Pakistan cruise to series victory despite Gunathilaka hundred

Twin 70-plus scores from Pakistan’s opening pair guided the hosts to a 2-0 series victory over Sri Lanka in ODI cricket’s return to Karachi.

Such a comfortable win – Pakistan eventually triumphed by five wickets with almost two overs remaining – seemed unlikely when Sri Lankan opener Danushka Gunathilaka was in full flow, bringing up a superb hundred off as many balls, before falling for 133, the fifth-higest ODI score by a Sri Lankan against Pakistan.

He was bowled by a superb yorker from Mohammad Amir, who ended with three wickets to his name, but, allied to doughty contributions from captain Lahiru Thirimanne, Angelo Perera, and debutant Minod Bhanuka, he laid a superb platform, with Sri Lanka 225/4 heading into the final nine overs of the innings.

Pakistan pulled it back somewhat towards the end, but Dasun Shanaka’s powerful 24-ball 43 meant they still crept up towards 300, seemingly a tough ask.

In reality, Pakistan’s chase could hardly have gone more to plan. One opener teed off, allowing the other settle, with Abid Ali cracking 74 off 67 and Fakhar Zaman a more sedate 76 off 91. After the 123-run opening stand, a series of smaller partnership were all Pakistan required, and though there was a slight moment of concern when Fakhar and second-ODI centurion Babar Azam fell within eight runs of each other, no Sri Lankan miracle was forthcoming.

Abid Ali's half-century earned him the Player of the Match award
Abid Ali’s half-century earned him the Player of the Match award

All nerves were eased by Haris Sohail, who stroked 56 off 50 balls, running hard and picking boundaries when he could, and though he fell with 11 runs still required for victory, Iftikhar Ahmed guided Pakistan over the line comfortably.

The result meant that Pakistan claimed the ODI series, the first played at the National Stadium in Karachi in over 10 years, by a margin of two games to nil.

www.icc-cricket.com

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