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Sri Lanka vs Pakistan, 1st ODI at Kandy, , Jun 07 2012 - Ball by Ball Commentary

RESULT
1st ODI (D/N), Pallekele, June 07, 2012, Pakistan tour of Sri Lanka
(42/42 ov) 135/8
(34.1/42 ov, T:135) 135/4

Pakistan won by 6 wickets (with 47 balls remaining) (D/L method)

Player Of The Match
3/24
umar-gul
New
PAK
Full commentary

That concludes our coverage for this game. do join us for the second game on Saturday. Cheers

"That run-out is part of the game, but the good thing is we have won the game" says Misbah-ul-Haq. "The conditions were really difficult for batting, but the way Hafeez and Umar played it was really handy. Lot of moisture in the wicket. Covers were on. I think a difficult decision for any captain to decide what to do. It was a good toss to lose. We have got world-class spinners, and whenever the fats bowlers get the conditions, they come good. We have to improve in these conditions - windy and open ground. Difficult to judge, so we have to work hard."

"It was important we put up a decent score," says Mahela Jayawardene. "190-200 would have been a decent score. But credit to Pakistan, they came strong at us. We faced two new balls in Australia as well, but they have got a quality attack, and we need to make sure we are careful."

Umar Gul is the Man of the Match. He says: "I am happy with my performance. I am coming back after a long time. My body needs to bowl as much as possible. I was talking with my colleagues that this is my lucky ground. I have taken wickets before too. It (extras and dropped catches) happened, but in the next match we will try to cut it down."

Comprehensive win for Pakistan. Handshakes all around. The tone of the match was set from the moment Dilshan got off to a poor start, playing shots that were not on even before he had got his eye in. After that Pakistan bowled brilliantly, and their charge was only interrupted by rain and Thirimanne. Gul and Sami took three each. Tanvir was unlucky he didn't get about as many himself. Hafeez took two too, and Pakistan faced a modest chase. We all know, though, that no chase is modest with Pakistan, especially with the ball jagging around as it did. After two early wickets, though, Hafeez and Misbah stabilised them, and their 51-run stand was enough to settle their nerves. Do stay back for the quotes from the presentation

34.1
1
Perera to Afridi, 1 run

short of a length, into the body, and he tips and runs to leg, and Pakistan take the lead

Two men on the fence still

end of over 341 run • 1 wicket
PAK: 134/4CRR: 3.94 RRR: 0.12
Umar Akmal36 (48b 6x4)
Shahid Afridi1 (3b)
Rangana Herath 6-0-18-1
Thisara Perera 6-0-30-0
33.6
Herath to Umar Akmal, no run

flighted on middle and leg, defended. So we have another over to come

Well we have a long-on in place with one run needed. That's an MS Dhoni moment

33.5
1
Herath to Afridi, 1 run

Afridi is down the wicket now, and smashes this to long-on

33.4
Herath to Afridi, no run

another big wind-up from Afridi, but this arm ball dips and then goes on with the angle to miss both the inside edge and the leg stump

33.3
Herath to Afridi, no run

Afridi wants to finish this first ball, but ends up mis-hitting it to cover

Afridi is the new batsman. How many balls will this take?

33.2
W
Herath to Misbah, OUT

Oh we have a Misbah moment here. International cricket will be poorer without Misbah. He jumps out of the crease, gets to the pitch of the ball, drives it solidly to mid-off, wants a single, but Akmal sends him back because it has been hit straight to fielder. Caught well short there

Misbah-ul-Haq run out (Mathews/†Sangakkara) 30 (79b 4x4 0x6 118m) SR: 37.97
33.1
Herath to Misbah, no run

Misbah is in no hurry as he defends this back to him

Herath is back

end of over 335 runs
PAK: 133/3CRR: 4.03 RRR: 0.22
Umar Akmal36 (47b 6x4)
Misbah-ul-Haq30 (77b 4x4)
Thisara Perera 6-0-30-0
Nuwan Kulasekara 9-3-29-1
32.6
Perera to Umar Akmal, no run

slower ball, defended off the front foot

32.5
4
Perera to Umar Akmal, FOUR runs

Akmal makes sure we don't have another rain interruption. Short ball outside off and pulled away in front of square, through midwicket

The rain is back

32.4
1lb
Perera to Misbah, 1 leg bye

angling into the pads, misses, hit on the pad, takes the leg-bye

32.3
Perera to Misbah, no run

defended off the front foot

32.2
Perera to Misbah, no run

short of a length, outside off, pushed to cover

32.1
Perera to Misbah, no run

length ball on the pads, pushed to mid-on

Perera replaces Malinga

end of over 326 runs
PAK: 128/3CRR: 4.00 RRR: 0.70
Umar Akmal32 (45b 5x4)
Misbah-ul-Haq30 (73b 4x4)
Nuwan Kulasekara 9-3-29-1
Lasith Malinga 7-2-24-1
31.6
Kulasekara to Umar Akmal, no run

pushed wide, Akmal wants to drive again, but this one doesn't quite come on, and he ends up pushing it to cover

31.5
Kulasekara to Umar Akmal, no run

another inducker, but Akmal is in now, and defends with ease

31.4
Kulasekara to Umar Akmal, no run

short of a length, angling into the pads, pushed to leg

31.3
4
Kulasekara to Umar Akmal, FOUR runs

wide delivery, and Akmal strikes a pose for the photographers. Gets down on a knee as he stretches close to the line, and crashes the drive between cover and extra cover. He overtakes Misbah with that shot, but Misbah has played the critical innings in the chase

31.2
Kulasekara to Umar Akmal, no run

short of a length, outside off, pushed to cover

31.1
2
Kulasekara to Umar Akmal, 2 runs

inswinger, middle and leg, clipped away past midwicket. That brings the target down to single figures

Kula to bowl his last over

end of over 3110 runs
PAK: 122/3CRR: 3.93 RRR: 1.18
Umar Akmal26 (39b 4x4)
Misbah-ul-Haq30 (73b 4x4)
Lasith Malinga 7-2-24-1
Nuwan Kulasekara 8-3-23-1
30.6
1
Malinga to Umar Akmal, 1 run

another slower ball, that dips alarmingly on him. What seems like a high full toss turns out to be a near yorker, Akmal guides it wide of midwicket for one