Lanka win as Pakistan falter
at the crunch
Sri Lanka held their nerve under pressure to score a thrilling nine-run win over Pakistan in
the Sharjah Cup on Friday night.
Chasing Sri Lanka's 239 for six, Pakistan appeared headed
for victory when they were left with just 19 off the last 18
deliveries with five wickets in hand.
But seamers Chaminda Vaas and Nuwan Zoysa allowed the
sixth-wicket pair of Wasim Akram and Rashid Latif only nine
runs in the last three overs to restrict Pakistan to 230 for
five.
Sri Lanka, who have eight points from three matches, will
advance to next Wednesday's final if they defeat New Zealand
in their last league match on Sunday.
Pakistan, left with four points, must defeat the Kiwis on
Monday to stay in contention for the final.
Sri Lanka's hero was Upul Chandana, who hit a career-best
64 and then provided two valuable breaks in the field to set
up his team's win.
Chandana ran out opener Imran Nazir with a direct hit
from point to break a 72-run partnership for the second wicket
with Yousuf Youhana.
The leg-spinner then grabbed a difficult return catch to
dismiss main threat Inzamam-ul Haq (37) and end a 85-run
stand with top-scorer Younis Khan (45).
Akram returned unbeaten on 36 off 29 balls and Latif was
on 11 not out, but the pair faltered when it mattered most.
During the riveting encounter before a full house of
18,000, Akram surpassed the 450-wicket mark in one-day cricket
and Shoaib Akhtar bowled his fastest delivery ever at 159.6 km
an hour.
Akram, the only bowler to take more than 400 wickets in
both Tests and one-dayers, teamed up with long-time partner
and current captain Waqar Younis to rip through Sri Lanka's
top order.
Sri Lanka, electing to bat in the return game after
winning their first encounter against Pakistan by 41 runs,
were reduced to 41 for four by the dreaded pair.
Marvan Atapattu came to Sri Lanka's rescue with an
unbeaten 77, leading a dramatic revival that set Pakistan a
target of 4.8 runs an over in the day-night international.
Atapattu, who was declared the man of the match, put on
91 for the fifth wicket with Russel Arnold (41) and a
run-a-ball 107 for the sixth with Chandana.
Chandana was bowled off the final delivery of the innings
after helping Sri Lanka plunder 70 runs in the last 10 overs.
English umpire David Shepherd, standing in his 100th
one-dayer, watched from close range as Sri Lanka fought back
after the early demolition by Waqar and Akram.
Waqar, thrashed for 18 runs in his first two overs, hit
back by uprooting Sanath Jayasuriya's middle stump in the
sixth over.
The Sri Lankan captain made 23 off 24 balls with four
hits to the fence, all off Waqar.
Mail Cricket Editor
