da betcris： It was a mismatch with Pakistan well and truly whipped by aprofessional Sri Lankan team in a totally one-sided affairby seven wickets in the Khaleej Times Trophy here at theSharjah Stadium Saturday
28-Oct-2001It was a mismatch with Pakistan well and truly whipped by aprofessional Sri Lankan team in a totally one-sided affairby seven wickets in the Khaleej Times Trophy here at theSharjah Stadium Saturday.A total of 176 to overhaul on a placid wicket was nevergoing to be testing one barring a sensational collapse whichnever materialized as Pakistan’s over-rated attack exceptWasim Akram posed few problems to the Sri Lankan batsmen.The only bright spots for Pakistan in the field was WasimAkram who bowled his heart out but was desperately unluckynot to be amongst wickets.While the bowling lacked penetration the buttered fingeredfielders also compounded the problems. Sanath Jayasuriya wasdropped by Shoaib Malik in Waqar Younis’ third over.Aviskha Gunawardena, who enjoyed a charmed life especiallyduring Wasim Akram’s opening burst, too was put down bySaeed Anwar in the 60s. Later named Man-of-the-Match,Gunawardena was eventually dismissed for 88. He slammed 13fours and faced 122 balls.Pakistan on this performance will have to improve beyondrecognition to even beat the current ‘whipping boys’Zimbabwe tomorrow to make next Sunday’s final.Pakistan batting crumblesA series of nothing strokes by top order batsmen was themajor contributory factor in Pakistan’s pathetic total of176 after Waqar Younis opted to bat first under perfectbatting conditions.There was no venom in the pitch or the moderate Sri Lankanattack but it was some senseless strokeplay by Pakistanisthat gave Sri Lanka an easy target to achieve.While the Sri Lankan bowling could be described as moderatebut the islanders’ outcricket was simply outstanding.Chaminda Vaas and Mahela Jayawardena took blinders to removeYousuf Youhana and Wasim Akram respectively.Only a sensible 47 by Youhana saved Pakistan from evengetting out for a much lower total but he too was guilty ofthrowing his wicket when well set.Gangling medium-pacer Dilhara Fernando and Prabath Nissanka,playing his first One-day International, did the earlydamage reducing Pakistan to 67 for five wickets by the 18thover.Taufiq Umer dragged a ball onto his stumps, Saeed Anwar,batting at number three, gave a return catch, Shahid Afridispooned a dolly to mid-wicket, while Younis Khan and RashidLatif got out playing extravagant strokes.Youhana and Abdur Razzaq tried to check the slide and put on50 for the sixth wicket but both got out to loose strokes,ending any hopes of reaching a respectable total.