Pakistan

Shehzad leads Pakistan to series win over Sri Lanka

The fifth match will be played in Hambantota on Sunday

Afp July 22, 2015

Pakistan cricketer Ahmed Shehzad plays a shot during the fourth One Day International (ODI) match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan . PHOTO: AFP

COLOMBO: Ahmed Shehzad smashed 95 off 90 balls as Pakistan thrashed below-par Sri Lanka by seven wickets in the fourth one-day match in Colombo on Wednesday to clinch the five-match series.

Mohammad Hafeez chipped in with 70 as the tourists surpassed Sri Lanka’s 256-9 in the 41st over at the Premadasa stadium to take a decisive 3-1 lead in the series.

The series win kept Azhar Ali’s Pakistan in contention for a place in the eight-nation Champions Trophy in England in 2017. Pakistan are two points ahead of the West Indies at number eight in the rankings, but both teams are due to play a tri-series in Zimbabwe next month that will determine the final spot.

Pakistan’s one-day success follows their 2-1 victory over Sri Lanka in the preceding Test series under Misbah-ul Haq’s captaincy.

Skipper Azhar Ali said the series win was the team’s gift to the people of Pakistan who celebrated Eidul Fitr last week.

“This is our Eid gift to our fans,” he said. “With the Champions Trophy qualification in mind, every game becomes important, so we want to win the final game also.

“Credit is due to the bowlers who kept the pressure on the Sri Lankan batsmen. And then Shehzad and Hafeez batted so well to bring us victory.”

Sri Lanka are assured of taking part in the Champions Trophy, but their lacklustre display did not do justice to the former world champions.

Shehzad and Azhar put Pakistan on the road to victory with an opening stand of 75 in 11 overs before the skipper was removed by sling-arm fast bowler Lasith Malinga for 33.

Hafeez helped Shehzad build on the fine start by adding 115 for the second wicket, but Sri Lanka hit back to remove both batsmen in the space of 23 runs.

Shehzad fell five runs short of his fourth one-day century when he cut seamer Suranga Lakmal to a diving Kusal Perera at third man. He hit 12 boundaries and a six.

Hafeez was caught behind by Dinesh Chandimal off spinner Milinda Siriwardana to leave Pakistan on 213-3, but Sri Lanka’s recovery came too late.

Shoaib Malik hit a 16-ball 29 and ended the match by lofting Siriwardana over mid-wicket for his fourth six. Sarfraz Ahmed remained unbeaten on 17. The fifth match will be played in Hambantota on Sunday.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 23^rd, 2015.