and with a slap over the extra-cover boundary Mendis finishes it off, not really in style, but finishes it off, as this looked more agricultural than finesse.
Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, 5th ODI at Abu Dhabi, , Dec 27 2013 - Ball by Ball Commentary
RESULT
5th ODI (D/N), Abu Dhabi, December 27, 2013, Sri Lanka tour of United Arab Emirates
New
SL
Full commentary
Well that's it from the presentation ceremony. The Pakistan team are all smiles as they pose with the trophy. It was a terrific game that we had today, and I hope you all enjoyed it too. On behalf of the scorer, Gopi, this is Rohan Sharma saying good night and good luck!
Angelo Mathews, Sri Lanka captain: We were just good enough to win the game. Once again, a little disappointed with the batsmen who got starts but didn't go from there. Mendis came to the party, along with Chandimal, and got us over the line. We are at full strength for the Tests. We have Rangana Herath coming back, along with Mahela Jayawardene, so look forward to the series.
Misbah-ul-Haq strides forward to take the Cool & Cool cup
Mohammed Hafeez, Man of the Series: Want to thank all the supporters and well-wishers. They have been in my heart. Sad not to finish the series in a positive way, but we couldn't do what we wanted to do. Congratulations to the Sri Lankans for their victory. I was working on my technique, thanks to my analyst, and worked on a couple of things in the nets. Things started to really come back for me and I hope to do very well in the Tests coming up.
Dinesh Chandimal, Man of the Match: I'm over the moon. When I went into bat with two wickets down, it was never going to be easy on a pitch like this. Credit goes to Mendis at the end to help us get through. Sometimes I was a bit nervous. I tried to play my normal game and it worked out for me fortunately.
Misbah-ul-Haq, Pakistan captain: Team is really in good confidence and good shape. We were struggling in our batting line-up over the last year, but this series the batsmen came up good and have good confidence for the Test series. Yeah of course some of the experienced players coming back has helped. Asad Shafiq will help in the balance of the side, while Hafeez can help with both the ball and bat, and be our fifth bowler in the series.
(Prior conversation with presenter, Danny Morrison): Disappointed. We really fought well, and one spell really brought it back, but it just slipped in the last three overs. The pitch was a bit slow, but still we were 20-25 runs short. Anything over 250 would have been a good total. The bowlers did well to pull back the game, but a few lapses in the field cost us ultimately. The team is in good shape, especially the batting. A lot of new guys are coming in. The team is in good form and has good confidence. We have got to keep our basics right and do well in the Test series.
We will be back shortly for quotes from the match presentation
And Sri Lanka do it. After seemingly cantering to a win, they lost their way in the middle overs, with Misbah rotating the bowlers expertly to keep just the right level of pressure on the batsmen. A few untimely wickets, and more importantly, the reduction of boundaries, helped them get very close, so a lot of credit should go to them in regards to how they performed. With this result, Sri Lanka deny Pakistan a 4-1 result, with the series ending up 3-2 in their favour. The crowd definitely got their money's worth today!
49.4
4
Anwar Ali to Mendis, FOUR runs
Two needed off three. What a finish we have in store!
49.3
•
Anwar Ali to Mendis, no run
a slower ball outside off stump which Mendis fails to get bat on ball to
Leaves Mendis on strike to get two more off four balls
49.2
1
Anwar Ali to Chandimal, 1 run
lasers this fuller length ball down to sweeper cover for a single
49.1
•
Anwar Ali to Chandimal, no run
fails to get this back of a length delivery outside off
Anwar Ali has been entrusted to bowl the final over. Can he win it for Pakistan?
end of over 4915 runs
SL: 230/8CRR: 4.69 • RRR: 3.00
Dinesh Chandimal63 (68b 1x4 1x6)
Ajantha Mendis15 (12b 1x4 1x6)
Umar Gul 7.5-0-44-1
Saeed Ajmal 10-0-43-2
Muhammad Shahid : "very much true "Catches win Matches""
48.6
1
Umar Gul to Chandimal, 1 run
plays this one uppishly down to long-on to retain strike for the next over. They need just 3 runs off 6 balls to make it 3-2 in the series
48.5
1
Umar Gul to Mendis, 1 run
bowls a steepler which Mendis is able to work away down to deep fine leg
48.4
6
Umar Gul to Mendis, SIX runs
that shot may as well be called the game-over shot as it indeed looks to be game over. He just slams this short ball outside off so elegantly, and with a Jayawardene flourish, as this one sails over extra-cover for six.
48.3
•
Umar Gul to Mendis, no run
steers this one straight to cover, but can't get the run. 11 off 9 now
48.2
1
Umar Gul to Chandimal, 1 run
and then does the right thing next ball by steering this to backward point for a quick single
and just like that SL need 12 off 11
48.1
6
Umar Gul to Chandimal, SIX runs
amazing strike from Chandimal! Definitely playing the innings of his year so far as he clobbers this fuller length going down the leg side over midwicket for a huge six
Enter Umar Gul, one of the best in the business at these times
end of over 489 runs
SL: 215/8CRR: 4.47 • RRR: 9.00
Ajantha Mendis8 (9b 1x4)
Dinesh Chandimal55 (65b 1x4)
Saeed Ajmal 10-0-43-2
Junaid Khan 7.1-0-31-3
Equation is now 18 off 2 overs. Has really come down to the wire this one.
47.6
4
Ajmal to Mendis, FOUR runs
gets into position for a reverse sweep and gets a crucial boundary between short third man and backward point. How important was that strike for Sri Lanka?
Both teams exactly at the same position at 47. 5 overs (211 for 8)
47.5
1
Ajmal to Chandimal, 1 run
blitzes this one down to long-on for a single
47.4
1lb
Ajmal to Mendis, 1 leg bye
Mendis really has balls of steel as he looks for a paddle straight over his head, with this one almost bowling him, as the ball spoons towards the slip region
47.3
2
Ajmal to Mendis, 2 runs
dropped advances down the track and hits this uppishly to cover, who drops him, as the ball rolls through the off side, with the batsmen getting two. Maqsood dropped that one there, as it should have been taken
47.2
•
Ajmal to Mendis, no run
backs away to create room on the off side, but can't pierce the gap
47.1
1
Ajmal to Chandimal, 1 run
clips this off his pads down to the leg side for one
end of over 479 runs
SL: 206/8CRR: 4.38 • RRR: 9.00
Ajantha Mendis2 (5b)
Dinesh Chandimal53 (63b 1x4)
Junaid Khan 7.1-0-31-3
Saeed Ajmal 9-0-35-2
TharinduNadun: "It's Chandima'ls best chance to prove his maturity and talent for his country..."
46.6
•
Junaid to Mendis, no run
gets on top of it to defend this one to the off side
46.5
•
Junaid to Mendis, no run
length ball which is pushed to short cover
46.4
1
Junaid to Chandimal, 1 run
pushes this down to long-on, and wants two, but decides against it
That shot also brings up Chandimal's 50. Looks like he read our preview from yesterday (hasn't hit an ODI fifty since January)
46.3
4
Junaid to Chandimal, FOUR runs
pulls this away behind square on the leg side as Sharjeel, running hard from square leg, gets the dive in to bat this away, but he may have hit the ropes, which he has on second view. Four signalled by the umpire
46.2
1
Junaid to Mendis, 1 run
back of a length and defended with soft hands to the off side, setting off for a quick single which is, in the end, made quite comfortably
46.1
3
Junaid to Chandimal, 3 runs
works this off the pads and the pair run hard, putting pressure on the fielder in the deep, who then fumbles it, as they are able to make it back for three. That was Sharjeel who had goofed up there.
Match Coverage
Instant answers to T20 questions
Sri Lanka Innings
<1 / 3>
Terms of Use|Privacy Policy|Your US State Privacy Rights|Children's Online Privacy Policy|Interest - Based Ads|Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information|Feedback
© 2024 ESPN Sports Media Ltd. All rights reserved