COLOMBO, 22 July 2004 — Fast bowler Nuwan Zoysa took three wickets for 29 runs to power Sri Lanka to a seven-wicket victory against Pakistan in an Asia Cup second round match yesterday.
Left-armer Zoysa grabbed two early wickets to trigger a collapse as Pakistan were bowled out for just 122 in 39.5 overs, their lowest ever score against Sri Lanka.
Pakistan’s pace quartet of Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Sami, Shabbir Ahmed and Abdul Razzaq all made batting uncomfortable for Sri Lanka’s top order with fiery new-ball spells on a bouncy pitch. But Sri Lanka’s batsmen won the game with 18 overs to spare to collect a bonus point.
Openers Sanath Jayasuriya, who returned to the team after the recovering from a side strain, and Avishka Gunawardene rode their luck during a 51-run first wicket stand.
Both batsmen played and missed frequently and Gunawardene was fortunate to survive dropped chances on eight and 18 before Jayasuriya was eventually caught at slip off Sami.
Marvan Atapattu (19) added a further 33 runs before driving a catch to Shoaib Malik at point, a dismissal that was followed soon after by Gunawardene slashing a catch to backward point for 26. Mahela Jayawardene (19 not out) and Kumar Sangakkara (14 not out) knocked off the required runs during a 36-run fourth-wicket stand.
Razzaq was Pakistan’s most successful bowler, taking two for 21 in six overs.
Pakistan, who had won the toss and elected to bat in steamy overhead conditions, were soon in trouble on 25 for two as Zoysa dismissed Imran Nazir (14) and Malik in quick succession.
Captain Inzamam ul-Haq (nine) and Yasir Hameed (22) put on 20 runs for the third wicket before the middle order fell apart, three wickets tumbling in 10 balls.
Inzamam was bowled via the inside edge off Muttiah Muralitharan, Yousuf Youhana was run out by a reflex pick-up and throw from silly point second ball and Younis Khan was removed for one. All-rounder Razzaq, with 43, was one of just three batsmen to reach double figures as Sri Lanka’s bowlers, backed up with sharp fielding, took control.
