Spinners help Pakistan win in a cliffhanger

Saturday, 19 November 2011 01:34 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Misbah and Co's all-round effort helped Pakistan to go 2-1 up in the series, after witnessing a cliffhanger in Dubai.

Both teams stepped into the match with just one motive, which was to get lead in the series. The last two matches were both divided between the two teams and the series was leveled.

Misbah won the toss and decided to bat first on an even surface. Pakistan had one change in the their lineup, where Sohail Tanvir replaced Aizaz Cheema. Dilshan went with the winning squad and named an unchanged lineup.

Imran Farhat and Mohammed Hafeez kicked off the match and a chance would not have come sooner, but Thisara could not held the ball and the chance went begging.

Imran Farhat started like a bullet and it was not late when Hafeez started to rush as well. Sri Lankan bowlers could do nothing about them until the 30th over when 150 runs partnership was broken by Prassana who bowled out Hafeez.

Razzaq was promoted up the order, but it was not long when he lost his wicket follwing the dismissal of Imran Farhat.

Wickets kept falling at regular intervals and consequentally Pakistan finished for 257, a score which could have been better if Dilshan would not have used his brilliant strategies.

Prassana and Malinga got two wickets each, while Hafeez and Farhat scored 83 and 78 runs respectively.

In reply, Sri Lanka lost Upul Tharanga in the very first over, but Dilshan and Sangakkara established a promising partnership.