Pakistan canter away
with Sharjah Cup

Yousuf Youhana smashed a century in his 100th one-dayer as Pakistan took advantage of a shoulder injury to Sri Lanka's star bowler Muttiah Muralitharan to win the Sharjah Cup final by a whopping 217 runs in Sharjah on Wednesday.

Youhana hit 129 off 131 balls as Pakistan piled up 295 for six from 50 overs and then shot out a dispirited Sri Lanka for only 78 in 16.5 overs before 20,000 screaming fans at the overflowing Sharjah cricket stadium.

Fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Waqar Younis grabbed three wickets each and Wasim Akram claimed two as the shell-shocked Sri Lankan batsmen fell like nine pins against hostile pace.

Youhana hit eight boundaries and three sixes and opener Imran Nazir smashed 63 off 61 balls after Waqar won the toss and elected to bat in the day-night international.

But it was Younis Khan's 66 off 71 balls and his 155-run stand for the fifth wicket with Youhana that enabled Pakistan build a huge score.

Pakistan's emphatic win was, however, marred by a serious injury to Muralitharan which could keep him out of next month's tour of England.

Muralitharan was taken to hospital with torn ligaments in his left shoulder and officials said the injury was serious enough to require surgery.

The off-spinner, celebrating his 30th birthday, tripped while fielding in the 11th over and hit the ground clutching his left shoulder.

Team physiotherapist Alex Kontouri, who accompanied Muralitharan to hospital, said the shoulder is not dislocated but he would be consulting a doctor in Australia for immediate surgery on the torn ligaments.

"We want Muralitharan to have the surgery as quick as possible and may send him to Australia soon," said Sri Lankan cricket official Michael Tissera.

Officials, however, refused to say if Muralitharan will be available for the three-Test series against England, starting on May 17 - exactly a month from now.

With the versatile Muralitharan out of the way, the Pakistani batsmen made merry and then received wonderful support from the bowlers.

Two wickets each by Akhtar and Wasim reduced Sri Lanka to 57 for five by the 13th over and, with the top order gone, the later batsmen proved easy meat for the Pakistanis.

Sri Lanka moved to 52 for one when they lost four wickets in as many overs to ensure a certain victory for their rivals.

Akhtar forced Sanath Jayasuriya (19) to top-edge a hook in his first over and then had Kumar Sangakkara caught behind by wicket-keeper Rashid Latif.

Akram, who had earlier bowled Marvan Atapattu, trapped pinch-hitter Chaminda Vaas leg-before, while Waqar clean bowled Mahela Jayawardena for no score.

Pakistan had themselves recovered from the loss of opener Shahid Afridi and Latif by the seventh over to set Sri Lanka a challenging target of almost six runs an over.

Youhana and Nazir put on 85 for the third wicket, before Pakistan slipped again when Nazir was bowled by leg-spinner Upul Chandana and Inzamam-ul Haq was run out for 12.

Scoreboard

Mail Cricket Editor