Pakistan crashed to a 64-run defeat against Sri Lanka in its first Super Four match. It was a day when things went horribly wrong for the host, writes K. C. Vijaya Kumar.
The famous African writer Chinua Achebe’s apocalyptic lines, “Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold”, spring to mind after watching Pakistan crash to a 64-run defeat against Sri Lanka in a STAR Cricket Asia Cup semifinal league match at Karachi’s National Stadium. The day went horribly wrong for the host.
To add to the chaos, the team coach Geoff Lawson’s sarcasm forced the local media to boycott the post-match press conference. The night might have left a bitter after-taste, but the evening will be remembered for Man of the Match Kumar Sangakkara’s 112 (110b, 10x4, 1x6) that guided Sri Lanka to 302 for seven in 50 overs.
The southpaw’s ninth ODI hundred was a lesson in innings building as he assaulted the Pakistan attack with minimum fuss. “Sanga’s century was among the best I have seen,” said skipper Mahela Jayawardene. After Jayasuriya fell leg before to Sohail Tanvir and Jayawardene, who promised a highly aesthetic innings, perished at point, it was up to Sangakkara to stand up and deliver. The vice-captain drove with finesse and had all the time in the world to move beside the line of short-pitched deliveries aimed at his ribs and flick them fine.
Sangakkara had support from Kapugedera (43) and Chamara Silva (46), and though a clutch of wickets fell in the slog overs against a persevering Tanvir (five for 48), the Sri Lankans cruised past 300.
Pakistan managed just 238 for nine in 50 overs in a futile reply. Its pursuit froze upfront as Salman Butt, driving with his feet static, fell to Chaminda Vaas.
Skipper Shoaib Malik (52) and Younis Khan (47) shared a 72-run partnership that kept Pakistan’s hopes alive. However, Jayawardene’s men stayed enthusiastic and with Vaas tightening the screws with his first spell of eight overs for just 34 runs, the pressure affected Pakistan. Younis rushed his pull shot, Mohammad Yousuf swept and missed, while Malik danced down the track to spinner Ajantha Mendis (four for 47) and was stumped by Sangakkara.
Pakistan’s challenge came apart when Shahid Afridi tried to hit his way out of trouble and was out first ball.
At 135 for five it was a trip down disaster lane but Misbah-ul-Haq (76, 70b, 3x4, 4x6), the man who loves to twist the climax, had other ideas. He went down on his knees and clanged a few balls over mid-wicket. As long as he was there, Pakistan had some hope, but after his dismissal, the host lost its way.
THE SCORESAsia Cup Super Four: Sri Lanka v Pakistan, National Stadium, Karachi, June 29, 2008.
Result: Sri Lanka won by 64 runs.Sri Lanka: S. Jayasuriya lbw Sohail Tanvir 8, Sangakkara b Tanvir 112, Jayawardene c Misbah b Tanvir 29, Kapugedera c Younis b Mansoor 43, Chamara Silva c Sarfraz b Tanvir 46, Thushara c Wahab b Tanvir 28, Dilshan b Wahab 8, Vaas (not out) 4, Kulasekara (not out) 1. Extras (lb-10, w-11, nb-2): 23. Total (for seven wickets, 50 overs): 302.
Fall of wickets: 1-22, 2-62, 3-150, 4-243, 5-271, 6-288, 7-298.
Pakistan bowling: Tanvir 10-1-48-5, Wahab 9-0-52-1, Iftikhar 8-0-60-0, Afridi 10-0-54-0, Malik 5-0-34-0, Mansoor 8-1-44-1.
Pakistan: S. Butt b Vaas 0, Malik st Sangakkara b Mendis 52, Younis c Muralitharan b Kulasekara 47, Yousuf lbw Mendis 19, Misbah b Mendis 76, Afridi c (sub) Jehan b Jayasuriya 0, Mansoor lbw Mendis 5, Sarfraz b Kulasekara 19, Tanvir (not out) 9, Iftikhar c Kulasekara b Muralitharan 7, Wahab (not out) 1. Extras (lb-1, w-2): 3. Total (for nine wickets, 50 overs): 238.
Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-72, 3-108, 4-133, 5-135, 6-153, 7-219, 8-223, 9-236.
Sri Lanka bowling: Vaas 10-1-44-1, Kulasekara 9-1-35-2, Thushara 7-0-44-0, Muralitharan 10-0-46-1, Mendis 10-0-47-4, Jayasuriya 4-0-21-1.
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