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Sri Lanka fall short after spirited run chase in first one-dayer against Pakistan. Agha and Rauff swing the scales in Pakistan’s favour. – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (eLanka Sports Editor).
Sri Lanka made a gallant effort to overhaul an imposing Pakistan total of 299 falling short by 6 runs in their one-day opener in Rawalpindi
Winning the toss and putting the home side in to bat perhaps was not ideal in hindsight, as the Pakistan batters showed little fear or real discomfort while navigating a strong total.
Pakistan’s win was shaped around Salman Agha who smashed Sri Lanka’s attack with disdain in a exciting display of power hitting as he dug Pakistan out of a precarious position of 4 for 95 in 24 overs. Agha raced to 105 off 87 balls and together with Hussain Talat, 62 off 63 balls added 238 Run’s in 20 overs, then 66 runs in the last 6.3 overs to take them to an unassailable total.
Chasing 300 in subcontinental conditions is always a tough challenge and so it proved to Sri Lanka who were never in a serious position to show they were upto overhauling the target ahead.
After a stirring initial onslaught by Pathum Nissanka 29, and debutante Kamil Mishara, 38 off 36 balls who smashed their way to a 85-run opening stand, Pakistani quick Harris Rauff soon threw a spanner in the works dismissing both openers and then added Kusal Mendis for a duck in quick succession to put the brakes on as he went on to be instrumental in Pakistan’s win. Rauf grabbed 4 for 61, Naseem Shah and Faheem Ashraff two each, led the home team’s attack to thwart Sri Lanka’s chase.
Sri Lanka’s later batters, Sadeera Samarawickrema 39 off 48, skipper Charith Asalanka 32 off 49 and Janith Liyanage 28 off 24, tried to regain early momentum but couldn’t find anyone with real staying ability apart from Wannindu Hasarsnga who kept their hopes alive until he was dismissed in the 49th over tipping the scales back in Pakistan’s favour.
Brief glimpses of a close game were evidenced as Sri Lanka lost wickets at regular intervals. But at 191 for 6, then 8 for 247 in 44.2 overs, their hopes dissipated although the tailendenders made a bold chase to no avail in the end.
The return of Wannindu Hasarsnga de Silva was heartening as he grabbed three wickets in the Pakistan innings, then backed his allround status with a hurricane 59 off 54 balls to give Sri Lanka hope of overhauling Pakistan’s target. Alas, his dismissal signalled the end of the challenge.
Pakistan wrested the initiative with this win in the first of the three-match series, and Sri Lanka will try to take it down to the wire with a win in game two and perhaps take the series to underline their improvement recently that has them sitting fourth in the current rankings.
Game two is tomorrow and points to another close contest depending very much on Sri Lanka’s talented batting line-up to find fluency and consistency which has been their bugbear for a considerable period.
