Mohammad Hafeez took four for 41 to peg Sri Lanka back © AFP
Sri Lanka have posted a fighting score of 255 for eight on a two-paced deck against Pakistan in the first One-Day International (ODI) at Dambulla. It was thanks to the 82-run stand between Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal that gave them the platform for the big score as Mohammad Hafeez took career best figures of four for 41 to keep them in check.
Sri Lanka were off a lucky start as Pakistan did not bowl the right lines. Tillakaratne Dilshan benefited the most when he was caught of the bowling of Mohammad Irfan but it was a no-ball. He was out even on the free-hit, caught at mid on. Kusal Perera though again got going with some good looking shots before falling to Mohammad Hafeez for a score of 26. Live Cricket updates: Sri Lanka vs Pakistan 2015, 1st ODI at Dambulla
Lahiru Thirimanne too got a start but failed to convert it as well, he got caught behind off the bowling of Anwar Ali. The ball did not quite come onto the bat and Dilshan struggled for timing right throughout the innings. Hafeez took his third wicket when he bowled Dilshan for 38 to put Sri Lanka under pressure. Live cricket scorecard: Sri Lanka vs Pakistan 2015, 1st ODI at Dambulla
Skipper Angelo Mathews then took up the mantle to ensure Sri Lanka had something to bowl to. Both Mathews and Chandimal took the game away from Pakistan with a 82-run stand. While Mathews was happy to play second fiddle, Chandimal was finding the fence at regular intervals.
Yasir Shah returned to haunt Sri Lanka as Mathews was caught by Babar Azam at wide long on to reduce the hosts to 200 for five. Hafeez then returned for his last over and had Thisara Perera caught at slips to take his fourth wicket. Chandimal though continued on his merry way to score his 14th ODI half-century. He was dropped on 19 by Sarfraz Ahmed.
Milinda Siriwardana came in and gave good support to Chandimal to get Sri Lanka past 250. Siriwardana hit some lusty blows but was out in the penultimate over of the game for a 21-ball 22. Rahat Ali struck again as he had Seekuge Prasanna caught at cover by Hafeez.
Pakistan will be hoping their batsmen come good on a deck which is not quite ideal for stroke making. The ball is turning and bouncing already and Sri Lanka will want their bowlers to back up the work done by the batsmen.
Brief scores:
Sri Lanka 255 for 8 (Tillakaratne Dilshan 38, Dinesh Chandimal 65*; Rahat Ali 2 for 44, Mohammad Hafeez 4 for 41) vs Pakistan.
(Nikhil Popat is a cricket lover and a PotterHead. He can be followed on Twitter @CricCrazyNIKS)