a full delivery outside off, Hafeez gets forward and defends a ball to the sweeper cover to end the game, the last shot an indicator of the ease with which Pakistan have strolled to this win.
Sri Lanka vs Pakistan, 1st T20I at Abu Dhabi, Oct 26 2017 - Ball by Ball Commentary
RESULT
1st T20I (N), Abu Dhabi, October 26, 2017, Pakistan tour of United Arab Emirates
New
PAK
Full commentary
11.02pm Sri Lanka have not had a good limited-overs tour, but this has been abject. This has been an absolute rout by any standards. Pakistan have proved again to be just too good for this Sri Lankan team, and have taken a 1-0 lead in the series without breaking a sweat in the desert humidity (I know it may be cooler in the night, but trying to make a point). Pakistan's bowlers set this up with their sixth consecutive stellar performance, leaving Sri Lanka with almost nothing to defend.
Thisara Perera had his chances to create pressure, but had just four fielders for much of that chase, which was, in my opinion, appalling captaincy. Pakistan were clinical with the bat, led by the experience of Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Hafeez, both of whom knew exactly what they were doing all along.
Usman Khan is the Man of the Match: "My rhythm is good. Lot of support from the support staff, they tell me to do what I know to do. My pace was good, I was confident today. Because there was pace, didn't need to use any variation. Our morale has been good since the Champions Trophy."
Thisara Perera: "If we look back, we need to take positives, we need to score runs to win a match. Our bowlers did pretty well, I'm 100% confident we can do something tomorrow. This is one of the best bowling sides I've seen, for the last 1.5 years."
Sarfraz Ahmed: "A zabardast (very good) effort from our team. In T20s, batsmen hit more, but we need to focus on the basics. If our basics are good, wickets will come. When we get a chance to play a youngster, we will. We have been working out that we need 40-45-48 runs in the Powerplay, our batsmen are capable."
17.2
1
Shanaka to Hafeez, 1 run
Scores are level
17.1
2
Shanaka to Hafeez, 2 runs
goes right through cover. Full delivery outside off, driven to cover, and the ball goes right through, much like this limited-overs series for SL.
One hit away, Pakistan need three to win.
end of over 174 runs
PAK: 100/3CRR: 5.88 • RRR: 1.00
Shoaib Malik42 (31b 4x4)
Mohammad Hafeez22 (21b 3x4)
Isuru Udana 3-0-18-0
Vikum Sanjaya 4-0-20-2
16.6
2
Udana to Malik, 2 runs
another short ball on leg, Malik gets inside the line and helps the ball into the gap at deep backward square leg for a couple
16.5
•
Udana to Malik, no run
good short ball around off, Malik sways away to avoid the ball
Daniyal: "I would be willing to forgive Shehzad his slow starts but only if he didn't put pressure on the man coming in to bat. He had been the for over 6 overs and failed to take the initiative and Babar fell in trying to deal with the pressure created by not only Sri Lanka but Shehzad as well. "
16.4
1
Udana to Hafeez, 1 run
a very high full toss again down leg, helped along down to fine leg for one
16.3
•
Udana to Hafeez, no run
full around off, 130 kph, skewed towards midwicket
16.2
1
Udana to Malik, 1 run
a high full toss outside off, dabbed down to third man for one
16.1
•
Udana to Malik, no run
a low full toss around off, jammed out, towards midwicket
Malik the standout in terms of scoring skill in this Pakistan team. Easily the most skilled at run-scoring, hitting shots, in this XI.
end of over 169 runs
PAK: 96/3CRR: 6.00 • RRR: 1.75
Shoaib Malik39 (27b 4x4)
Mohammad Hafeez21 (19b 3x4)
Vikum Sanjaya 4-0-20-2
Seekkuge Prasanna 3-0-17-0
15.6
1
Sanjaya to Malik, 1 run
digs it in short around middle and leg, pulled down to fine leg for one
15.5
2
Sanjaya to Malik, 2 runs
deeee-leec-table from Malik. Full outside off, he just leans forward, transfers weight into the shot and caresses the shot past cover and mid-off for a couple
15.4
1
Sanjaya to Hafeez, 1 run
dropped! That's a sitter at this level. On the pads, Hafeez flicks it uppishly towards deep square leg who had to run a few metres to his left, got there with time to spare, sized up the catch and just like this limited-overs leg, lets the chance go. Spills out
15.3
4
Sanjaya to Hafeez, FOUR runs
lovely shot from Hafeez. Short on middle and leg, Hafeez may have not seen it but he absolutely creams the pull through backward square leg. Maybe he should not see the ball more often.
15.2
•
Sanjaya to Hafeez, no run
126 kph, a short slow delivery outside off, Hafeez misses a pull. Had to drag that pull from well outside
15.1
1
Sanjaya to Malik, 1 run
drifts down leg, worked to deep square leg for one
shakeel: "Every cricketer has a low point in his career. Shehzad will bounce back and play consistent knocks for Pakistan soon. "
end of over 154 runs
PAK: 87/3CRR: 5.80 • RRR: 3.20
Mohammad Hafeez16 (16b 2x4)
Shoaib Malik35 (24b 4x4)
Seekkuge Prasanna 3-0-17-0
Thisara Perera 2-0-14-0
14.6
•
Prasanna to Hafeez, no run
good comeback from Prasanna. Short on off, pushed to cover. Good legspin
14.5
•
Prasanna to Hafeez, no run
54 mph, shortish and wide outside off, chopped to backward point. Saw Hafeez coming and shortened the length, well bowled
14.4
•
Prasanna to Hafeez, no run
big appeal, no, says the umpire. That was close. Quick down leg, sliding down, Hafeez misses a sweep, may have been drifting down leg
14.3
•
Prasanna to Hafeez, no run
shortish and wide outside off, 80 kph, sliced to backward point
14.2
•
Prasanna to Hafeez, no run
well bowled, slides this one through around off, pushed back
14.1
4
Prasanna to Hafeez, FOUR runs
just wide of deep midwicket. Flight on leg, Hafeez gets underneath the length and nails his slog sweep. The fielder runs to his left, and just can't quite get there. Lands inside the boundary
Prasanna comes on. Pakistan cruising.
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