Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by 16 runs to qualify for finals

Colombo: Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by 16 runs to qualify for the finals of the T20 World Cup played here at the R Premadasa Stadium on Thursday.

Sri Lanka defending a modest target of 140 rode on a linical bowling performance to make it to the finals of the tournament for the second time.
Mahela Jayawerdene’s decision to leave out youngster Akhila Dhananjaya and playing the veteran Rangana Herath paid off as he picked up three crucial wickets to deal a huge blow to Pakistan. 

If it was Herath’s brilliant spin bowling in the middle overs that crippled Pakistan, then the combined death bowling efforts by Lasith Malinga and Ajantha Mendis kept Pakistan at bay.

With Umar Akmal still at the crease and Pakistan requiring only 32 off the last three overs which looked highly achievable,but then these two bowled a tight line and never allowed Akmal to get off the blocks. The duo of Malinga and Mendis gave away just five and four runs in the 18th and 19th respectively.

Needing 23 to win of the last over, it was too much a ask for the Pakistani batsmen under pressure and they could manage only seven runs in the final over bowled by Nuwan Kulasekara.

Chasing a target of 140, Pakistan got off to a steady start but an impatient Imran Nazir looking to hit every ball ended up playing an Ajantha Mendis’ delivery onto the stump. He scored 20 with help of three deliveries.

It was then Angelo Matthews who picked up two quick wickets to leave Pakistan reeling at 57-3.

Herath then joined the party and removed Shoaib Malik with a flighted delivery. Down 64-4, skipper Mohammad Hafeez who was playing patiently sensed the urgency and hit couple of boundaries and a six.

But Hafeez’s onslaught could not last for long as he was soon dismissed by Herath.

He then dismissed Shahid Afridi for a first ball duck to pick up his third wicket. With six wickets down Pakistan tried to hang on but then some clean death bowling by Sri Lanka squashed all their hopes of making it to the title clash.

Pakistan could manage only 123 with the loss of seven wickets.

Earlier batting first, Sri Lanka never got the start they wanted and disciplined bowling by the Pakistani bowlers restricted them to 139-4.

Mahela Jayawerdene top scored for the Lankans with 42 off 36 deliveries laced with seven fours. His performance eventually earned him the man of the match award.

Brief scores:

Sri Lanka 139 for 4 (Jayawardene 42, Dilshan 35) beat Pakistan 123 for 7 (Hafeez 42, Herath 3-25) by 16 runs

By Indian Sports News Network