Player of the Match
Player of the Match

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.

18.5
6
Malinga to Khawaja Nafay, SIX, And there it is! Nafay seals the win in style, tonking this length ball over the long-on boundary! Pakistan win by four wickets, and go 1-0 up in the series!

Two needed now, one to draw level...

18.4
1lb
Malinga to Mohammad Imran, 1 leg bye, back of a length, nips back and strikes him in the midriff. But crucially they sneak a leg bye
18.3
0
Malinga to Mohammad Imran, no run, low full toss, on the stumps. Defended watchfully
18.2
W
Malinga to Shadab Khan, OUT, Not over yet! Shadab looks to hit this into next Friday, but ends up just top edging the pull as this skier is taken comfortably at deep fine leg

Shadab Khan c Thushara b Malinga 0 (3m 2b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0

Amin: "Fun fact: PTSD stands for Pakistan Team Stress Disorder. "

18.1
1
Malinga to Khawaja Nafay, 1 run, full and straight, pushed to mid-off and they run a tight single. Three needed now...

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
17.6
0
Thushara to Shadab Khan, no run, banged in short, misses the attempted hook

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"

17.5
W
Thushara to Sahibzada Farhan, OUT, Farhan is gone! But he's surely done enough for his side! And a word for Arachchige at deep midwicket, who has taken an absolutely scorcher here. This was another low full toss, whipped away in front of square. It looks to always be dying on the man running in from the boundary, but he's flung himself at the ball and held on quite miraculously.

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.

17.4
6
Thushara to Sahibzada Farhan, SIX, Outrageous batting from Farhan! Another short cutter around off, but Farhan has leant back and just cut this over the extra cover boundary - amazing batting from the skipper

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"

17.3
4
Thushara to Sahibzada Farhan, FOUR, Pummelled! Low full toss as Farhan sets himself in his crease and whips this hard to the deep square leg boundary

Ahmad Jawad: "In Urdu TheekShana is "Right Wiseman" wow! great Name."

17.2
0
Thushara to Sahibzada Farhan, no run, wide yorker, squirted away but only as far as cover
17.1
4
Thushara to Sahibzada Farhan, FOUR, Fantastic from Farhan! This was a cutter and short wide of off, but Farhan waits for it and cuts this high towards the deep point boundary. That was extremely well played

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
16.6
1
Wellalage to Sahibzada Farhan, 1 run, skips down and looks for the big heave across the line. Ends up getting a bottom edge that runs away towards deep square leg
16.5
0
Wellalage to Sahibzada Farhan, no run, fuller and quicker, angled in towards middle and leg. Stays back and punches this back to the bowler
16.4
0
Wellalage to Sahibzada Farhan, no run, good length on off, back foot punch straight to short extra cover
16.3
2
Wellalage to Sahibzada Farhan, 2 runs, good length on off, backs away and cuts it well towards deep point. Another good piece of running to come back for the second

Pakistan 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st54Fakhar ZamanSahibzada Farhan
2nd92Sahibzada FarhanMaaz Sadaqat
3rd1Sahibzada FarhanHasan Nawaz
4th9Sahibzada FarhanSaim Ayub
5th23Sahibzada FarhanKhawaja Nafay
6th1Shadab KhanKhawaja Nafay
7th7Mohammad Imran (1)Khawaja Nafay