Sri Lanka v Pakistan, 2015
Wisden's review of the first ODI, Sri Lanka v Pakistan, 2015
15-Apr-2016
At Dambulla, July 11, 2015. Pakistan won by six wickets. Toss: Pakistan. One-day international debut: T. A. M. Siriwardene.
Mohammad Hafeez had just returned from the third test on his bowling action inside a year, but provided an immediate reminder of his worth as a batsman, setting Pakistan on track for a six-wicket win with his tenth century in one-day internationals. Earlier, as he awaited news from Chennai on the legality of his off-breaks, he had taken a career-best four wickets as Sri Lanka were restricted to 255. Dilshan was caught off what turned out to be a no-ball from Mohammad Irfan in the third over, then spooned the free hit to mid-on. He survived to make 38, but was one of several batsmen to waste a decent start: each of the top six reached 20, but only Chandimal passed 50. The debutant Milinda Siriwardene contributed a brisk 22 at the death. Pakistan's openers began rapidly before both fell in quick succession, then Hafeez took control. He had cracked Mathews through cover point to get under way, and maintained an even pace, tonking Prasanna's leg-spin for successive sixes in the 29th over. He put on 58 with Babar Azam, then 75 with Shoaib Malik (the only other man to score a hundred and take four wickets in the same ODI for Pakistan), before chipping a return catch. But Malik kicked off what would prove a fine series with an unbeaten half-century, completing the chase with a six. Man of the Match: Mohammad Hafeez.
Mohammad Hafeez had just returned from the third test on his bowling action inside a year, but provided an immediate reminder of his worth as a batsman, setting Pakistan on track for a six-wicket win with his tenth century in one-day internationals. Earlier, as he awaited news from Chennai on the legality of his off-breaks, he had taken a career-best four wickets as Sri Lanka were restricted to 255. Dilshan was caught off what turned out to be a no-ball from Mohammad Irfan in the third over, then spooned the free hit to mid-on. He survived to make 38, but was one of several batsmen to waste a decent start: each of the top six reached 20, but only Chandimal passed 50. The debutant Milinda Siriwardene contributed a brisk 22 at the death. Pakistan's openers began rapidly before both fell in quick succession, then Hafeez took control. He had cracked Mathews through cover point to get under way, and maintained an even pace, tonking Prasanna's leg-spin for successive sixes in the 29th over. He put on 58 with Babar Azam, then 75 with Shoaib Malik (the only other man to score a hundred and take four wickets in the same ODI for Pakistan), before chipping a return catch. But Malik kicked off what would prove a fine series with an unbeaten half-century, completing the chase with a six. Man of the Match: Mohammad Hafeez.