LAHORE, Pakistan, 17 October 2004 — Sanath Jayasuriya bagged five wickets to take Sri Lanka to a surprise 119-run win over Pakistan in the final of the tri-series here yesterday.
The 35-year-old left armer, who is more recognized as a dashing opening batsman, tore through Pakistan’s middle and lower batting order, conceding just 17 runs in his eight overs.
Chasing Sri Lanka’s total of 287-7 off their allotted 50 overs at Gaddafi Stadium, Pakistan finished all out for just 168 in 38 overs, further enhancing their image as big match chokers in front of a home crowd of about 20,000.
Pakistan had reached 40 inside 10 overs with Yasir Hameed and Salman Butt playing flowing drives before second change Dilhara Fernando pegged them back by bowling Hameed for 18.
Butt added 45 for second wicket with Malik before a middle-order collapse.
Chandana dismissed Butt for 40 and then had Shoaib Malik stumped for 37 and in between spearhead Chaminda Vaas took the prized wicket of Inzamam ul-Haq for four in his second spell.
Jayasuriya claimed his first wicket with the first ball of his spell, by luring Yousuf Youhana out of his crease with wicketkeeper Sangakkara to whipping off the bails.
Youhana had made seven as Pakistan were left 180 to get from the last 27 overs.
Jayasuriya struck again in his third over with the wicket of Abdul Razzaq, who was caught in the slips for eight to leave Pakistan struggling at 134-6.
He later put an end to any real hopes Pakistan had of winning the match by dismissing Shahid Afridi, who was caught at long off for 11.
Pakistan thought winning the toss would be vital because bowling second is tough under evening dew but another poor batting display put paid to their hopes in another big match.
Sri Lanka were sent in to bat and their innings got off to a poor start with opener Saman Jayantha run out without scoring, before Jayasuriya was judged caught bat and pad off Rana Naveed-ul-Hassan for 21.
Captain Marvan Atapattu, who hit 111 in his team’s six-wicket defeat against Pakistan at this same venue on Thursday, and Kumar Sangakkara came in and hit half-centuries.
The pair added 106 runs with Atapattu hitting six boundaries before he was smartly stumped by Moin Khan when he missed a wide delivery from Malik to pass the baton to his partner.
Sangakkara added another 40 runs with Mahela Jayawardene before Abdul Razzaq bowled Sangakkara with a slower delivery to leave Sri Lanka at 181-4 after 35 overs.
Pace spearhead Shoaib Akhtar, who was given the new ball, conceded 15 in the 43rd over with Tillakaratne Dilshan hitting him for two boundaries.
Leg-spinner Shahid Afridi broke the Dilshan-Jayawardene stand for the fifth wicket when he bowled Dilshan for a quick 37-ball 39.
Afridi, who returned with the best figures of 2-60, ended Jayawardene’s cameo when he bowled him for 49 which came off 54 balls and had eight boundaries.
