Pakistan A beat Sri Lanka A

Saturday, 16 July 2016 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

PAKISTAN A completed a remarkable eight-win wicket over their Sri Lanka counterparts in a rain-hit four-day match at Worcestershire’s New Road ground.

Unbeaten half-centuries from captain Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel helped Pakistan to chase down a winning target of 148 in 19.1 overs on the final day.

Pakistan were reduced to 37-2 in the fifth over as Sharjeel Khan and Mohammad Nawaz both fell to new-ball bowler Vishwa Fernando.

However, Azam (66 not out) and Shakeel (51 not out) produced an unbroken partnership of 111 off 86 balls to secure a thrilling victory.

Half-centuries from opener Dhananjaya de Silva (88) and captain Ashan Priyanjan (66) had taken Sri Lanka to 309-9.

Minod Bhanuka then hit an unbeaten 54 and Asitha Fernando combined for a 49-run stand.

Sri Lanka were all out for 358 to set up a pulsating climax.

Pakistan’s grip on the match had been established in the first innings.

After Sri Lanka opted to bat, Mir Hamza (4-62) and Hasan Ali (3-70) helped to bowl the side out for 250 with only Roshen Silva (57) and Udara Jayasundera (53) registering fifties.

Pakistan responded by piling on 461-8 before declaring.

Most of their batsmen made solid contributions with Shakeel top-scoring with 86.

Heading into the final day at 83-2 and still 128 runs behind Pakistan, any hopes Sri Lanka had of saving the match were soon crushed.