Jayawardene Hits 10,000th Run But Sri Lanka Beaten

Jayawardene Hits 10,000th Run But Sri Lanka Beaten

Pakistan celebrated a 21-run win that put them back in front of Sri Lanka in the series

©REUTERS / Action Images

Pakistan 257-8 (Mohammad Hafeez 83) beat
Sri Lanka 236 (Dilshan 64) by 21 runs
Third One-Day International, Dubai
Scorecard

Sri Lankan batsman Mahela Jayawardene became the ninth player to hit 10,000 One-Day International runs but on the occasion of his 350th ODI appearance, Pakistan were celebrating after they moved into a 2-1 series lead with a 21-run win in Dubai.

Jayawardene was stumped for 17 as his side were bowled out for 236 after Pakistan had posted 257 for eight from their 50 overs having won the toss for the first time in the five-match series.

Openers Mohammad Hafeez (83) and Imran Farhat (70) shared a ground-record partnership of 151 before the rest of the Pakistan batsmen managed 106 for seven in 20.4 overs but they had enough runs to retake the lead in the series.

Saeed Ajmal and Umar Gul then took three wickets apiece as Sri Lanka were dismissed with seven balls unused.

Tillakaratne Dilshan made 64 and Kumar Sangakkara 45 but their dismissals, in which Shahid Afridi was involved in both, changed the course of the game.

Sangakkara was run out by yards following a terrible misunderstanding with Dilshan as Afridi pounced with a direct hit and Dilshan was then bowled by Afridi via his arm as he attempted to sweep a ball well wide off leg stump.

Jayawardene joined Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Sanath Jayasuriya, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Jacques Kallis, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and Brian Lara in hitting 10,000 runs before a sharp bit of work from Sarfraz Ahmed and Ajmal saw him on his way.

With the required run-rate mounting, Angelo Mathews was left stranded on 32 not out in 40 balls as Pakistan gained a stranglehold on the match they were not to lose, Gul, Sohail Tanvir and Hafeez outstanding at the death.

Jeevan Mendis struck an enterprising 19 in 15 balls but when he was trapped in front by Hafeez (1-29), there was no way back for Sri Lanka and it was left to Gul to have Seekkuge Prasanna caught by Afridi for ten and bowl Dilhara Fernando without scoring to close out the game.

Hafeez had earlier hit nine fours and a six with Farhat contributing six fours and one six during their excellent opening partnership; Hafeez facing 101 balls and Farhat 82 to give Pakistan the springboard for success.

Sri Lanka did their best and fought their way back into the contest with Lasith Malinga and Prasanna both taking two wickets and although a string of Pakistan batsmen made starts but failed to make telling contributions, the ever-reliable Younus Khan weighed in with a priceless 42 in 52 balls and ensure that their platform was not entirely wasted.

Tissara Perera and Dilshan also picked up wicket while Umar Akmal (7) and Misbah-ul-Haq (7) were both run out.

The fourth match in the series is in Sharjah on 20th November.

© Cricket World 2011