Calcutta/ Dhaka: Pakistan’s batting finally came good. 

On Friday, they successfully chased down a competitive total posted by Sri Lanka to win by six wickets in an inconsequential final round robin league encounter of the Asia Cup, in Mirpur.

Batting first, Sri Lanka could manage a decent 150 for four, riding an opening stand of 110 runs between Tillekaratne Dilshan and Dinesh Chandimal.

In reply, Pakistan produced a collective batting performance to win the match in 19.2 overs. Umar Akmal (48 off 37 balls) and Shoaib Malik (13 not out) added 56 runs in 6.1 overs to take Pakistan home.

Akmal’s innings had four boundaries and two huge sixes. Mohammed Hafeez (14) hit three boundaries before off-spinner Shehan Jayasuriya dismissed him off a delivery that stopped as the batsman failed to check his shot.
Sharjeel Khan hit five boundaries and a six, in his 31 off 25 balls as he added 35 quick runs for the second wicket with Sarfraz Ahmed (38).

Sarfraz has been the only Pakistan batsman who played consistently well during the tournament. After 25 against India and 58 against Bangladesh, Sarfraz’s 37 came off 28 balls with six boundaries as he set up the game nicely for Akmal and Malik to provide finishing touches.

Akmal hit a brilliant six to level scores but was dismissed to an outstanding catch by Thisara Perera. It was left to

Malik to hit the winning runs, but was lucky as the mid-off fielder dropped an easy catch.

Captain Shahid Afridi asserted that his side can deliver in the World Twenty20 later this month if they have self-belief. Pakistan failed to enter the final of the Asia Cup T20 but Afridi said that they are still a good side. “We have good cricketers, just that we need to have more self-belief,” Afridi said when asked about his team’s performance in the Asia Cup T20 and the upcoming World Twenty20.

“That’s what helped us in the chase today. I don’t fall down easily, yes, it was tough but I’m confident the boys can deliver,” Afridi said.

“We had to change a few things, we worked hard and it helped. We wanted to keep wickets intact in the first six overs and it worked,” he added. 

Sri Lanka

D. Chandimal    c Sharjeel b Riaz    58
T. Dilshan    not out    75
S. Jayasuriya    c Sharjeel b Malik    4
C. K’pugedera    b Irfan    2
D. Shanaka    b Irfan    0
M. S’ardana    not out    4
Extras: (lb-6, w-1)    7
Total: (4 wickets; 20 overs)    150
Fall of wickets: 1/110, 2/117, 3/125, 4/125
Bowling: Amir 4-0-31-0; Irfan 4-0-18-2; Afridi 4-0-24-0; Nawaz 3-0-38-0; Riaz 4-0-30-1; Malik 1-0-3-1

Pakistan

S. Khan    c Kapugedera b Dilshan    31
Md. Hafeez    c & b Jayasuriya    14
S. Ahmed    lbw Siriwardana    38
U. Akmal    c Perera b Kulasekara    48
S. Malik    not out    13
I. Ahmed    not out    0
Extras: (b-4, lb-1, w-2)    7
Total: (4 wickets; 19.2 overs)    151
Fall of wickets: 1/23, 2/58, 3/94, 4/150
Bowling: Kulasekara 4-0-20-1; Perera 2.2-0-25-0; Jayasuriya 1-0-13-1; Shanaka 1-0-6-0; Chameera 4-0-32-0; Herath 4-0-28-0; Dilshan 1-0-2-1; Siriwardana 2-0-20-1

MoM: Umar Akmal