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Thu, 15 March 2012
Pakistan thrash Sri Lanka to reach Asia Cup final

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20:35  
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Pakistan have now taken complete control of the proceedings in Mirpur. 

The Misbah-Akmal partnership has helped them recover from their disastrous start. They reach 148 for three after 35 overs. It is time for the batting powerplay.

A single by Akmal off Lakmal helps raise the Pakistan 150 in the 36th over. The batsman proceeds to hit successive boundaries, meaning 12 runs come off the over. 

Another maximum off Maharoof means Akmal has got his team within six runs off a win. He perishes with four needed, having made a 72-ball 77, caught by Tharanga off Maharoof. Akmal's knock is inclusive of seven boundaries and two sixes and he has helped his captain raise 152 runs for the fourth wicket.

However, the result by then is a mere formality.

Pakistan win by six wickets with more than 10 overs to spare (getting the bonus point), to seal a spot in an Asia Cup final for the first time in 12 years.
20:06  
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Umar Akmal also cut loose in what is Prasanna's sixth over, first hitting a boundary over midwicket and following it up with a maximum over long on. 

Another couple, that is 12 runs off three balls, helps Pakistan reach the 100-run mark in what is the 26th over of their innings. 

Jaywardene hands Dilshan the ball in the next over only for Misbah to get a boundary off the opening delivery.

Lakmal is unlucky as Akmal (on 46) is dropped by Thirimanne at deep backward square leg.

A single off Lakmal helps Misbah complete hsi 19th ODI fifty, his fifth against Sri Lanka. A couple by Akmal off the next ball takes him to 49 and helps raise the 100-run partnership for the fourth wicket. 

He duly completes his 14th ODI fifty with a single two balls later.

Pakistan 139 for three after 34 overs. 
19:23  
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Misbah and Umar Akmal are doing a good job rebuilding the side. The two have so far put on a 50-lus partnership for the fourth wicket. 

Misbah, having started slowly, is slowly getting into his thythm. He has so far hit three boundaries and a six off Prasanna. 

Pakistan 87 for three after 25 overs.
18:43  
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Lakmal strikes a second time in his fourth over, having Younis Khan (2) caught by Maharoof at midwicket. 

Captain Misbah-ul-Haq comes out to bat.

Pakistan 48 for three after 16 overs.
18:26  
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Seekkuge Prasanna is introduced into the attack in the 12th over, replacing Kulasekara (5-2-18-0). 

He strikes second ball, having Hafeez (11) caught by Chandimal at backward point.

Pakistan 32 for two after 12 overs.
18:12  
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The Sri Lankan failure to make an early breakthrough has helped Pakistan in general, and Jamshed (18) in particular. 

The batsman cuts loose with a boundary off Lakmal before hitting Kulasekara twice to the fence in the next over.  It is three boundaries in four balls for the batsman. 

However, his extravagance eventually costs him his wicket, Lakmal having him caught by Tharanga at mid on. 

Pakistan 31 for one after nine overs. 
17:47  
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Mohammad Hafeez and Nasir Jamshed open the batting for Pakistan and it will be Lasith Malinga to start the proceedings for Sri Lanka. 

Malinga concedes just one run in his first couple of overs while Nuwan Kulasekara provides him the perfect support to ensure Pakistan don't get off to a flier. 

Pakistan seven without loss after four overs. 
16:47  
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Cheema picks up his fourth wicket when he rattles Malinga's (1) timber. 

It's all over for Sri Lanka when Ajmal has Lakmal (0) caught by Nasir Jamshed at long-off. 

This is Ajmal's third wicket and ensures Pakistan bowl out Sri Lanka for a paltry 188, in just 45.4 overs. 

Misbah's team should have it easy from here on.
16:34  
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Sri Lanka manage just 13 runs in the batting powerplay. To make matter worse, Gul has Kulasekara (4) caught by Sarfaraz Ahmed in the 41st over.

It is Gul's 150th ODI wicket. 

There's another blow for Sri Lanka two overs later, when Cheema rattle's Sangakkara's (71) timber. Sangakkara's 92-ball knock was inclusive of four boundaries and a maximum. 

Sri Lanka 185 for eight after 43 overs.
16:17  
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Ferveez Maharoof comes out to join a well-settled Sangakkara in what could be a crucial stand from the Sri Lankan point of view. 

Lanka, on 158 for four, at the start of the batting powerplay lost a wicket in the third ball. Maharoof (2) doesn't last long either, Ajmal having him caught by Misbah. 

Sri Lanka 171 for six after 40 overs. 
16:01  
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Saeed Ajmal finally provides Pakistan the breakthrough, rattling Tharanga's (57) timber. 

Tharanga's 74-ball knock was inclusive of four boundaries and helped Sangakkara put on 96 runs for the sixth wicket. 

Sri Lanka 161 for five after 36 overs. 
15:50  
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Sri Lanka reach the 100-run mark in the 26th over, courtesy a single by Sangakkara. 

Mohammad Hafeez completes his spell. His figures (10-0-40-0) will satisfy Misbah considerably. 

But Sri Lanka have recovered well from the early slump. In the 33rd over by Afridi, Tharanga first reaches his 25th ODI fifty and a ball later, Sangakkara completes his 71st half century. 

Sri Lanka 152 for four after 34 overs.
15:17  
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Azam strikes in the third ball after tea, having Thirimanne (7) caught by Umar Akmal at point. 

Upul Tharanga comes out to join Sangakkara with Sri Lanka in real trouble. 

The two opt for the only available option: consolidation.

Sri Lanka 99 for four after 25 overs. 
14:40  
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Lahiru Thirimanne has come out to replace Chandimal. 

With Sri Lanka on the backfoot, Pakistan opt for spin early, Mohammad Hafeez replacing Cheema (4-0-29-2) in the attack in the 10th over. He concedes five runs first up, with Sangakkara helping himself to a boundary past point, the shot helping Sri Lanka get past the 50-run mark. 

Cheema, meanwhile changes ends, replacing Gul (5-1-13-1) in the 12th over. However, he is replaced by Hammad Azam after just one over.

Sri Lanka 60 for three after 14 overs.
14:20  
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Cheema makes a second breakthrough for Pakistan in his fourth over, having Dilshan (20) caught by Saeed Ajmal at midwicket. 

Dinesh Chandimal comes in to join Sangakkara even as Sri Lanka lose both their openers early. 

With Gul being miserly at one end, Cheema has got the rewards on the other. But Gul gets himself a wicket, having Chandimal (0) caught by Younis Khan at first slip. 

Sri Lanka in trouble 47 for three after nine overs.
14:02  
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Gul is miserly again in his second over, giving away just two runs. But Cheema continues being expensive, Dilshan helping himself to two more boundaries in his second over. 

However, Cheema makes amends in his third over having the Sri Lankan skipper (12) caught by Mohmmad Hafeez at extra cover. 

Kumar Sangakkara comes out to bat and smashes the first ball he faces to the midwicket fence.

Sri Lanka 37 for one after six overs. 
13:41  
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Mahela Jayawardene and Tillekeratne Dilshan open the batting for Sri Lanka and it will be Umar Gul starting the proceedings for Pakistan. 

He concedes just three runs in the first over. Aizaz Cheema to share the new ball. 

Jayawardene welcomes him with a boundary past cover first ball. Dilshan makes it an expensive over by hitting successive boundaries off the final two balls.

Sri Lanka 20 without loss after two overs. 
13:18  
Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat first against Pakistan in their Asia Cup tie in Mirpur on Thursday. 

"Runs on the board will be a good thing. It is still an open tournament," reasoned captain Mahela Jayawardene. 

Lasith Malinga comes back in place of Chamara Kapugedera in the lone change in the Sri Lankan squad. 

Pakistan have also made one change to the squad that beat Bangladesh in the opener, replacing Asad Shafiq with Hammad Azam. 

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