Play suspended as SL chase 317 vs Pakistan

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka's third ODI against Pakistan was interrupted on Sunday after fighting broke out in the stands and objects were thrown onto the field at R Premadasa Stadium.

Chasing 317 to win, Sri Lanka was struggling at 158 for seven when play was suspended.

Players were called in to the center after an object was thrown at a Pakistan fielder and both teams later left the field as police emptied one half of the stands.

Earlier, Sarfraz Ahmed scored 77 and all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez — playing as a batsman only after a bowling ban — made 54 as Pakistan piled up 316-4.

Hafeez’s fourth score of 50-plus in the last six ODI innings built on a 93-run opening stand between Ahmed Shehzad (44) and skipper Azhar Ali (49) after Pakistan chose to bat in Colombo.

Sarfraz, promoted to No 4, justified the captain’s faith with seven boundaries in his 74-ball knock at the Premadasa stadium.

Shoaib Malik, watched from the stands by Sania Mirza, struck an unbeaten 42 from 29 balls and shared an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 59 with Mohammad Rizwan (35 not out). BRIEF SCORES Pak 316/4 (Sarfraz 77, Hafeez 54, Azhar 49, Shehzad 44)