DAMBULLA, Sri Lanka, 11 May 2003 — Fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar silenced his critics with a vital two-wicket show to help Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 79 runs in the opening match of the triangular one-day series here yesterday.
Pakistan managed to defend their modest total of 199-8 as they bundled Sri Lanka out for 120, thanks to Akhtar who was under pressure to deliver.
Akhtar (2-19), warned by his country’s cricket chief Tauqir Zia that this tournament would be the last chance to revive his career, responded with a fiery performance to set up his team’s victory.
Sri Lanka could never recover from Akhtar’s early blows and lost their last seven wickets for a paltry 22 runs in a dramatic collapse.
“Batting has let the side down. The bowlers did well but the batsmen failed to deliver,” new Sri Lanka captain Marvan Atapattu said.
Pakistani skipper Rashid Latif used his main weapon in three short spells and the paceman struck when it mattered most, removing hard-hitting Sanath Jayasuriya in his first over and then a well-set Kumar Sangakkara (29).
Jayasuriya erred in driving and edged a rising ball to second slip where Younis Khan perfectly timed his jump to hold a head-high catch. Akhtar did more than just taking two wickets as he rattled Sri Lanka in his eight probing overs.
He beat Atapattu (26) and Sangakkara in his opening spell, but was unlucky to find an edge.
Sangakkara, let off on two and 17, failed to cash in on his chances and was caught at point by Shoaib Malik while trying to cut Akhtar. Seamers Mohammad Sami (2-19) and Abdul Razzaq (1-22), and off-spinner Malik (2-23) also kept pressure on the Sri Lankan batsmen to drive home the advantage given by Akhtar.
Razzaq trapped Atapattu leg-before for 26 and Sami then accounted for Mahela Jayawardene (22) in a similar fashion to virtually shatter Sri Lanka’s hopes of winning the low-scoring match.
It was all over for Sri Lanka when last specialist batsman Romesh Kaluwitharana was caught by Khan off Malik for no score.
Kaluwitharana had earlier become the seventh wicketkeeper in the world to complete 200 dismissals in One-Day Internationals when he stumped Latif off Muttiah Muralitharan.
Atapattu’s decision to field first after winning the toss appeared to have paid rich dividends as his fast bowlers and spinners never allowed Pakistani batsmen to score freely. Opener Mohammad Hafeez topscored with a 114-ball 53 with two fours for his second half-century in five matches to earn man-of-the-match award.
He, however, received little support from the other end.
Muralitharan struck vital blows as he removed Faisal Iqbal (21) and Khan (29) just when the batsmen had begun playing shots.
Sri Lanka kept the pressure on right from the first over as Chaminda Vaas and Prabath Nissanka maintained a tight line and length to deny scoring opportunities to the Pakistani batsmen.
Hafeez and Iqbal steadied the innings with a 48-run stand for the second wicket, but could never improve the run-rate as only 72 came in the opening 25 overs.
Pakistan faltered when they tried to take liberties against spin in the middle-overs.
