Sohaib Maqsood, Umar Akmal, Umar Gul
Sri Lanka: AD Mathews (c), LD Chandimal, PC de Silva, DPMD Jayawardene, RAS Lakmal, SL Malinga, BAW Mendis, MDKJ Perera, NLTC Perera, KTGD Prasad, SMA Priyanjan, KC Sangakkara, SMSM Senanayake, HDRL Thirimanne
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COMMENTS (22)
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Pakistan should have won this game.Any target below three hundred runs is achievable on such pitches once again misbah failed to play an impact inning.
Pakistan should learn from India how to chase a reasonable target. Kholi has made more centuries while chasing than anybody else and he is still a kid. When would Hafeez and Afridi ever learn? They are great all rounders but against mediocre oppositions not in demanding situation. We failed in all departments of the game and better team won.
Well Played Pakistan! A tough fight till the end. I'm anxious waiting for sunday, Ind vs Pak is alway electrifying. May the best team win :)
Sri Lankans are very humble, modest, friendly and down-to-earth people.
fantastic batting by Akmal, solid performance from Misbah!
Happy to see Pakistan support from BD fans. They are always behind Pakistan. Shame on those haters who wanted to boycott this tournament.