Summary Pakistan were put to bat and scored 180 runs in allotted overs, a chase too far for the visitors
LAHORE: (Web Desk) - Pakistan have beaten Sri Lanka in the third and final T20I of the 3-match series by 36 runs and won the series 3-Nil. The home side is now just 1 point short of New Zealand s top position in T20I ranking.
Pakistan were put to bat by Sri Lanka and scored 180 runs in their allotted overs for the loss of just 3 wickets, courtesy some top class hitting by former captain Shoaib Malik who scored 51 runs off 24 balls with the help of 5 boundaries and 2 sixes. Babar Azam, Umar Amin, Fakhar Zaman and Faheem Ashraf all chipped in. Umar Amin scored 45 runs in his comeback game. Zaman scored 31 off 27 balls, Azam remained unbeaten for 34 and Faheem Ashraf scored 13 runs off just 3 balls with 2 massive sixes off his first two balls.
Sri Lanka kept losing wickets in their chase as none of the batsmen really helped Shanaka, who scored 54 off off 36 balls with 5 boundaries and 3 sixes. Chaturanag de Silve (21), Prasanna (16), Parithana (14), Udawatte (11) and Thisara Perera (10) were the only other batsmen to have made it to double figures. Amir got four wickets on his debut T20I game on Pakistani soil. Faheem Ashraf got two wickets while Hasan Ali, Imad Wasim and Hafeez bagged one wicket apiece.
Shoaib Malik was the Man of the Match, and also the Man of the Series. And Sania Mirza was jubilant.
Chalen phir is pe?? #MOM #Manoftheseries @realshoaibmalik pic.twitter.com/iEnkxuKJ7O
— Sania Mirza (@MirzaSania) October 29, 2017
Pakistan have won the series before a packed stadium in Lahore and they now are just one point behind No 1 spot in the ICC T20I rankings, the place currently held by New Zealand. New Zealand have 125 points in the shortest format of the game while Pakistan now has 124.
And an eventful tour comes to an end. Here is how it went:
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HIGHLIGHTS
Sri Lanka innings
No, he couldn t. But Pakistan have swept the T20I series as well now and they the team moves to World No 1 in this format of the game, tripping New Zealand from the spot. They ve won this game by 36 runs and the series 3-Nil. It s a comprehensive performance by the hosts and they ve put up a brilliant show before the home crowd here. #CricketComesHome
19.3 overs: OUT! And Amir gets his fourth wicket as Prasanna edges it to Sarfaraz who takes a regulation catch behind the wickets. Can he get 5 now?
19.2 overs: OUT! Hafeez might have dropped it. He had fumbled it initially but it was way too simple to drop probably. Parithana is gone.
18.6 overs: SIX! Another one. Same slot. Prasanna doesn t think it s over anyway. And even if it is, why not spoil Hasan Ali s stats a bit? He s been a pain throughout the series for the Lankans.
18.3 overs: SIX! And he goes over the midwicket boundary again. This time for the maximum. Great shot by Prasanna.
18.1 overs: FOUR! It was a shortish delivery and has been pulled to the deep midwicket boundary for four runs.
18 overs: Sri Lanka are 123 for 7 and need 62 off the last over. An impossible task really.
17.5 overs: FOUR! It was a slower one and Parithana has negotiated it with perfection. It was straight down the ground for a boundary where the fielder couldn t do much despite going for a dive.
India might have survived the New Zealand scare tonight but Pakistanis are ready to face the TeamKohli here in Pakistan.
16.6 overs: OUT! Another one bites the dust. This time it s captain Thisara Perera who was trying to hit it over the midwicket for a six but ended up being caught by Shadab Khan in the deep. Hasan Ali gets his first of the day. Sri Lanka are 114 for 7 after 17 overs.
16.3 overs: FOUR! A boundary after 27 balls. But it might have taken too lonk to come. Great shot anyway, finds the gap between long-on and deep midwicket perfectly.
15.4 overs: OUT! And Amir has got another one. It s de Silva who has to walk back as the left-arm pacer cleaned him up. It was too quick and Chaturanga couldn t put a bat on it. It s 6 down now for 106.
15 overs: Cricket is by chance but this seems impossible from here. Sri Lanka are 104 for 5. Perera is there and he did pull one off with the World-XI last month here at the same venue but this is way too difficult now as the visitors need another 77 runs off the last 30 balls. Pakistan scored 72 off their last 30 but they had wickets in hand.
Thisara Perera, the skipper, has come on to the pitch to join Chaturanga de Silva.
Imad takes a good catch under pressure
13.2 overs: OUT! That was in the air for a long time as Shanaka tried to send that out of the world. Imad takes a pressure catch and with Shanaka go Sri Lankan hopes to win this match as well probably.
12 overs: Sri Lanka are 90 for 4 and need another 91 now off the last 8 overs. They are giving it everything and this match is far from over.
11.6 overs: SIX! This time it s for the maximum. He has hit this over the midwicket for a massive six. And it s FIFTY for him as well, off just 31 balls. He isn t letting it go that easily
11.3 overs: FOUR! Another boundary. Shanaka is after Shadab Khan here. Back-to-back boundaries here as Shadab is brought back into the attack.
11.2 overs: FOUR! That was hit over the bowler s head for a boundary with some power.
9.3 overs: FOUR! It was short outside the off by Imad Wasim and de Silva has hit that powerfully through the extra-cover for a boundary.
9 overs: The visitors are 59 for 4 and now need 122 runs to win off 66 balls. It s an uphill task obviously with over 12 runs an over required and just 6 wickets in hand. But they re trying, and we have a contest here.
8.4 overs: OUT! That s a soft dismissal. Udawatte tried to hit that over the midwicket boundary but ended up top-edging it only and Babar Azam too an easy catch at midwicket. Faheem Ashraf also gets a wicket. Sri Lanka are 57 for 4 now.
Gaddafi Stadium is jampacked tonight. #CricketComesHome
Wow!! Qaddafi Stadium already jam packed. #CricketComesHome
— Sania Ashiq (@SaniaaAshiq) October 29, 2017
pic.twitter.com/nyNkQj8Fa0
7.5 overs: SIX! It s not over yet. This time it s a straight hit over the bowler s head for the maximum. Two in the over now. Sri Lanka 55 for 3.
7.2 overs: SIX! And Shanaka has launched Shadab Khan for a six here. It was a long sweep and cleared the boundary with some distance.
6 overs: Sri Lanka are 38 for 3 and need another 143 runs now off 84 balls to win this match.
5.5 overs: FOUR! Amir goes for his boundary ever in Pakistan as Shanaka has square driven this overpitched delivery to perfection.
And Punjab police having to do some work as a brawl breaks out somewhere in the stands, reportedly over political slogans.
Udawatte comes out to bat now.
3.4 overs: OUT! Gunathilaka is gone and professor Hafeez has struck in his first over yet again. Sri Lanka don t seem to be bouncing back from here now. They are 21 for 3 now.
3.2 overs: FOUR! Welcome boundary that for the visitors. It was short and punished down the midwicket boundary.
Shanaka walks into the ground.
3 overs: Sri Lanka are in deep trouble with 2 wickets down for just 16 runs and they are at the brink of a clean sweep now.
2.4 overs: OUT! Samarawickrama is gone this time. He wanted to clear the deep square leg fieler with that sweep shot but ended up finding Babar Azam waiting for the same shot there. Sri Lanka are 15 for 2 and Imad Wasim has struck.
Samarawickrama is the new man in.
Amir gets Munaweera
Mohammad Amir:
— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) October 29, 2017
1st international match in Pakistan
3066 days since his international debut
2nd ball, a wicket#Cricket #PakvSL
1.2 overs: OUT! Amir srtikes in the first over. He s cleaned Munaweera up here. It was an inside edge and the ball went on to hit the off-stump. Sri Lanka are 10 for 1 in pursuit of Pakistan s 181.
Gunathilaka and Munaweera come out to open the innings for Sri Lanka.
Pakistan innings
The crowd is going crazy!
20 overs: Pakistan have scored 180 runs for the loss of 3 wickets and there s been some powerful hitting towards the end as the home side looted 72 runs off the last 5 overs courtesy some crafty batting by Shoaib Malik and two sixes by Faheem Ashraf towards the end. Faheem scored 13 run off just three balls with the help of 2 sixes while Shoaib Malik was the highest scorer with 51 runs, hitting 5 boundaries and 2 sixes. Sri Lanka will be coming out to bat shortly and need 181 runs to get the consolation win here at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.
Pakistan batting scorecard
19.5 overs: SIX! Again! This time he went over the midwicket boundary and the result is the same. Exceptional hitting.
19.5 overs: SIX! And it s a No-Ball as well. Faheem Ashraf has started off with a six over the covers. The home side is past the 170-run mark and he has a free hit now.
19.4 overs: OUT! Went for a similar shot again but this time he s found a filder in the deep. De Silva made no mistakes and Shoaib Malik is gone after having scored 51 runs off just 24 balls. Outstanding batting by the former Pakistan captain. He s taken this score to a great total here.
19.3 overs: SIX! And FIFTY! for Shoaib Malik. It s taken him only 23 balls with some extraordinary hitting. This one too was a full toss down the leg and he s hit that over the deep midwicket boundary for a six/
Last over..
Come watch this, bhabhi.
Kidhar ho bhabhi @mirzasania. Larka roz roz aesi innings nahi khel sakta.
— SIR .. (@SirJohnRoe) October 29, 2017
18.3 overs: FOUR! This is some next level batting by Shoaib Malik. He has picked his slot again. It was full with some width and Malik has sliced it again over the point fielder for yet another boundary.
18 overs: Pakistan are 147 for 2. Malik has changed the outlook of this game completely and the crowds are loving it at Gaddafi Stadium.
17.5 overs: FOUR! Luck favours the bravers. Malik has hit that for a boundary courtesy some poor fiedling in the deep and now Pakistan are 146 for 2 and 170 doesn t seem too far anymore.
17.2 overs: FOUR! Malik, the beautiful human , is on song here. That was a full toss and he has slashed it for a boundary, bisecting two fielders in the deep/
16.6 overs: FOUR! Think outside edge and goes for four. Babar Azam gets to 30 off 27 and Pakistan reach 134 for 2 after 17 overs. They re good as long as they re coming.
15.5 overs: FOUR! Another one. Malik has lifted this game up here with some absolutely blasting stuff. He s played that one again in the similar fashion but this time over the point for four. Pakistan suddenly move to 123 for the loss of 2 wickets.
15.4 overs: FOUR! And this looks even better. The bowler was coming around the wicket this time and Malik has hit it with the angle. He cleared his left leg out of the way and hit that over the covers for a boundary.
GONE ALL THE WAY FOR A SIX... THIS IS MALIK #CricketComeshome
— Maaro (@mariaasaleem) October 29, 2017
15.3 overs: SIX! WOW! That was some power. It was angling into Shoaib Malik and he has hit that over the long-off boundary for the maximum.
15 overs: Some excellent bowling by Sri Lankan bowlers has kept Pakistan from scoring the big shots. They are 108 for 2 at the end of 15th over. A humongous total now seems a distant dream but 150 is still on the cards.
It is not just a game ... There are samosas too being sold in the ground
13.1 overs: 100! Shoaib Malik guides it to the third-man for a single and completes Pakistan s team hundred. They ve lost two wickets so far and with some power hitters to still come, they have to score over 150 from here.
12.6 overs: FOUR! That s a classic square drive by Babar Azam. It was full and in the slot, and Azam has made full use of the width. Pakistan reach 99 for the loss of 2.
Shoaib Malik is the new man in.
12.1 overs: OUT! This time the fielder made no mistakes. Amin tried to bisect the two fielders deep on the off-side but he couldn t make it quite past Perera. He is out for 45 and Pakistan are 91 for 2 now.
12 overs: Pakistan are 91 for 1 after 12 overs. The last 8 overs of the innings now and they seem well poised to get to 150 at least.
11.4 over: DROPPED! It was a great effort from the long-off fielder who ran back to try and get this one. He got there but couldn t catch it.
Lahore is loving it!
10.4 over: FOUR! This time it s short and punished. Amin pulled it with tremendous power for a boundary.
10.1 overs: SIX! This time Umar Amin has launched de Silva over his head for the maximum. It was a lovely, lovely stroke as he came down the wicket to get underneath the ball and loft it over the bowler s head.
9 overs: Pakistan are 65 for 1 after 9 overs and they need to show some urgency as the innings about to touch the halfway mark.
8.3 over: FOUR! Umar Amin continues on the other end. It s a poor delivery, short down the leg side, and Umar Amin has treated it the way it deserved.
Babar Azam joins Umar Amin in the middle.
7.6 overs: OUT! And Pakistan have lost their first wicket as Munaweera has cleaned Fakhar Zaman up. Zaman was trying to cut it but it was too quick for him and the opener has to walk back to the pavilion. There was a huge roar as a big NOT OUT flashed as the fielf umpires checked with the TV umpire. But it was a mistake and Zaman had to go.
6 overs: Pakistan are 47 for no loss and the two batsmen are timing it well now.
5.6 overs: FOUR! Now that s what we call crafting. The bowler had bowled it short seeing Zaman coming down but he was up to the task still and hit it behind the bowler s head for four.
4.3 overs: FOUR! That was a poor delivery. Can t really say if the bowler was trying to follow Zaman there. It was short and way down the leg side. Zaman pulled it behind the square leg for another boundary. Pakistan are 33 for no loss.
3.1 overs: FOUR! Ohh, that s a classic stroke. He came to the pitch of the ball and has launched it over the covers for a boundary. Treat to watch, really.
3 overs: They ve been eventful, thouugh no boundary has been hit after the first one on the first ball. But Zaman kept us on our feet with his mistimed strokes.
0.3 overs: There was a huge appeal but the replays show it was hitting him a bit high. This could have been bye-bye to Amin on the very first ball of his return game.
0.1 overs: FOUR! Fakhar Zaman opens the game with a boundary. What a warm welcome to the Lahore crowd that is by the aggressive left-hander. It was short and wide, and Zaman has slashed it over the slips for the first boundary on the first ball of the game.
Umar Amin comes on to bat, alongside Fakhar Zaman, as the batsman makes it to the first 11 after a long time. He isn t going to be playing in the middle order though as he replaced Ahmed Shahzad who hasn t been able to fire really in this series so far.
Toss: Sri Lanka win the toss and choose to fielf first.
Sri Lanka team
MD Gunathilaka, EMDY Munaweera, S Samarawickrama†, S Prasanna, NLTC Perera (c), MD Shanaka, I Udana, ML Udawatte, SS Pathirana, PC de Silva, JRMVB Sanjaya
Pakistan team
Sarfraz Ahmed (c), Fakhar Zaman, Umar Amin, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Hafeez, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Amir and Faheem Ashraf
