and Siriwardana gets a wicket to end the match. Flighted on off, Rahat looks for the bog hit, but all he manages is an aerial hit straight to long-off where Senanayake takes the catch
Sri Lanka vs Pakistan, 5th ODI at Hambantota, Jul 26 2015 - Ball by Ball Commentary
And with that we leave you as Pakistan players get their hands onto the trophy. Thanks for joining us through the tour. Don't forget there are two T20s too. Goodbye
"We wanted to win this game," says Azhar Ali. "but credit goes to Sri Lanka. They played really well. We didn't bowl that well, but the credit should go to the Sri Lankan batsmen, especially the way they batted in the first half. Unfortunately we didn't win today, but happy with the series win. We played positive cricket, especially as a batting unit. The fielding was exceptional. After a long time you saw brilliance in the field. Credit should be given to the coaching staff."
"Really happy to get this," says Mohammad Hafeez, the Man of the Series. "But the whole team deserves this award. We got worked hard for the series, and thankfully the results went our way. I am trying my best to contribute to the victory of Pakistan."
"Unfortunately a bit too late but a clinical performance," says Angelo Mathews. "Openers were brilliant, then Thirimanne and Chandimal. They gave us the platform for myself, and Milinda was a pleasure to watch. We had to go back to our basics, especially in the bowling department. We showed a bit of improvement in the fielding. You need to keep improving day by day."
"The team needed that innings," says Kusal Perera, the Man of the Match. "We had already lost the series, but 3-2 is better than 4-1. Yeah team-mates reminded me of a possible double, but I am happy the team won. I am always trying to get my basics right. I know if my basics are right, the results will go my way."
9.51pm That's a comprehensive consolation victory for Sri Lanka after Pakistan took the series-winning lead of 3-1 in Colombo. Dilshan walks off with a stump. He became only the 11th man to score 10000 ODI runs. He played a big part in setting up this win, but it was Kusal Perera who took the game away from Paksitan ins coring his second ODI hundred. And he did so while avoiding his trademark low-percentage game. He waited for balls he could hit, and boy did he hit them, for nine fours and a six in his 109-ball 116. The middle order was stable with a couple of 29s, and then Angelo Mathews and Milinda Siriwardana provided a grand finish with explosive fifties. Pakistan needed a miracle to chase down 369. Tonight was not the night for miracles. Sachithra Senanayake will be happy with his comeback figures of 8-1-39-3. Thisara Perera will feel some relief with 8-0-38-2. Pakistan, though, win the series and still remain ahead of West Indies in the ODI rankings, which means they should qualify for the Champions Trophy if there is no more ODI cricket until September 30. We will get the presentation soon
flat length ball, Rahat stays back to defend
Siriwardana comes back
another bouncer, following Irfan again, and this time he bottom-edges it towards the keeper
Irfan gies him the charge, Gamage bowls a fullie that is headed towards top of off, but Irfan just gets a touch of the bat
he has slugged this powerfully. Four bouncers followed by a short ball, and he clears the front leg to crash this through midwicket
a bouncer that follows Irfan, and beats the hook for a dot ball
Another free hit
another no-ball. Irfan makes room and swings, but fails to connect with the short ball. Gamage has overstepped again
Free-hit time
a third no-ball from Gamage as he looks to bounce Irfan. Beats him on the hook but a free hit is coming up
short ball outside off, Irfan nonchalantly lets it go by just staying inside the line
The giant, Mohammad Irfan, comes in now
and now Sri Lanka are one wicket short. Gamage gets his first wicket of the night. This is short, pretty straight, and cramps him up as Anwar looks for a big shot. Can't get any power into the shot, and he just mis-hits it for a dolly to mid-on
stays back to defend a length ball that goes straight on. Ends a wicket-maiden
Iftikhar Ahmed: "No dears, infact he meant 150, and this what Pakistan mostly crumbles to the targets in access of that."
stays back to defend a flat delivery
tossed up middle and leg, defended again
stays back to defend a length ball
A slip and a leg gully
Lot of frenzied calls around Champions Trophy qualification. If there bweren't to be another ODI between today and qualification cut-off, Pakistan make it
tossed up outside off, defended back to him
Rahat Ali comes in
Shah falls for 9. The first man out of the 15 that have batted today to not reach double figures. Senanayake flights one, Shah sees a big hit, jumps out of the crease, gets a thick edge for an overhead catch at short cover
slightly shorter, and he goes back to cut it to deep point
full, outside off, holds its line, Shah stays inside the line
short of a length, outside off, opens the face to get a single to third man
izaz: "@Kumar: "..who is renowned to crumble chase a total in excess of 350..." that's a bit of a tough standard. probably you meant 250."
length ball, angling in, driven on the up, between the bowler and mid-on for a four all along the ground
short of a length, angling in, worked into the leg side for one
holds its line outside off, beats the outside edge
Gamage comes back