Shehzad sizzles, bowlers shine as Pakistan win Lanka series

Reuters: A brisk 95 from opening batsman Ahmed Shehzad after a fine display from the bowlers gave Pakistan an emphatic seven-wicket win and their first one-day international series win against Sri Lanka in nine years on Wednesday.

Paceman Mohammad Irfan led Pakistan’s bowling attack with three wickets as the tourists restricted Sri Lanka to 256 for nine in 50 overs after captain Angelo Mathews won the toss and opted to bat first in the fourth ODI.

Shehzad and Mohammad Hafeez (70) then struck half-centuries as Pakistan chased down the target with more than nine overs to spare to take an unassailable 3-1 lead in the series with a game to spare.

Shehzad and captain Azhar Ali (33) gave Pakistan a rollicking start in their chase with a 75-run stand in 11 overs before the latter fell to Sri Lanka’s pace spearhead Lasith Malinga.

The experienced Malinga was unlucky not to have Shehzad out caught at slip in his next over as the fielder allowed the ball to go through his hands for a four, which also brought up Shehzad’s fifty.

Shehzad then added 115 for the second wicket with Hafeez to take Pakistan closer to the target before he got out to a brilliant diving catch by Kusal Perera at third man off paceman Suranga Lakmal.

Shehzad hit 12 boundaries and a six in his 90-ball knock.

Earlier, Sri Lanka looked on course to set a challenging total after a 109-run partnership for the second wicket between Tillakaratne Dilshan (50) and Lahiru Thirimanne (90).

But the hosts kept losing wickets at regular intervals which robbed them of their momentum and their innings disintegrated from 109 for two in the 23rd over to 256 for nine when Pakistan completed bowling their 50 overs.

Thirimanne tried to hold the innings together initially but fell trying to look for boundaries and was caught at deep square-leg by a diving Shehzad off legspinner Yasir Shah.

The fifth and final ODI will be played at Hambantota on Sunday before the two sides take part in a two-match Twenty20 international series.

– Pix by Shantha Ratnayake

Yasir Shah included in Pakistan T20 squad vs Sri Lanka

Karachi: Pakistani selectors have included leg spinner Yasir Shah in their 15-member squad announced for the two T20 matches against Sri Lanka. 

Yasir, who has played a single T20 international way back in 2011, sending down just one over in Zimbabwe has been in prime form since his comeback to the Test and ODI sides since last September. 

The selectors have also named uncapped left am pacer Zia ul Haq as reserve for Wahab Riaz who is still recovering from a hand injury he sustained during the Test series in Sri Lanka last month. 

Chief selector Haroon Rasheed said that Wahab had shown good progress in rehab and was most likely to play the T20 matches. 

The selectors also recalled out of favor left arm pacer SohailTanveer who last played in the series in Bangladesh in April. Rasheed said Tanvir was recalled because of his performances in the Caribbean Premier League. 

The selectors also surprisingly have picked batsman Umar Akmal in the T20 squad after they had dropped him for the ODI series against Sri Lanka for not showing up for a conditioning camp prior to the announcement of the ODI squad. 

The chief selector had roundly criticized the attitude of Umar and made it clear that if he wanted to play for Pakistan he would have to change his attitude. 

Pakistan squad: Shahid Afridi (Capt), Ahmed Shehzad, Mukhtar Ahmed, Noman Anwar, Muhammad Hafeez, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Anwar Ali, Muhammad Irfan, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Sohail Tanvir, Imad Wasim, Yasir Shah, Muhammad Rizwan, Wahab Riaz, Zia ul Haq (reserve player).