Pakistan held their nerves to pull off a stunning 11-run victory over title aspirants Sri Lanka in a nail-biting group A World Cup league match here on Saturday.
The Pakistani first posted a competitive 277 for seven, relying on half centuries by Misbah-ul-Haq (unbeaten 83) and Younis Khan (72) and then restricted Sri Lanka to
266 for nine to virtually assure themselves a quarter-final berth. Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi sparkled with the ball as he took four wickets and became only the third bowler from his country to take 300 or more ODI wickets.
The Pakistanis, though, were found wanting in the ground fielding as they missed stumping chances, dropped catches and missed run outs.
Chamara Silva (57) played a gritty knock and shared a 73-run stand for the fifth-wicket with his skipper Sangakkara (49) in Lanka’s fight but that only reduced the defeat margin.
Afridi (4/34) bowled extremely well in the middle overs and yet again turned the tide in his side’s favour as he took crucial wickets of Tillakaratne Dilshan (41), Sangakkara (49) Thilan Samaraweera (1) and Angelo Mathews (18). Paceman Shoaib Akhtar contributed in the win by scalping two Lankan batsmen. Lanka did not make a flying start with Pakistan fast bowlers being brilliant with the new ball. —PTI