Pakistan amass a huge 313/9

Bernard PERERA in Abu Dhabi

CRICKET: Pakistan posted a massive total of 313 for nine wickets after electing to bat first in the second one dayer at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi yesterday.

Their total reached as the Sri Lankan fielders faulted heavily when moving on to take the catches that came their way. Overall it was a pathetic display when talking about fielding. If the fielding of Sri Lankans were upto standards the Pakistanis would have never gone to reach a big total.

Lankan skipper used five bowlers to halt the run flow but failed to stop them. Sri Lanka made three changes to the side that lost the first game on Friday bringing in Malinda Warnapura, Dilhara Fernando and Ruchira Perera in place of Sanath Jayasuriya, Lasith Malinga and Ishara Amarasinghe.

Malinda Warnapura made his debut in international cricket when he got the opportunity at the Sheikh Zayed stadium. Pakistani openers Imran Nasir and Salman Butt got off to a steady start putting on a fine partnership worth 41 runs in only 5.4 overs.

The opening bowlers Dilhara and Ruchira Perera could not find their right line and length and the batsmen found things ideal for them to go for their strokes.

But Dilhara got Nasir’s wicket by sending a beauty which went through the gate to disturb the sticks with the score board reading 41 in only 5.4 overs. Yasir Hameed joined Butt and continued added 51 runs to take the score to 100 one in 15.5 overs.

Butt and Hameed continued the onslaught and produced a second wicket stand worth 98 runs before Malinga Bandara had Yasir Hameed caught and bowled for 50. Shoaib Malik Joined Salman Butt and added a further 40 runs. Bandara struck once again when he had skipper Shoaib Malik bowled for 27.

At this stage it was Bandara who halted Pakistans free run flow to a certain extent. Mohammed Yousuf was the next to depart when in a misunderstanding with his partner and was run out for 37. Abdul Razzak and Akmal added 40 runs for the seventh wicket.

Akmal was well caught by Dilshan off the bowling off Maharoof to get his second wicket. Pakistanis got past the 300 run mark in 48.4 overs.

Muhammad Sami was very harsh on Maroof’s bowling and went on to post a six and two fours in Maharoof’s over. Sami going for a another big hit saw his stumps shattered.

PAKISTAN
 
 Salman Butt c & b Bandara		74
 Imran Nasir b Fernando			17
 Yasir Hameed c & b Bandara		50
 Mohammad Yousuf run out		37
 Shoaib Malik b Bandara			27
 Kamran Akmal c Dilshan b Mahroof	38
 Shahid Afridi c Bandara b Maharoof	01
 Abdul Razzak b Fernando		16
 Mohamed Sami b Mahroof			22
 Umar Gul				00
 Asif not out				05
EXTRAS (lb-5, w-17, nb-4)		26
TOTAL (for nine wickets)		313
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-45, 2-143, 3-167, 4-207, 5-233
BOWLING: Perera 10-0 67- 0, Fernando 10-0 71-2, 
Maharoof 10-0- 65-3, Bandara 10-0- 56- 3, Dilshan 10-0-50-0