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For more than three fifths of the innings, Pakistan's bowlers were disciplined and their fielding was passable. Then Umar Gul dropped Kumar Sangakkara, on 35 off 82 deliveries. Then came the batting Powerplay. Sangakkara carted 62 off his last 48 deliveries, and Sri Lanka got away to the kind of total Pakistan have struggled to chase in recent times.
Till Sangakkara was put down in the 31st over, Sri Lanka had been tied down, first by Pakistan's fast bowlers, and then by their spinners. Sangakkara and Tillakaratne Dilshan did add 55 for the second wicket, but they were hard-earned runs, and Dilshan's departure immediately after the first drinks break meant Sri Lanka had to continue with their cautious approach. The absence of scoring opportunities consumed Dinesh Chandimal as well, after which the expected rain came down to force a 70-minute break.
Pakistan's spinners continued with the run-squeeze after the rain interruption. Sangakkara tried to break free off Shahid Afridi. Had Gul taken the low catch at long-on, Sri Lanka would have been 106 for 4. He didn't. Sangakkara rubbed it in off his next delivery, dispatching Mohammad Hafeez over midwicket for four.
The next three overs were quiet, but Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene took complete charge in the batting Powerplay, which went for 49.
More to follow ...
25 overs Sri Lanka 90 for 2 (Sangakkara 31*, Chandimal 18*) v Pakistan
Sri Lanka were tied down, first by Pakistan's fast bowlers, and then by their spinners, with the threat of rain looming in Colombo. Kumar Sangakkara and Tillakaratne Dilshan did add 53 for the second wicket, but they were hard-earned runs, and Dilshan's departure immediately after drinks meant Sri Lanka had to continue with their cautious approach.
Pakistan's discipline was reflected in the measly three boundaries that Sri Lanka managed in the first Powerplay of 10 overs. The hosts' ploy of opening with the left-hand Upul Tharanga to counter the left-arm angle of Sohail Tanvir could not be put to use as Tharanga fell in the third over to Umar Gul, edging the fast bowler's first delivery from round the stumps to second slip.
Tharanga did not face a single delivery from Tanvir, who troubled Dilshan throughout his opening spell with his awkward angle, tight line and away movement. Tanvir's first over set the tone, Dilshan beaten on the cover-drive off the third ball, and leaving the rest alone outside off. Gul's angle from round the stumps troubled Sangakkara at the other end, with a few deliveries holding their line to beat the batsmen and keeping him tentative in the crease.
Tanvir and Gul's opening spells kept Sri Lanka to 35 for 1 after 10 overs. With Pakistan playing the extra batsman in Asad Shafiq, Misbah-ul-Haq used the pressure created by his fast bowlers to get a couple of overs out of Younis Khan, only the 19th time he has bowled in his 245 ODIs.
Dilshan cut Shahid Afridi's first delivery for four, and the scoring picked up with the batsmen appearing slightly more comfortable against spin. After having largely reined himself in and looking intent to bat long, Dilshan tried to sweep Hafeez's first delivery, also the first ball after drinks, and was trapped plumb in front. Hafeez and Saeed Ajmal conceded just 10 runs in the bowling Powerplay from overs 16 to 20, making things more difficult for Sangakkara and Dinesh Chandimal.
Till Sangakkara was put down in the 31st over, Sri Lanka had been tied down, first by Pakistan's fast bowlers, and then by their spinners. Sangakkara and Tillakaratne Dilshan did add 55 for the second wicket, but they were hard-earned runs, and Dilshan's departure immediately after the first drinks break meant Sri Lanka had to continue with their cautious approach. The absence of scoring opportunities consumed Dinesh Chandimal as well, after which the expected rain came down to force a 70-minute break.
Pakistan's spinners continued with the run-squeeze after the rain interruption. Sangakkara tried to break free off Shahid Afridi. Had Gul taken the low catch at long-on, Sri Lanka would have been 106 for 4. He didn't. Sangakkara rubbed it in off his next delivery, dispatching Mohammad Hafeez over midwicket for four.
The next three overs were quiet, but Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene took complete charge in the batting Powerplay, which went for 49.
More to follow ...
25 overs Sri Lanka 90 for 2 (Sangakkara 31*, Chandimal 18*) v Pakistan
Sri Lanka were tied down, first by Pakistan's fast bowlers, and then by their spinners, with the threat of rain looming in Colombo. Kumar Sangakkara and Tillakaratne Dilshan did add 53 for the second wicket, but they were hard-earned runs, and Dilshan's departure immediately after drinks meant Sri Lanka had to continue with their cautious approach.
Pakistan's discipline was reflected in the measly three boundaries that Sri Lanka managed in the first Powerplay of 10 overs. The hosts' ploy of opening with the left-hand Upul Tharanga to counter the left-arm angle of Sohail Tanvir could not be put to use as Tharanga fell in the third over to Umar Gul, edging the fast bowler's first delivery from round the stumps to second slip.
Tharanga did not face a single delivery from Tanvir, who troubled Dilshan throughout his opening spell with his awkward angle, tight line and away movement. Tanvir's first over set the tone, Dilshan beaten on the cover-drive off the third ball, and leaving the rest alone outside off. Gul's angle from round the stumps troubled Sangakkara at the other end, with a few deliveries holding their line to beat the batsmen and keeping him tentative in the crease.
Tanvir and Gul's opening spells kept Sri Lanka to 35 for 1 after 10 overs. With Pakistan playing the extra batsman in Asad Shafiq, Misbah-ul-Haq used the pressure created by his fast bowlers to get a couple of overs out of Younis Khan, only the 19th time he has bowled in his 245 ODIs.
Dilshan cut Shahid Afridi's first delivery for four, and the scoring picked up with the batsmen appearing slightly more comfortable against spin. After having largely reined himself in and looking intent to bat long, Dilshan tried to sweep Hafeez's first delivery, also the first ball after drinks, and was trapped plumb in front. Hafeez and Saeed Ajmal conceded just 10 runs in the bowling Powerplay from overs 16 to 20, making things more difficult for Sangakkara and Dinesh Chandimal.