Lankans pip Pakistan at the home stretch

Pakistan then looked like surmounting the target when they were 205-6 at the end of the 46th over, needing 35 runs to achieve their goal. However, they lost a spate of wickets in the end to expedite their doom. Moin Khan, who was looking good in the company of the well-entrenched Salim Malik, holed out to deep mid-off in the 47th over. Thirty runs were required off 18 balls. But Kumara Dharmasena conceded just four runs in the 48th over and bowled Malik with the fourth ball — the batsman missing the line while trying to clear the off-side field. Twenty six runs were needed in the last two overs but Jayasuriya got Saqlain Mushtaq and Aaqib Javed caught in the deep by Ruwan Kalpage off successive balls to finish the match as a contest.

Saeed Anwar gave the innings a blazing start, treating both the Lankan new- ball bowlers with disdain. The six off Chaminda Vaas being a beauty. However, his calculated belligerence was short-lived as he played Vaas onto his stumps.

The Lankan fielders backed their bowlers up well and capitalised on the early breakthrough provided by Vaas. Arjuna Ranatunga caught a fierce square cut of Sohail — coming into the team after a disciplinary exile by the Pakistan Cricket Board — and Muttiah Muralitharan took another blinder to get rid of the dangerous-looking Shahid Afridi.

Skipper Rameez Raja escaped a stumping chance when he was on 17 in a total of 78-3, but did not profit from the lapse. Pakistan’s woes were increasing by the minute. Although Inzamam-ul-Haq and Malik arrested the slide by putting on 51 runs, by the time Inzamam got out in familiar fashion, the Pakistan required run-rate soared to 6.62 — which in the end proved a bit too steep.

Put in to bat, Lanka struggled in the latter half of their innings but still did reasonably well to finish with a challenging total of 239. The wicket was not too conducive for strokeplay in the morning and Lanka were uncharacteristically, though understandably, cautious. For a team which has redefined the batting norms in the first 15 overs when the field restrictions are on, the World Cup champs had to be content with just nine on the board in the first five overs. However, Sanat Jayasuriya cannot be shackled for long and the following five overs yielded 30 runs. Jayasuriya hoisted Kabir for a six but the bowler had his revenge pretty quickly to provide Pakistan an important breakthrough.

The much-maligned Maravan Atapattu was a picture of poise and patience at the other end as the Lankan innings flourished. He added 65 in 12.1 overs for the second wicket with Aravinda de Silva and 49 for the third wicket with skipper Arjuna Ranatunga. However, like Jayasuriya, both Aravinda and Ranatunga could not stay long enough to make a substantial contribution.

Lanka, who were 104 for one after 20 overs, lost their momentum after the departure of Aravinda — out to a brilliant diving catch by Saqlain — and Ranatunga. Roshan Mahanama, who normally comes in at No 7, failed when Lanka needed his patience and experience most. Two wickets were lost in consecutive overs as skipper Rameez Raja effected a double change by bringing on Shahid Afridi and Kabir Khan. Afridi trapped Mahanama lbw with a faster one and in the next over Kabir dismissed Romesh Kaluwitharana in similar fashion.

The wicketkeeper-batsman must now be under serious threat to hold his place in the eleven. The warning signals have already been sent by the selectors, who have inducted 21-year-old Lanka de Silva — a competent wicketkeeper-batsman who has done well for the National A team and in domestic cricket — in the 14 for the Asia Cup.

Raja, marshalling his resources well, sensed the chance for a kill. He immediately removed Afridi and brought in his key bowler, Saqlain Mushtaq. The off-spinner managed to get the important wicket of Atapattu in an unexpected fashion. Ruwan Kalpage missed a sweep off Saqlain and set off for a run. Atapattu, at the non-striking end, responded and then tried to retrace his steps as Kalpage changed his mind about the cheeky run. It was too late for Atapattu as he could not beat the throw from Raja to the bowler. It was a sad end to a highly disciplined and delightfully crafted innings. With his exit, Lanka lost their last big hope in their rehab plans. But it was a gem of an innings which won him the man-of-the-match award from former Lankan international Rumesh Ratnayake.