Sri Lanka must have sensed a realistic chance of ending their 7-match losing streak in One-Day Internationals when their bowlers did a brilliant work by reducing Pakistan to a modest 219 for 9 in the second One-Day International on Monday (October 16). However, even Upul Tharanga’s heroics could not save the Islanders from suffering a 32-run defeat as they lost eight games in a row.
The Sri Lanka skipper scored an unbeaten 112 and became the first Sri Lanka batsman to carry his bat in an ODI, but the failure of other batsmen negated his effect as the visitors were bowled out for just 187 in 48 overs. By the time the Islanders could reach the 100-run mark they, were seven down.
After losing Niroshan Dickwell and Kusal Mendia cheaply, Tharanga and Lahiru Thirimanne steadied the ship but just when it looked the duo had got a measure of things, Shoaib Malik trapped Thirimanne to end the 40-run stand. Thirimanne’s dismissal opened the floodgates as Sri Lanka were reduced to 93 for seven from 70 for 2.
A 106-run stand between Tharanga and Jeffrey Vandersay revived Sri Lanka’s hopes, but once the latter was sent back by Rumman Raees, the fight ended as the visitors lost their remaining two wickets for 18 runs.
“The bowlers bowled really well to keep them to 219. If we had hung on with the bat, it became easier. Thirimanne’s wicket was the turning point. The spinners made use of the track pretty well. Vandersay batted well and supported me. It is a good moment for me but disappointed that we lost the game,” Tharanga said after the game.
Off-spinner Shadab Khan was the destructor-in-chief taking 3 for 47 in his nine overs while the pacers did a brilliant job by not giving away easy runs in the low-scoring tie.
“We are bowling well in tandem and we were confident of defending the target. In the team meeting we had discussed to bowl the googly to Chandimal. My aim is to win the player of the series. I bowl according to the situation,” Shadab said after the win.
Earlier, the in-form Babar Azam hit a second successive century while Shadab Khan scored his maiden half-century to help Pakistan recover from 101 for 6 and put up a challenging 219 for 9.
Brief scores:
Pakistan 219/9 in 50 overs (Babar Azam 101, Shadab Khan 52*; Lahiru Gamage 4/57, Thisara Perera 2/34) beat Sri Lanka 187 in 48 overs (Upul Tharanga 112*, Jeffrey Vandersay 22; Shadab Khan 3-47) by 32 runs