RAWALPINDI, NOV 15: Star batter Babar Azam marked the end of his long century drought with a commanding ton that steered Pakistan to a dominant eight-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the second ODI of the three-match series at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Friday.
Set to chase 289, Pakistan comfortably chased down the target for the loss of just two wickets and 10 balls to spare.
The Green Shirts got off to a dominant start to the pursuit as their opening pair of Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub put together a brisk partnership, scoring 77 runs in just 9.3 overs before the latter fell victim to Dushmantha Chameera.
Saim scored 33 off 25 deliveries, smashing five fours and a six.
Walking out to bat at No.3, Babar joined Fakhar in the middle, and the experienced duo ensured retaining Pakistan’s momentum by knitting a 100-run stand, which eventually culminated with the opening batter’s dismissal of Chameera in the 31st over.
Fakhar scored 78 off 93 deliveries with the help of eight fours and a six.
Babar Azam, on the other hand, remained firm and ended his two-year international century drought before leading Pakistan to the series-clinching victory when he hit the winning runs on the second delivery of the penultimate over.
The right-handed batter top-scored for Pakistan with an unbeaten 102 off 119 deliveries, studded with eight fours.
He shared an unbeaten 112-run partnership with wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Rizwan, who scored 51 not out from 54 balls, hitting five fours and a six.
Chameera remained the solitary wicket-taker for the touring side, making two scalps for 58 runs in 10 overs.
The eight-wicket victory helped Pakistan secure an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series against Sri Lanka, with the last fixture scheduled to be played at the same venue on Sunday.
Pakistan’s stand-in captain, Salman Ali Agha’s decision to field first proved beneficial as Sri Lanka’s batting unit could yield 288/8 in the allotted 50 overs despite Janith Liyanage’s half-century.
The touring side got off to a decent start to their innings as their opening pair of Pathum Nissanka and Kamil Mishara put together 51 runs inside the 10-over mark.
The opening stand culminated agonisingly for Sri Lanka as Nissanka got run out on the penultimate delivery of the 10th over while attempting to run three. He walked back after scoring 24 off 31.
Sri Lanka then suffered another setback in quick succession as Abrar got Mishara stumped in the 14th over. The left-handed opener made 27 off 39 deliveries.
Following the back-to-back dismissals, wicketkeeper batter Kusal Mendis and Saddera Samarawickrama briefly stabilised Sri Lanka’s innings by knitting a cautious 28-run partnership.
Abrar broke the budding stand by dismissing Kusal Mendis (20) and struck again in his next over to send back Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka (six), reducing them to 98/4 in 21.2 overs.
Following the slump, Liyanage joined Samarawickrama in the middle, and the duo added valuable runs to Sri Lanka’s total, adding 61 for the fifth wicket until the latter was cleaned up by Haris in the 32nd over.
Samarawickrama remained a notable run-getter for Sri Lanka, scoring 42 off 52 deliveries with the help of three fours and a six.
Liyanage then joined forces with Kamindu Mendis, and the pair took the visitors’ total past the 200-run mark with a 73-run partnership for the sixth wicket before both perished in the span of nine deliveries.
Liyanage remained the top-scorer for Sri Lanka with 54 off 63 deliveries, hitting two fours and a six, while Kamindu Mendis smashed four fours and two sixes on his way to a 38-ball 44.
Haris inflicted another blow to Sri Lanka’s batting charge in the next over by trapping Dushmantha Chameera (zero) lbw and brought the total further down to 244/8 in 44.2 overs.
All-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga then added vital runs at the backend with a handy 37 not out from 26 deliveries and comprising three fours. He was supported by Pramod Madushan, who remained unbeaten on 11.
For Pakistan, Haris and Abrar picked up three wickets each, while Mohammad Wasim Jr chipped in with one.
