LONDON, CMC – Sri Lanka bowled purposefully to secure a remarkable 19-run victory over Pakistan in their Group-F match of the Super Eights in the ICC World Twenty20 Championship yesterday.
Lasith Malinga collected three wickets for 17 runs from four overs, and Muttiah Muralitharan snared two for 28 from four overs, as Sri Lanka successfully defended a target score of 151in the third match of the second stage at Lord’s.
Pakistan never recovered from a shaky start of 35 for three, although their captain Younis Khan struck four fours in 50 from 37 balls, and shared a stand of 66 for the fourth wicket with Misbah-ul-Haq, who made 21.
Choosing to bat, Sri Lanka crumbled followed an opening stand of 81 between Tillakaratne Dilshan and Sanath Jayasuriya.
Dilshan hit eight fours in 46 from 39 balls, and Jayasuriya smote two fours and one six in 26 from 24 balls.
After they were separated, there was little substance from the rest of the batting, and Sri Lanka limped to their final total.
Shahid Afridi, Saeed Ajmal, and Umar Gul took two wickets apiece for Pakistan.
But Malinga and Muralitharan however, made sure it was a mountain for Pakistan to hand the Sri Lankans victory.
