On that note, it's a wrap from us. Danyal's report should be up soon. We've got a day's break before the second match, coming up this Sunday. But till then, on behalf of the rest of the team, this is Madushka signing out!
Kusal Mendis: "I think we were about 20-30 runs short. We needed to score 200+ on this pitch. Myself and Kamil got out early, we need to play positively in the powerplay. When we got out early, that made us struggle. Lahiru Udara batted really, I enjoyed his innings. I hope he carries on in the next match as well. I think we bowled a bit badly in the powerplay. We need to be tight in the first six overs. And they also batted really well."
Player of the Match goes to Sahibzada Farhan: He was happy about the powerplay batting, as well as the debut performances, including that of Mohammad Imran. He wants them to continue in this vein for the next game.
Time for the post-match presentation...
Udam: "Today's culprit Kamil Mishara's nine dot ball" --- Wouldn't want to single him out for a problem that plagues so many Sri Lankan batters. There is certainly a difficulty many of them possess against the moving ball.
Salman: "This looks so immature from Nafay by hitting the shot and then not looking at the ball. Why the coaches do not tell him to pleaaasee stop this stupid NO LOOK thing. One must look at the ball with both eyes wide open. So childish. He is not Devald Brevis." --- To be fair, is not the idea of the no-look hit that you keep an eye on the ball right up until the point of impact? Everything else is simply showmanship, no?
9.45pm So a bit of sloppy finish, but a comprehensive win nonetheless for the home side as Pakistan outplayed Sri Lanka across all departments to go 1-0 up in this three-match series. Only Lahiru Udara's 91 managed to push Sri Lanka to a competitive total, but Pakistan broke the chase in a raucous 70-run powerplay, and reached their 100 inside the opening 10 overs. By the time the death overs arrived, the requirement was less than run-a-ball, and despite losing a few wickets towards the end of the game they got over the line with ease. Sahibzada Farhan played a quintessential captain's innings, with a 53-ball 89, and by the time he was dismissed in the 18th over Pakistan needed just four more to win. Maaz Sadaqat too struck a crucial 50 off 29, while Fakhar Zaman's 21 off 13 proved vital in the powerplay. Sri Lanka's bowling struggled to contain the Pakistani batters, particularly on a favourable batting track and one that got even easier to bat on once some dew arrived. In hindsight, Sri Lanka may wonder if opting to bat first was the right call. But even so, credit should go to Pakistan's seamers, who did well stifle the Lankan batting in the powerplay and then again at the death.
Two needed now, one to draw level...
Shadab Khan c Thushara b Malinga 0 (3m 2b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0
Amin: "Fun fact: PTSD stands for Pakistan Team Stress Disorder. "
Just 4 needed then off 12. One shot away, as they say.
END OF OVER:18 | 14 Runs 1 Wkt | PAK: 179/5 (4 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 9.94, RRR: 2.00)
- Shadab Khan0 (1b)
- Khawaja Nafay5 (5b)
- Nuwan Thushara3-0-32-1
- Dunith Wellalage3-0-26-0
Hamza: "@Ahmad Jawad Not "Right Wiseman" but "Right/true Shoulder", Shana is shoulder in Urdu, Siyana is Wiseman."
AadilShahzad: "@Ahmed Jawad, Shana means clever rather wise,Wise is "Daana" in urdu"
Sahibzada Farhan c Arachchige b Thushara 89 (94m 53b 10x4 4x6) SR: 167.92
Adnan: ""Surely not" can turn into "maybe" very quickly--but only if Sri Lanka get rid of Farhan. He's a different proposition from the traditional Pakistani batter." --- He certainly is, Adnan.
Hammy: "As a pakistani, i have no shame in announcing that i am psycho kinda fan… cant enjoy straight and one sided win anymore. Manifesting for some wickets and drama"
Ahmad Jawad: "In Urdu TheekShana is "Right Wiseman" wow! great Name."
Here's Thushara.
Natasha : "How boring would be world cricket without Pakistan " --- It would be an immeasurable loss.
manee: "Is this a some kind of reverse jinxing by Pak fans? Surely not.." --- The PTSD is strong.
END OF OVER:17 | 6 Runs | PAK: 165/4 (18 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 9.70, RRR: 6.00)
- Sahibzada Farhan75 (48b)
- Khawaja Nafay5 (5b)
- Dunith Wellalage3-0-26-0
- Maheesh Theekshana4-0-36-2