Anwar Ali played a blinder of an innings of 46 off just 17 deliveries © AFP
Pakistan batsman, Anwar Ali played a blinder of an innings of 46 off just 17 deliveries in order to help Pakistan pull out a thrilling victory against hosts Sri Lanka in the second and final T20I match at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Saturday. Shahid Afridi too had played a crucial captain’s knock of 45 off just 22 deliveries to help Pakistan achieve the target. Earlier, Sri Lanka skipper, Lasith Malinga won the toss and elected to bat first as they finished on a challenging total of 172 for the loss of seven wickets, courtesy of big knock from Chamara Kapugedara of 48, and also Shehan Jayasuriya’s crucial knock of 40. Sri Lanka made a couple of changes, with Angelo Mathews missed out due to injury and Shehan Jayasuriya replaced him, while Kithuruwan Vithanage was replaced by Dasun Shanaka, as Pakistan moved in with an unchanged squad.
Pakistan, started their chase on a shaky note as they lost their very first wicket in the third over with just 11 on board, as opener, Ahmed Shehzad was dismissed for mere seven by fast-bowler, Binura Fernando. Just three bolls later, it was Mukhtar Ahmed, who too was dismissed in the same over by the same man for mere four after being caught by Kapugedara. Out came the pair of Mohammad Haferez and Shoaib Malik, but with just 17 added to the total, it was Hafeez who was unfortunately run out for mere 11 as the score read 33 for the loss of three.
Umar Akmal was the next man in, but was too unfortunately run out for mere four. He was soon followed by Shoaib Malik, who was stumped for a duck by Kusal Perera off Milinda Siriwardana. However, it was the fresh pair of skipper, Shahid Afridi and Mohammad Rizwan that re-ignited an alomst lost hope for Pakistan and kept the flame burning as they contributed an impressive 61 runs, with Afridi smashing the ball all over the park, before Rizwan was dismissed for 17 by Thisara Perera. Nevvertheless, it was the 15th over, when the score read 107, Afridi was dismissed of a new bowler change in the form of Jayasuriya, who bowled him up off his very first delivery in international cricket as Afridi departed for 45 off just 22 deliveries, while Sri Lanka seemed to have made a comeback to the game.
However, it was the next pair of Imad Wasim and Anwar Ali that pulled out the unthinkable and broke several Sri Lankan hearts. They contributed a massive 58-run stand for the eighth wicket, courtesy of some real big hitting from Anwar Ali. With three fours and four sixes, Anwar scored runs in a flurry, smashing every possible delivery out of the park or a boundary. The 19th over from Malinga saw him getting caught behind by Kusal Perera for 46 off just 17 deliveries, followed by a run out in the form of Sohail Tanvir for a mere single in a desperate attempt to give the strike back to Imad Wasim.
The final over saw Mohammad Irfan come in as it was just six required to win, as he takes a single to give the strike to Imad Wasim, and the very next ball was dispatched over the long on for a six as it counted as the winning runs and Pakistan pulled out a thriller, winning by just a wicket and making a clean sweep of 2-0 in the T20I series. Anwar Ali was adjudged the Man of the Match, while Shoaib Malik was adjudged the Man of the Series.
Brief scores:
Sri Lanka 172/7 in 20 Overs (Shehan Jayasuriya 40, Chamara Kapugedara 48*; Shoaib Malik 2 for 16) lost to Pakistan 1174/9 in 19.2 overs (Shahid Afridi 45, Anwar Ali 46; Binura Fernando 2 for 33) by 1 wicket.
(Ayush Gupta is a reporter at CricketCountry. A passionate supporter of Manchester United, he idolises Roger Federer and is also a World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) maniac. He can be followed on Twitter @Ayush24x7)