Amir, Malik help Pakistan rout Sri Lanka
LAHORE: Pakistan marked the return of Sri Lanka with a 3-0 Twenty20 series whitewash on Sunday, as officials hoped it will help re-establish the country’s reputation for hosting international cricket.
The third and final T20 match, which Pakistan comfortably won by 36 runs at the Gaddafi Stadium, was Sri Lanka’s first since their team bus was attacked near the same venue in March 2009.
Those attacks, which left eight people dead and seven Sri Lanka players and their staff injured, suspended international cricket in Pakistan and forced them to play at neutral venues of United Arab Emirates.
The first two matches, which Pakistan won by seven and two wickets respectively, were played in Abu Dhabi before Sri Lanka flew to Lahore in a 24-hour fly in, fly out arrangement.
The match was the fourth international since the attack, with Zimbabwe playing a fivematch limited over series in 2015 followed by the final of Pakistan Super League and a three-match T20 series with World XI comprising of players from seven countries --- both this year.
Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Najam Sethi dubbed the match “historic”.
Sri Lanka Cricket president Thilanag Sumathipala vowed his board will not leave Pakistan in isolation.
However, a rampaging Pakistan side did not show any mercy to their opponents as they piled up 180-3 in their 20 overs.
Shoaib Malik, the only player from both the sides to have also featured in the fateful 2009 Lahore Test, smashed a 24-ball 51 with five boundaries and two sixes. He added 75 for the third wicket with Babar Azam (34 not out) in just 45 balls. Openers Umar Amin (45) and Fakhar Zaman (31) were the other contributors.
Pacer Mohammad Amir, playing his first international match before the home crowd after making his debut soon after the terrorists’ attacks, finished with a career best 4-13 as Sri Lanka managed 144-9 in 20 overs.
Only Dasun Shanaka batted with aggression during a 36-ball 54 with five boundaries and three sixes before he became one of Faheem Ashraf’s two wickets.
Brief scores: Pakistan 180-3 in 20 overs (S Malik 51, U Amin 45; D Munaweera 1-26) bt Sri Lanka 144-9 in 20 overs (D Shanaka 54; M Amir 4-13, F Ashraf 2-19) by 36 runs.