Backed into the corner by the late withdrawal of Shoaib Akhtar andMohammad Asif, Pakistan showed incredible self-belief and no little skillto pull off a splendid four-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the firsthigh-quality match of this Champions Trophy
The Bulletin by Dileep Premachandran in Jaipur17-Oct-2006
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
Shoaib Malik and Abdul Razzaq – a job well done © Getty Images
Backed into the corner by the late withdrawal of Shoaib Akhtar andMohammad Asif, Pakistan showed incredible self-belief and no little skillto pull off a splendid four-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the firsthigh-quality match of this Champions Trophy. Sensational allroundperformances from Abdul Razzaq and Shoaib Malik inspired them, after SriLanka’s spin duo had threatened to tilt the game their way. But Razzaq,such a clean striker of the ball when in the mood, just wasn’t to bedenied, on a night that Pakistan cricket aficionados will cherish for along time to come.When Razzaq, who had earlier taken 4 for 50, came to the middle, Pakistanneeded 53 more, with just 47 balls remaining. By the time he thumpedDilhara Fernando for a massive six over long-off to finish matters, 11balls remained. In the excitement created by his booming strokeplay,Shoaib Malik’s role was nearly forgotten, but his 59-ball 46 was just ascrucial after Pakistan appeared to lose their way in mid-innings.Imran Farhat had ensured that Pakistan got an ideal start, with a gloriousoff-drive and an even better one straight down the ground as Sri Lankawere put under pressure from the off. With Mohammad Hafeez also strokingsome lovely shots, even the usually impeccable Chaminda Vaas was made tolook wayward as Pakistan rattled along at nearly seven an over.A superb catch from Kumar Sangakkara standing up to Vaas stemmed thatinitial tide, but Farhat continued to drive and pull with impunity afterMahela Jayawardene dropped him at first slip when he had made just 25.Fernando was not amused and his anguish was exacerbated when Farhatunveiled a superb off-drive after surviving a huge leg-before shout.Jayawardene then threw the ball to Farveez Maharoof, who had figures of 6for 14 in his last outing, and he struck with his very first delivery,abetted by a poor shot from Younis Khan. That brought in Mohammad Yousuf,in such imperious form of late, and he was quickly into his stride despitebeing struck flush on the helmet by Fernando.Farhat continued to flay some supreme strokes through the covers, gettingto 50 from 58 balls, but a reckless charge at Muttiah Muralitharan tiltedthe balance of the game Sri Lanka’s way. That feeling was re-emphasisedwhen the gamble to promote Shahid Afridi failed. Having survived two verygood shouts from Muralitharan, his Banzai charge at Sanath Jayasuriya wentsky-high but only as far as Upul Tharanga.The pitch wasn’t getting any easier, and having held back the third PowerPlay, Jayawardene opted for it in the 24th over. He also changed hisbowlers round frequently, making it hard for the batsmen to settle, andthe five-over stretch produce only 22 runs as the Sri Lankans started totighten their grip.Yousuf played some lovely drives and deflected the ball cleverly behindsquare as he and Shoaib Malik set about whittling down the target. Arun-a-ball was needed when the sort of mix-up that he has habitually beenpart of cost him a richly deserved 50. Lasith Malinga redeemed himselfafter a misfield, and with Malik having turned his back on a third, Yousufwas stranded.But the drama still wasn’t over. With a thick layer of dew on theoutfield, Malik and Kamran Akmal added 40 to set up a final charge. Havingplayed himself in carefully, Malik then illustrated his big-hittingprowess with a huge six over midwicket off Muralitharan, but when Akmalfell trying to pull off a big hit of his own, the pendulum swung back SriLanka’s way.Razzaq had made just five, with 39 more needed, when Tillakaratne Dilshanspilled a tough chance at point off Vaas, and Sri Lanka were made to paythe ultimate price. Seven came from a Malinga over, and when Razzaqthumped Vaas down to the sightscreen, the asking-rate was back down to arun-a-ball. From there, it was a formality, with a deliciousstraight-drive off Malinga that precursor to that thrilling final loft.
Sanath Jayasuriya got Sri Lanka off to a flier with a 35-ball 48 © Getty Images
Sri Lanka themselves had started like a runaway train, with Jayasuriya thelocomotive. Two cover-drives set the tone, and after a relatively sedatesix overs, he trained his marauder’s eye on Rana Naved-ul-Hasan. A superbdrive signalled intent, and when Rana overstepped, he adjusted his strokenonchalantly to send the ball soaring into the stands behind backwardsquare leg. A swivel-pull for four later, Rana was banished to theoutfield, never to return. The next over from Rao Iftikhar went for 15,including one superb straight six, and by the time the bowler got hisrevenge, knocking out leg stump as Jayasuriya aimed over midwicket, he hadrattled off 48 from 35 balls.Umar Gul, who replaced Rana, was unfortunate as Tharanga edged one betweenKamran Akmal and first slip, and with Jayasuriya gone, Tharanga took onthe mantle with a superb pull and some fine strokes past the off-sidecordon.Jayawardene played himself in unhurriedly, and an emphatic thump overcover for four took him to 6000 runs in one-day cricket. The partnershipproduced 45 in even time before Tharanga’s adventurous streak got thebetter of him. After taking Razzaq for two successive fours, he attempteda third, and managed only a thick edge behind.That didn’t ease the scoring though, with Sangakkara coming in and playingtwo glorious square-drives and one disdainful pull for four off a waywardRazzaq. Malik got Jayawardene to a miscued paddle sweep, forcingSangakkara and Marvan Atapattu to be more cautious against the spinners.But when opportunity presented itself, Sangakkara took full toll, strokingMalik for two fours as the run-rate stayed well over five.The momentum dropped with his dismissal for 39, casually lofting one tolong-off, and when Dilshan chopped one on, Pakistan had the opening theyneeded. Afridi’s changes of pace and turn kept the batsmen largely quiet,and Malik too put the ball on a spot to apply the brakes. Atapattu andMaharoof eventually added 36 before a dazzling piece of fielding fromHafeez, who had just dropped Maharoof off his own bowling, sent backAtapattu.The tail was then mopped up ruthlessly by Razzaq, who came back withrenewed vigour after being carted for 28 in his first three overs. Vaas’slate cameo lifted the total past 250, but it wasn’t enough against aPakistan team that once again proved that adversity brings out theircombative instincts quite like nothing else.Sri LankaSanath Jayasuriya b Rao 48 (63 for 1)
Upul Tharanga c Akmal b Razzaq 38 (108 for 2)
Edges behind after a loose flailMahela Jayawardene c Farhat b Malik 31 (141 for 3)
Kumar Sangakkara c Rao b Malik 39 (181 for 4)
Tillakaratne Dilshan b Afridi 3 (186 for 5)
Marvan Atapattu run out (Hafeez) 36 (225 for 6)
Farveez Maharoof b Razzaq 22 (236 for 7)
Muttiah Muralitharan lbw Hafeez 0 (239 for 8)
Trapped in front going for the sweepLasith Malinga b Razzaq 0 (240 for 9)
Chaminda Vaas b Razzaq 15 (253 all out)
Pakistan
Mohammad Hafeez c Sangakkara b Vaas 22 (39 for 1)
Younis Khan c Sangakkara b Maharoof 7 (71 for 2)
Imran Farhat c Fernando b Muralitharan 53 (104 for 3)
Shahid Afridi c Tharanga b Jayasuriya 1 (114 for 4)
Mohammad Yousuf run out (Malinga) 49 (161 for 5)
Kamran Akmal c Maharoof b Vaas 20 (201 for 6)