Pakistan Cricket

Pakistan recorded a comprehensive 135-run victory over Sri Lanka to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match one-day international series.

The visitors made 316-4 after winning the toss and electing to bat in Colombo.

#SriLanka needs 317 runs to win 3rd ODI against #Pakistan! #PakvSL #SLvPAK #PakvsSL #SLvsPAK #cricket pic.twitter.com/fd9wCf7XJK

— Aleena علینہ (@AnmolAleena) July 19, 2015

Sri Lanka could only make 181 in their reply at the R. Premadasa Stadium, an innings that was interrupted for 30 minutes by crowd disturbances.

Game has been interrupted due to crowd trouble. #SLvPAK #Cricket pic.twitter.com/xvcdcTwoyN

— PakPassion.net (@PakPassion) July 19, 2015

Sarfraz Ahmed top-scored for Pakistan with 77, but they had contributions from all six batsmen.

This is the first ever time that 6 Pakistani batsmen scored atleast 35 each in same ODI innings. #SLvPAK

— Cricket Record (@cricinfo_record) July 19, 2015

Azhar Ali and Ahmed Shehzad put on 93 for the opening wicket before the latter pulled Lasith Malinga straight to deep mid-wicket after making 44.

The captain was run out for 44, but Mohammad Hafeez and Sarfraz put on 72 for the third wicket.

Hafeez matched both openers by hitting four boundaries and reached his 26th ODI half-century before sweeping Sachith Pathirana to deep mid-wicket on 54.

Innings total of 300+ most often away from home in ODIs: Australia 50 times, Pakistan/India 46 times, Sri Lanka 40, South Africa 31. #SLvPAK

— Cricket Record (@cricinfo_record) July 19, 2015

Sarfraz was run out in the 45th over, after hitting seven boundaries in scoring at better than run-a-ball, and he gave the innings some real momentum, which was carried on by Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Rizwan.

The fifth wicket pair scored 55 in the last five overs, including 21 from Malinga’s final six balls, to set a testing target.

For the 7th times Lasith Malinga has conceded 80 or more runs in an innings in ODIs, already most often by any bowler in history. #SLvPAK

— Cricket Record (@cricinfo_record) July 19, 2015

On Wednesday night, Sri Lanka chased 288 to level the series, but a repeat looked unlikely, as Anwar Ali removed both openers in consecutive overs.

That reduced the hosts to 42-2, and then Yasir Shah snaffled a pair of wickets, including the key scalp of captain Angelo Mathews' for only four.

Dinesh Chandimal departed in the 27th over, and when Sri Lanka’s anchor Lahiru Thirimanne followed him back to the pavilion, after making 56 from 67 balls, the hosts were in a perilous position.

Play has been interrupted in Colombo due to crowd trouble, a projectile has been thrown onto the field http://t.co/SiyBikACEK #SLvPAK

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) July 19, 2015

When stones began to enter the playing surface from the stands, the game was halted. When it resumed, Yasir picked up two further wickets with Sri Lanka all out in the 42nd over.

The fourth game of the series will take place on the same ground on Wednesday.

Mohammad Hafeez's excellent century saw Pakistan easily chase down a target of 256 set by Sri Lanka in Dambulla on Saturday to win the first of five one-day internationals between the two by six wickets.

Hafeez had been Pakistan's most effective bowler as he took four Sri Lankan wickets as the hosts finished on 255 for eight, Dinesh Chandimal top-scoring with 65.

The No. 3 batsman then took control in Pakistan's innings and batted his side toward victory, with the visitors eventually winning with more than four overs remaining. 

Pakistan won the toss and put Sri Lanka into bat. Kusal Perera and Tillakaratne Dilshan both made starts and put on 44 together before the former edged into the slips in the ninth over off the bowling of Hafeez.

Making starts was very much the order of the day for the hosts, as Lahiru Thirimanne and Upul Tharanga also both fell in the 20s.

Dilshan made it to 30, but lived something of a charmed life, per Cricbuzz:

The opener eventually fell for 38, bowled by Hafeez's spin for his third wicket of the match to leave Sri Lanka 118 for 4 in the 27th over.

Skipper Angelo Mathews and Chandimal steadied the ship somewhat as they put on 82 together to take Sri Lanka to 200.

Mathews holed out to long-on off Yasir Shah for 38, but Chandimal stayed in, scoring at a decent rate and continuing with the tail after Thisara Perera became Hafeez's fourth victim after just three balls at the crease.

Milinda Siriwardana helped out with a useful 21-ball 22 and Chandimal finished unbeaten on 65 as Sri Lanka posted a defendable 255 for eight from their 50 overs.

Pakistan's openers Azhar Ali and Ahmed Shehzad befell the same fate as their Sri Lankan counterparts as they both got starts, before being caught behind in the 20s.

The first dismissal from Mathews, though, brought Hafeez to the wicket, and as well as he had performed with the ball, his batting was arguably even better.

His wonderful knock of 103 came from 95 balls, and saw Pakistan keep up with the required run rate as they looked to win the opening ODI of the five-match series.

Hafeez's innings included four massive sixes and 10 fours as he played each of Sri Lanka's bowlers with remarkable ease.

Babar Azam chipped in with a competent 25 before he was trapped lbw square in front of his stumps by Dilshan.

Shoaib Malik joined Hafeez at the crease and let the man in form take the majority of the strike as he cruised toward his century.

He brought the ton up with a boundary before duly top-edging a slapped pull back to bowler Thisara Perera for a rather weak dismissal.

However, it was a fine innings, and he left the crease with Pakistan firmly in control at 198 for four in the 36th over.

Malik and new batsman Mohammad Rizwan batted sensibly to take Pakistan over the line with 28 balls to spare, the former winning the game with a six. It was a key win for Pakistan who take control in a series they must win if they want to qualify for 2017's ICC Champions Trophy.

Wednesday will see the second ODI of the series in Pallekele, and Pakistan have all the momentum after a fine win in Dambulla. 

Sri Lanka moved into pole position of the third Test in the series with Pakistan on Saturday, as the visitors trailed by 69 runs at the close of play with just one wicket in reserve despite the hosts posting a measly first-innings total—per Sri Lanka Cricket:

The hosts started the day on 272-8, with Tharindu Kaushal and Suranga Lakmal at the crease just looking to delay the inevitable. Their mission didn’t last long.

Kaushal managed to add just one run to his Day 1 haul of 17 before Rahat Ali trapped him lbw, and his replacement Nuwat Pradeep didn’t fare much better—out for a duck at the hands of Yasir Shah.

Lakmal scored five runs before Pradeep was sent packing to close the innings, leaving the Sri Lankans on 278 all out, as the scorecard shows below:

Pakistan, then, would have been full of confidence ahead of their turn to bat after laying an excellent foundation with the ball. However, they only needed to look back at the second Test to see how quickly things can turn sour.

Despite managing to restrict Sri Lanka to 315 last time out, Pakistan could only post 138, as the hosts levelled the series with minimal fuss.

Misbah-ul-Haq and his team were determined not to let that happen again, but their quest to take control of the series got off to a miserable start.

Things were looking okay for Pakistan with 32 on the card, but Dhammika Prasad controversially sent Shan Masood packing. He was given out lbw despite the fact that the ball appeared to be missing the stumps. That then started the Sri Lankan fightback.

Pradeep was at the heart of the hosts’ resurgence, as he made up for his batting woes by dismissing Ahmed Shehzad—although the Pakistani should have coped a lot better with the delivery.

Pakistan needed some immediate stability, or their second Test nightmares were going to become reality once again. However, just moments later, Younis Khan was run out after displaying some dreadful judgement.

It was the first time that Khan had been run out in a Test match in nine years, and a decision that Cricbuzz labelled “suicidal”:

The batting order just couldn’t cope with Sri Lanka’s seamers, and at 45-3, Pakistan fans would have been fearing the worst. However, Azhar Ali’s introduction just about managed to steady the ship.

Ali and Asad Shafiq built up a good partnership at the crease.

Ali was taking full advantage of his time on strike, too, as he continuously found the boundary to give Pakistan reason for optimism.

Yet it wasn’t long before his partner in crime was walking, as Prasad once again trapped him in front to leave the score on 91-4.

Sarfraz Ahmed entered the fray and immediately gelled with Ali, but the latter’s dismissal for 52 seemed to come at a very bad time.

Misbah-Ul-Haq and Ehsan Adil were both out shortly after, for six and zero, respectively, as another collapse looked on the cards.

At 152-7, the Sri Lankans were celebrating and Pakistan looked dejected, but that man Ahmed kept the visitors’ heads afloat.

He was the only batsman coping with Sri Lanka’s talented pool of seamers, and it wasn’t long before his 50 was up.

Sarfraz has become Pakistan’s Mr Consistent with the bat, and that much is reflected in the stats. Journalist Saj Sadiq revealed how quickly he scores his runs:

However, he had to watch on as his partners came and went, with Shah and Rahat Ali failing to post notable scores.

Shah’s total of 18 wasn’t good enough to give Pakistan a meaningful chance of chasing down Sri Lanka’s total, but cricket expert Awais Satti believes that’s the fault of the management:

Sarfraz and Imran Khan were at the crease at the close of play, as Pakistan closed on 209 for nine, as the scorecard shows below:

The wicketkeeper chalked up a superb unbeaten 72, but he and Khan will need to produce something spectacular on Sunday.

Either way, when Pakistan return to the crease, they need a drastic step up.

So many of Saturday’s wickets could easily have been avoided—particularly in a Test situation—so unless Misbah-ul-Haq and Co. get their tactics right, this series could slip away.

Patience and discipline probably aren't the first characteristics that come to mind when describing Pakistan's top order. Azhar Ali and Ahmed Shehzad showed both in abundance against hosts Sri Lanka on Saturday, putting the visitors right back in contention in the second Test in Colombo.

Misbah-ul-Haq's side closed on 171 for two when bad light brought a premature end to the Day 3 proceedings. Sri Lanka's lead stands at just six runs. With two days left, the match is beautifully poised.

Sri Lanka added 11 more runs to their overnight total of 304 for nine before Yasir Shah dismissed Dushmantha Chameera to pick up his sixth wicket of the innings.

It capped another fine effort for the young leg-spinner, who has taken 13 wickets in his last two innings.

RT @PCB_Master: Yasir Shah Last 9 innings in Tests: 5/79 4/193 3/86 0/123 3/58 4/73 2/79 7/76 6/96 #SLvsPAK

— ICC Live Scores (@Cuite_Cricscore) June 27, 2015

Pakistan's attempt to wipe away at the 177-run first-innings deficit got off to a sketchy start after Mohammad Hafeez nibbled at a wide one from Angelo Mathews and was caught behind with the score on nine.

There's no better batsman in a crisis for Pakistan at present than Ali, though. The 30-year-old was largely untroubled during a 120-run second wicket partnership with Shehzad.

When Shehzad top-edged a shortish ball from Dhammika Prasad through to Dinesh Chandimal on the first ball after lunch, a potential wobble was on.

However, Ali and the reliable Younis Khan, playing in his 100th Test match, steadied the ship for Pakistan and had almost reached parity by stumps.

It's been a remarkable few months for Ali, whose impressive run of form has been an integral part of Pakistan's recent Test renaissance.

Since October 2014, Pakistan have played nine Test matches—including this one. They've won five, drawn two and lost just one.

That terrific run started with a two-nil thrashing of the best side in the world, Australia. They shared the spoils with an exciting New Zealand team before beating a rapidly improving Bangladesh.

After collapsing in the first innings of the first Test against Sri Lanka, Pakistan fought back superbly to claim a hugely impressive 10-wicket win. And all this has been achieved from their temporary base in the United Arab Emirates or away from home. Captain Misbah deserves huge credit.

So too does Ali, whose form has been one of the cornerstones of Pakistan's five-day revival. In those matches, the doughty right-hander has scored 978 runs at an average of 69.85. That's over 25 runs above his career average of 44.36.

Ali also looks the most likely successor when 41-year-old Misbah finally calls time on his Test captaincy.

His reign as one-day skipper got off to a rocky start after Pakistan were whitewashed in Bangladesh. They bounced back against Zimbabwe in a series that was about much more than mere results.

Playing their first international on home soil for six years, Ali told a press conference, relayed by MSN, “It became important for us, as many of us never played in Pakistan, and winning makes it more significant because it gives you confidence.”

That confidence has continued in the series in Sri Lanka.

The first Test in Galle was a cracker. If Pakistan can set a target of 240 on a wearing Day 5 pitch with Yasir Shah waiting in the wings, the second Test in Colombo could follow suit.

Sometimes erratic, often sublime and always supremely watchable, Wahab Riaz is yet another hugely entertaining fast bowler to come off the Pakistani pace-bowling production line.

The 29-year-old was the pick of the bowlers on show on Day 2 of the first Test between Sri Lanka and Pakistan in Galle. The hosts will be the happier of the two sides, closing on 178 for three after another day interrupted by bad weather.

A typically mercurial effort from Wahab included a wicket from a no-ball, a warning for running on the pitch and a catch dropped from his bowling, plus the wicket of arguably the world's best batsman in Kumar Sangakkara and that of improving opener Dimuth Karunaratne.

Kaushal Silva hit a determined 80* to guide Sri Lanka to 178/3 at Stumps on an even Day 2 of the 1st #SLvPak Test pic.twitter.com/Ttkq5xTadF

— ICC (@ICC) June 18, 2015

After winning the toss, Misbah-ul-Haq offered Sri Lanka first use of a pitch that had been under cover for most of the first day because of torrential rain.

Wahab made the most of what little movement was on offer early on, prompting Karunaratne to nick one to first slip. The first rule of fast bowling is don't waste your effort on a no-ball, and Wahab had done just that.

The misstep wasn't too costly, as Sri Lanka's opener departed soon after. Undone by extra bounce he underedged a short ball to wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed.

It could easily have been an early double strike for Wahab, but Yasir Shah shelled a sharp chance from Kasuhal Silva. It would prove to be a costly miss, as Silva finished the day unbeaten on 80.

Wahab kept pounding in on a slow and increasingly pitch and was eventually rewarded with the prize wicket of Sangakkara.

After a couple of short deliveries, Wahab pitched one a little fuller and wider, which the Sri Lankan great chopped to first slip. It was rich reward for the left-arm seamer, whose pace and aggression didn't let up throughout the day.

More familiar to one-day rather than Test spectators, Wahab found an international audience by roughing up Shane Watson in the recent World Cup. Finding pace, bounce and movement, the Australian all-rounder was on the receiving end of one of the spells of the tournament. Wasim Akram would have been proud.

Given Pakistan's itinerant international status, it's perhaps unsurprising that Wahab has just 10 Test caps to his name.

After taking five for 63 in his Test debut against England at the Oval in 2010, the left-armer's career has been a frustratingly stop-start affair. Impressive performances have been punctuated by injury and loss of form.

Now, at the age of 29, it seems he finally knows his game and his body. As his World Cup performances showed, he is one of the most watchable bowlers in the game when he's in the mood. A haul of 14 wickets at an average of 22.42 was a fine return, especially given the overall weakness of the Pakistani side.

Capable of topping 90 mph on the speed gun, he can also swing the ball late, a potentially deadly combination.

With Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Johnson and Trent Boult putting in stellar performances in both red- and white-ball cricket, it's a golden age for left-arm fast bowlers. When he's in the mood, Wahab deserves his place among that exalted company.

He may not have the flamboyance of Imran Khan or the devastating flair of Wasim Akram or Waqar Younis, but in these troubled times for Pakistani cricket, the country needs a fast bowler to carry the team. The lion-hearted Wahab Riaz has the fire, passion and aggression to be that man.

Tuesday night marked the first time in almost two years that Shoaib Malik played one-day cricket for Pakistan. During that time, it had been four years since Malik last scored a hundred or a half-century in one-day internationals. He notched an emphatic hundred as Pakistan cruised to a 41-run win over Zimbabwe in the first of three ODI.

It had been a long road to here for Malik, but an unbeaten 95 and an unbeaten 56 in Pakistan's domestic Twenty20 earned him a recall to the limited overs squads. His efforts in the T20s were distinctly average, but thanks to helpful conditions in Lahore on Tuesday, he managed to get a monkey off his back.

A combination of poor bowler and even worse fielding helped Malik’s cause, but that didn’t stop the celebrations, chief among those was tennis player and Malik's wife, Sania Mirza.

It was an impressive effort from Malik, his fastest ever hundred in an ODI and the second-fastest at the Gaddafi Stadium. It helped Pakistan post 375 for three in their 50 overs, the highest ever ODI total in Pakistan.

The runs might have been big, but there was nothing substantial about Malik's, or Pakistan's, approach. It was all calm and calculated, and the big total belied the modesty with which Pakistan went about their business. Sometimes, it’s these kinds of innings that are most useful to players who are battling for form.

While the runs might come easily, the confidence boost that comes along with it can often set in motion a good run of form. Malik is not without support in some corners of Pakistan, with former Pakistan skipper Javed Miandad recently criticising selectors for omitting Malik from the World Cup squad, according to DNAIndia.

One measly hundred won’t silence Malik’s critics, though. He will need to do much more than score a ton against an innocuous attack on a flat deck. It’s consistency that matters now. He has shown glimpses of it in the domestic T20, but he has never managed to live up to any of his domestic potential at international level.

Already 33 years old, Malik has been given another chance to prove that he belongs with Pakistan chief selector Haroon Rasheed, saying that he was recalled to the team because he offers something with the ball. He was quoted by Geo.Tv as saying:

In the absence of Ajmal, who needs some time to adjust to his remodeled action, we needed someone who could bowl, and Malik has shown some good recent form.

Malik will be keeping one eye on the prize of a World T20 next year. His experience as well as all-round ability holds some promise, but his numbers at international level simply do not stack up. With two more ODIs to go on a track likely to have plenty on offer for the batsmen and a very dubious Zimbabwe attack, Malik needs to keep up the consistency if he wants to keep his place in the team and keep his critics quiet.

Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by two wickets in a thrilling second Twenty20 international in Lahore, Pakistan.

Zimbabwe made 175-3 after winning the toss and electing to bat in sweltering conditions at the Gaddafi Stadium.

The hosts reached their target with two balls to spare as Bilawal Bhatti was the unlikely batting hero.

Pakistan won the series 2-0 after a five-wicket win on the same ground 48 hours earlier.

Vusi Sibanda and Hamilton Masakadza again provided a solid foundation at the top of the innings for the visitors.

After putting up 58 on Friday, they shared a 68-run stand this time before Masakadza (39) was caught at long-on off Shoaib Malik in the ninth over.

Sibanda went in identical fashion in the 17th over after making 49 from 46 balls, but Sean Williams had already upped the tempo.

Williams struck an unbeaten 58 off 32 balls while captain Elton Chigumbura blasted three sixes from nine balls as the Zimmies made their fourth-highest T20 international total.

Pakistan chased down 173 in the opening match, but Ahmed Shehzad missed out this time, departing for 18 after a mistimed pull off Brian Vitori.

Nauman Anwar made 18 on his debut before picking out long-on off Prosper Utseya, who was playing his first international game since September 2014 after issues with his bowling action.

Utseya was in the action again 13 balls later, when he ran out Shoaib Malik (7) off his own bowling. When Sibanda took his third catch of the innings to remove in-form opener Mukhtar Ahmed for 62, the hosts were wobbling.

Paksitan captain Shahid Afridi made only seven before picking out mid-on off Williams, and when Mpofu trapped Umar Akmal (30) leg before wicket, they needed 23 from the final three overs.

Anwar Ali and Mohammad Rizwan then became Williams' and Mpofu’s second victims respectively to leave 12 needed off the final over.

Bhatti kept his poise as he lofted Vitori’s opening delivery down the ground before smashing a low full toss through the covers to seal the win.

It is the first time Pakistan have won a T20 series of more than one match since August 2013.