COLOMBO: Pakistan clinched a 52-run victory over Sri Lanka in a one-off Twenty20 international to finish their losing tour on a high on Wednesday.
Pakistan, who lost the Test series 2-0 and the one-day series 3-2, dominated the match with skipper Shahid Afridi guiding his team to a competitive 172 for five in 20 overs.
Sri Lanka, cheered on by capacity crowd, stayed in contention until skipper Kumar Sangakkara was bowled by off spinner Saeed Ajmal for 38 from 31 balls.
The fall of Sangakkara triggered a middle-order collapse as the run rate rocketed, the hosts losing four wickets for 15 runs before being bowled out for 120 in 18.1 overs.
Ajmal was the pick of the Pakistan bowlers, claiming three for 18 from his four overs.
Fast bowler Naved ul Hasan also shone for the world Twenty20 champions, taking three for 19 from his 3.1 overs.
Opener Imran Nazir survived an early let-off as Lasith Malinga dropped a regulation catch before blazing 40 from 28 deliveries with five boundaries and one six.
Afridi added to Nazir’s momentum, smashing 50 from 37 balls with four fours and two sixes. The right-hander shared a 66-run stand with Umar Akmal, who stroked a 20-ball 30 on his T20 debut.
Left-armer Thilan Thushara was the most successful Sri Lanka bowler taking two for 37 from his four overs.
England to consider recall for Ramprakash
Meantime, England will consider recalling veteran batsman Mark Ramprakash for the fifth Ashes Test against Australia, more than seven years after his last Test appearance.
National selector Geoff Miller said Wednesday that the 39-year-old Surrey batsman is in contention for the series decider at The Oval after the team’s middle order failed dismally in the fourth-test loss that squared the series at 1-1.
Ramprakash made the last of his 52 Test appearances against New Zealand in April 2002, but has been in top form the past four years and again averages more than 100 in the county championship this season.
Ramprakash also averages 42.40 in Ashes Tests, compared to just 27.32 in Tests overall.
“Mark has not stated he’s not available for international cricket, so we will discuss that,” Miller said in an interview with Cricinfo. “It’s not just my decision, it’s a team decision, and we’ll sit down as a unit. We have a consistency and continuity angle as far as selection policy is concerned and we try to stick to that as much as possible.
“But we do want to win this series, which is a matter of winning this game in a one-match situation, so it’s a very difficult equation.” With its middle order having contributed just 16 runs in the humiliating defeat at Headingley, England is contemplating changes to its lineup when the squad is announced Sunday - four days before the match starts.
Star batsman Kevin Pietersen is injured and No. 3 Ravi Bopara averages just 15 in his seven series innings against Australia. Ian Bell contributed just 8 and 3 on his return to the team in the fourth Test, which Australia won by an innings and 80 runs inside three days.
