- Urdu version is attached here
Karachi, 30 September 2019: A second-career five-wicket haul by Usman Shinwari and a century by Babar Azam helped Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 67 runs in the second One-Day International to take an unassailable 1-0 lead in the three-match series at the National Stadium Karachi on Monday.
Shinwari, who was later declared, player of the match, claimed five for 51 as the tourists were bowled out for 238 in 46.5 overs.
In their chase of a challenging 306-run target, Sri Lanka had half of their batsmen back in the pavilion, thanks to Usman, who provided Pakistan with the first wicket in the fourth over of the Sri Lanka innings.
Jayasuria and Shanaka, who came together with their side 28 for five in 10.1 overs, stitched the record highest sixth-wicket stand, adding 177 runs to the team’s total.
Jayasuriya missed out his maiden ODI century by four runs. The 28-year-old all-rounder top scored for his side scoring 96 from 109 balls with seven fours and one six.
Shanaka hit six fours and two sixes in his 80-ball 68, which went down as his third ODI half-century.
Once Shinwari broke their stand in the 41st over, with Sri Lanka still requiring 101 runs, the visiting party crumbled.
The platform for the 67-run win, however, was set earlier in the day after Pakistan elected to bat. Pakistan star batsman Babar Azam once again stood out with 115 from 105 balls. The 24-year-old’s 11th ODI century was embellished with eight fours and four sixes.
Pakistan had gotten a decent start with the opening pair of Fakhar Zaman, who scored 54 off 65 balls, and Imam-ul-Haq (31 off 41) putting 73 runs before the latter was trapped LBW by Wanindu Hasaranga in the 15th over.
The wicket of Zaman in the 21st over had Pakistan at 104 for two, but a 111-run stand for the third-wicket between Azam and Haris Sohail, who scored 40 off 48 balls, put Pakistan back in control.
This provided the lower-order batsmen with a setting to plunder runs in the death overs. A quickfire 32 not out from Iftikhar Ahmed, who was playing his first ODI since 2015, got Pakistan 72 runs in seven overs. Iftikhar, facing 20 balls, hit two fours and two sixes.
Heading into the third and final ODI at the same venue on Wednesday, Pakistan are 1-0 up.
Scores in brief:
Pakistan 305-7, 50 overs (Babar Azam 115, Fakhar Zaman 54, Haris Sohail 40; Wanindu Hasaranga 2-63
Sri Lanka 238 all-out, 46.5 overs (. Shehan Jayasuriya 96, Dasun Shanaka 68; Usman Shinwari 5-51, Shadab Khan 2-76)
