Muhammad Irfan (L) and Imad Wasim (R) celebrate after Pakistan won the second T20 match against Sri Lanka. PHOTO: AFP
After Sri Lanka won the toss and scored 172 in the first innings, Pakistan were all out of the match till the eighth over.
Then, Shahid Afridi walked in and smashed an inspiring 45 off 22 balls courtesy four maximums and a single boundary.
And if that didn't steer Pakistan to victory, with 66 runs required at two-runs-a-ball run rate Anwar Ali happened to the visitors.
He did everything that a tail-ender is not supposed to do and hit the likes of Thisara Perera, Shehan Jayasuriya and most importantly the best death bowlers of all, Lasith Malinga, out of the park to steer Pakistan as near as possible to the victory. He scored 46 off 17 balls with four big hits and three boundaries.
In the end, with six off six required Muhammad Irfan brought Imad Wasim on strike with a single off the first ball and the rest was a ball travelling over the fence at long-on.
Anwar Ali: We just sit out with the coach and he told us to be positive. I just watched the ball.
Lasith Malinga: It is a tough loss. All the young players are doing well, I am really happy for them. Sri Lanka has a good future with them. I just wanted to pick young players and show how good they can do for the team. I think we had to get AFridi out. Shehan had experience in domestic and he did the job. (Pauses to stop emotions). [Honestly, saying his team played well but it was just an unexpected Pakistan performance].
Shoaib Malik: Especially when you are in your last years you enjoy more. When you are playing as allrounder. You have to be ready to bowl.
The captain called me and asked me to bowl in difficult areas. Experience from leagues helps you learn a lot. Playing for Pakistan is my first priority. It is always great to play all around the world. I am happy to take opportunity to score singles and doubles and striking odd boundaries. I just want to see Pakistan win. I am trying my best to keep up the competition with my wife. [The man said it himself]
Shahid Afridi: First of all, thanks to ALLAH. I think 170 was chaseable. Sri Lankans have done well with youngsters. We didn't do well in the initial overs. I wish Anwar and Imad do great for the team in the future as well. I am trying to perform both with the ball and the bat. I think players are very talented. We will also try other youngsters in Zimbabwe. If you look at SL, no Mahela and Sanga, Malinga has done well with the youngsters. Thanks to Sri Lanka cricket board for their hospitality. The crowd is always great.
Teams
Pakistan: Shahid Afridi (captain), Mukhtar Ahmed, Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Mohammad Rizwan, Anwar Ali, Imad Wasim, Sohail Tanvir, Mohammad Irfan.
Sri Lanka: SL Malinga (captain), Kusal Perera, Tilakaratne Dilshan, Shehan Jayasuriya, Dhanajaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka, Milinda Siriwardana, Chamara Kapugedera, Thisara Perera, Binura Fernando, Jeffrey Vandersay.
Pakistan 174-9 (20 overs)
SIX! Imad Wasim over long-on Pakistan has WON. THEY HAVE ACTUALLY WON. SRI LANKA has been STUNNED! PAKISTAN clean sweep Sri Lanka in the two match T20 series. They have become what they were never supposed to be, brilliant chasers.
Five men in the circle. Irfan takes one from the first ball.
Binura Fernando to bowl the last over.
Pakistan 167-9 (19 overs)
Single taken. RUN OUT on the last ball. Sohail Tanvir walks back. Pakistan need six off six balls.
CAUGHT BEHIND! Anwar Ali has done his work. He scored 46 off 17 balls. Sohail Tanvir and Imad Wasim on for Pakistan. Seven off 7 needed.
FOUR! Anwar Ali you beauty. Square leg it is. Only 8 off 9 balls needed.
Malinga and SIX. Anwar Ali it is again.
Pakistan 152-7 (18 overs)
Slow ball missed!
FOUR! Anwar Ali is magnificent. I can't think of any words. I can't scream here. He is exceptional, astounding. 21 off 14 needed now.
SIX! As Ramiz says, it is a HOME RUN. 25 needed off 15 and Anwar Ali is still out there.
A very very very slow ball. Anwar waits and waits and waits and misses.
Imad takes a single, bring Anwar on strike.
Thisara Perera is in now.
Pakistan 141-7 (17 overs)
FOUR! Anwar is on fire. 21 from the over. 32 from 18 now! The game is still on ladies and gentlemen.
SIX! Anwar Ali smashes one over square leg. Full-toss and treated fairly. Pakistan need 36 from 19 now.
SIX! Anwar Ali with a muscled biggie over long-on.
Shehan Jayasuriya.
Pakistan 120-7 (16 overs)
FOUR! Imad Wasim gets the boundary as Sania Mirza looks depressed in the stands. No win celebration (and no dubsmash) with your husband today bhabhi.
Probable winning captain today Lasith Malinga comes in to finish things off.
Pakistan 113-7 (15 overs)
BOWLED! Afridi misses a slog sweep, off-spinner rattles his stumps. All over for Pakistan from now on. Anwar Ali joins Imad Wasim on the crease now.
Shehan Mubarak to Afridi. Deadly or smart?
Pakistan 107-6 (14 overs)
FOUR! Cleverly put behind his back towards unguarded fine leg boundary.
BOWLED! Slow ball and Rizwan misses the plot. He departs after scoring 17. Imad Wasim joins Afridi in the middle.
FOUR! Full-toss and struck hard towards long leg by Rizwan.
Thisara Perera is back to stop Afridi.
Pakistan 95-5 (13 overs)
Seven runs off the over.
Rizwan bring Afridi on strike with a single. He knows the importance of Afridi on strike.
Malinga into his second over. Both captains leading from the front at the moment.
Pakistan 88-5 (12 overs)
SIX! Short and Afridi goes big over square leg. So easy on the eyes by the captain.
SIX! Short and Afridi goes over midwicket. He rocks back to his back foot and goes boom BIG.
Rizwan bring Afridi on with a single off the first ball.
Vandersay into his second over.
Pakistan 73-5 (11 overs)
Afridi playing sensibly here. He has cut the short ball twice towards third man for a single.
SIX! On his legs and Afridi flicked it, merely flicked it to the square leg boundary. That is boom boom for you!
Captain to captain! Malinga to Afridi.
Pakistan 61-5 (10 overs)
FOUR and SIX! Welcome Afridi to the party.
Siriwardana in for his second.
Pakistan 48-5 (9 overs)
Just four runs off the over.
Leggie Jeffrey Vandersay into the attack now. He didn't get hit for a single boundary in the last T20. Can he bowl like that once again?
Pakistan 44-5 (8 overs)
STUMPED! Malik tries to walk down and steer the ball towards cover. Misses it and the keeper removes the bails. It all comes down to the captain Shahid Afridi and wicketkeeper Muhammad Rizwan.
Milinda Siriwardana with the ball now after bashing Pakistan.
Pakistan 40-4 (7 overs)
RUN OUT chance! And the batsman, Umar Akmal (4) is losing the race by a mile. OUT says the screen.
Shehan Jayasuriya back in the attack. Umar Akmal and Shoaib Malik on the crease to chase.
Pakistan 34-3 (6 overs)
RUN OUT! Muhammad Hafeez must be disappointed with this dismissal. Direct hit at the bowler's end leaves Hafeez clueless as Dilshan get it right from point.
Thisara Perera into his second over.
Pakistan 32-2 (5 overs)
FIVE WIDES! Short and it flew off over the head of the keeper.
Binura Fernando continues.
Pakistan 19-2 (4 overs)
Four dots played by Hafeez followed by a leg bye and a single by Malik.
Thisara Perera brought in as the first bowling change.
Pakistan 16-2 (3 overs)
OUT! Mukhtar Ahmed (4) receives one short. Top edges it to Kapugedera. Pakistan in trouble!
FOUR! Hafeez knows there is no time to waste. Cuts it for a boundary.
Muhammad Hafeez is in now.
BOWLED! Ahmed Shehzad (7) misses the slow ball. Goes early into the shot, the slog sweep cum slash over midwicket, and misses it.
Binura Fernando into his second over.
Pakistan 11-0 (2 overs)
Only four runs off the youngter's over.
Shehan Jayasuriya in for the second over.
Pakistan 7-0 (1 over)
FOUR! Shehzad goes over covers and holds still for a few seconds. A very nice pose for a picture and a very nice poise for a great shot.
Mukhtar Ahmed would be hoping to unleash himself on the Lankans today after failing to fire in the first T20. Ahmed Shehzad will be looking compliment his partner too. Binura Fernando has been given the new ball by Malinga.
Sri Lanka 172-6 (20 overs)
Kapugedera on fifty and misses the last slow ball. Shanaka is run out in the process. So, a 173-run target for Pakistan.
SIX! Cleanest hit today! Kapugedera (48) is feeling everything in the middle of his bat today. Full-toss belted over the square leg boundary.
FOUR! Shanaka bisects the fielders to find the midwicket boundary.
Shanaka faces Sohail Tanvir.
Sri Lanka 159-6 (19 overs)
FOUR and a SIX after the wicket. Kapugedera is not holding his horses down here. That was his third maximum.
OUT! Siriwardana (23) caught at long-on by Mukhtar Ahmed.
Muhammad Irfan for the penultimate over.
Sri Lanka 145-5 (18 overs)
Yorker turned into a low full-toss and Kapugedera converts it into a big SIX over long-on.
Anwar follows up with a wide.
Wide on off and FOUR! Siriwardana in the form of his life. Slammed behind point. Hafeez has not chance.
Anwar Ali.
Sri Lanka 129-5 (17 overs)
SIX! Kapugedera goes over long-on. Big this time. Very big!
Sohail Tanvir is back for his third over. He will be bowling those cutter and slow balls.
Sri Lanka 118-5 (16 overs)
Just five runs off the over.
Muhammad Irfan against Siriwardana.
https://twitter.com/RusselArnold69/status/627488445464580096/photo/1
Sri Lanka 113-5 (15 overs)
FOUR! Sweeped by Kapugedera.
Shahid Afridi is back.
Sri Lanka 105-5 (14 overs)
WIDE and a FOUR! Quicker delivery missed by everyone.
RUN OUT appeal from Rizwan. Umpire refers it. Batsman is way in! NOT OUT.
Imad Wasim is called in to bowl.
Sri Lanka 97-5 (13 overs)
SIX! You ask, they deliver. Siriwardana goes long over long-on. For a moment it felt like dropping in the fielder's hands but no, it has beaten him well.
So the smashing couple of the last match, Siriwardana and Kapugedera are on the pitch for Sri Lanka. What can they do today?
OUT! Jayasuriya (40) caught in covers as he tries to slash one over the in-field.
Sohail Tanvir is brought back to stop the flow of runs.
Sri Lanka 87-4 (12 overs)
SIX! Full-toss and Jayasuriya living up to his name. Smashes nearly flat over extra cover.
Malik again.
Sri Lanka 79-4 (11 overs)
Fourteen runs off the over. The most expensive by a Pakistan bowler today, and that too the captain.
SIX! Jayasuriya reminiscing the memories of Sanath. Goes on one knee and slog sweeps it over midwicket.
FOUR! Straight over the bowler's head by Jayasuriya and the fielder at long-on misses the ball.
Milinda Siriwardana and Jayasuriya to face Shahid Afridi.
Sri Lanka 65-4 (10 overs)
STUMP APPEAL on Thisara Perera! He dances down, misses the ball and Rizwan doesn't waste much time to remove the bails. He is OUT on naught. Sri Lanka's strategy to go all-out not working for them.
Shoaib Malik back for his second over.
Sri Lanka 62-3 (9 overs)
BOWLED! Dhananjaya de Silva (14) beaten 360 by Afridi.
Shahid Afridi continues into his second over.
Sri Lanka 60-2 (8 overs)
FOUR! Over mid-off's head. De Silva plays a brave shot.
Muhammad Irfan is in for his second over.
Sri Lanka 54-2 (7 overs)
STUMPING APPEAL by Rizwan! Leg umpire goes to the third umpire. Slider missed by the left-hander Jayasuriyan. His foot is back in time. NOT OUT.
Shahid Afridi is in to bowl now.
The great Murali in the Comm Box! #champ pic.twitter.com/VSpGQQcYbs
— Dean Jones AM (@ProfDeano) August 1, 2015
Sri Lanka 48-2 (6 overs)
Muhammad Irfan walks in to bowl to two of the greatest cricketers, de Silva and Jayasuriya, adding Jr with them might be appropriate.
https://twitter.com/ProfDeano/status/627467172533567488/photo/1
Sri Lanka 42-2 (5 overs)
FOUR! Jayasuriya guesses the slow pace off Anwar's hand. Just kisses the ball past the keeper towards third man boundary.
FOUR! Over covers. Shehan Jayasuriya spots the slow ball and goes bang bang.
Anwar Ali.
Sri Lanka 32-2 (4 overs)
BOWLED! Kusal Perera tries it again, but instead goes down on one knee and sweeps. Misses the ball and walks back to the pavillion in disappointment.
FOUR! Perera dances down the pitch, connects perfectly and the ball runs past the mid-off fielder.
Shoaib Malik introduced early by Shahid Afridi. No Hafeez for bowling so Malik is the second best option.
Sri Lanka 26-1 (3 overs)
OUT! Dilshan makes the same mistake and Hafeez doesn't drop this time. Dilshan departs for 10 as Shehan Jayasuriya, the newbie, walks in.
DROPPED! Hafeez drops a fast-coming catch at short midwicket. Dilshan survives but he manages to belt the next ball past Hafeez for a FOUR on the next ball.
Anwar Ali in for his second over.
Sri Lanka 19-0 (2 overs)
FOUR! Wide on off and short. You don't bowl those to Kusal Perera. Jumps onto it and slams it over covers. Brilliant shot!
FOUR! Inside edge and Kusal Perera gets a boundary. Runs are important wherever they come from.
Sohail Tanvir, last T20's man of the match, with the ball.
Sri Lanka 7-0 (1 over)
FOUR! Nearly a Dil-scoop to the start the proceedings. Beats the short fine leg fielder.
Anwar Ali with the ball. Kusal Perera and veteran Tilakaratne Dilshan open the batting for the hosts. Will Pakistan bowl with the same vigor today? Or Sri Lanka are looking towards a solid start today? Lets see.
Toss
The coin flips and this time it is in the favour of the Sri Lankan captain Lasith Malinga. He decides to bat first. And Shahid Afridi says he would have done the same thing.
I hope conspirators(needless) against Waqar would now shutup! Afridi clearly said he wants to experiment & sarfraz is his main man #SLvPAK
— Emmad Hameed (@Emmad81) August 1, 2015
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