Asia Cup 2014 has begun with a cracking match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The contest swung either side on various stages of the match, but SriLanka had the last laugh, courtesy Lasith Malinga. Coming into bowl when his team was in a bit of bother after Umar Akmal had counterattacked and Shahid Afridi and Misbah-ul-Haq still at the crease, it was advantage Pakistan. 47 was required of 36 balls, and he almost sealed the match for SriLanka in the 44th over. Afridi was out trying to force the ball into the covers, Dinesh Chandimal pulling of a screamer and 2 balls later Pakistan’s Cape Crusader holed out to deep square leg. Pakistan’s fans knew the writing was on the wall and despite some biffing in the end by Bilawal Bhatti the total proved much beyond Pakistan’s reach.
When it was expected Mahela Jayawardene would open, Sri Lanka pulled out a surprise by opening with Thirimanne. Pakistan had the first success when Umar Gul had the unsure Kusal Perera got behind. It was then Kumar Sangakkara joined Thirimanne. They settled into the groove and played some nicely executed shots on the off side. Sangakkara coming off a rich vein of form was in the mood and was in the reckoning for another biggie. Thirimanne was comfortable against the initial spell from Pakistan’s seamers. The tutor and the protégé continued to pile on the runs and Pakistan’s agony. Amidst this, Sangakkara scored his 84th ODI half century and when he was onto a century, he holed out to midwicket against the run of play. Thirimanne continued his fluent array of strokes and scored his 2nd ODI century. Immediately after his century he was outfoxed by an Saeed Ajmal. SriLanka were in a commanding position and onroute to a score of 300+, when the star man Afridi brought Pakistan back into the game by taking two quick wickets of Jayawardene and Perara. SriLanka were 203/2 at the end of 34th over and Pakistan had managed to hold them back in the last 16 overs as SriLanka managed to score only 92 runs , under 6 runs per over.
Pakistan began tentatively with Ahmed Shehzad scoring 1 of 14 balls and Sharjeel Khan hitting a few boundaries. Sharjeel fell to Suranga Lakmal and in came the Professor, Mohammad Hafeez. Just when Hafeez and Ahmed Shehzad were settling, disaster struck when the debutant Chaturanga De Silva got rid of Shehzad with a brilliant arm ball. Then in the next over itself Angelo Mathews got Hafeez and Sohaib Maqsood hung around for a while before getting dismissed for 17 runs. In came Pakistan’s brightest batting talent Umar Akmal and he joined Misbah, who is in the other end of the age spectrum. The senior and junior rotated the strike well and scored the odd boundaries. As is the custom, Misbah brought about his 36th ODI half century. Akmal was on 42 from 56 balls. The match swung Pakistan’s way in a span of two overs by Akmal’s sudden blitzkrieg. Lakmal was scattered for 17 runs and the next over de silva gave away 10 runs and suddenly Pakistan were back in the game with a very gettable 57 runs of 48 balls. Then it was all madness and mayhem as Umar couldn’t resist going after Lakmal and was caught behind. This was despite Misbah repeatedly trying to calm him down. Then Boom Boom Afridi came and perished in usual style. And when Misbah departed it was curtains for Pakistan.
Lasith Malinga swung the match in Srilanka’s favour as he claimed Misbah and Afridi in one over. Umar gul went trying to flick Malinga and Ajmal had no answer to a Malinga toe crusher. It popped on the screen SriLanka won 70% of the matches when Malinga took 3 or more wickets. The stat was vindicated and the champion bowler claimed his 6th five wicket haul to secure 4 points for SriLanka.