Pakistan thrash Sri Lanka in all three formats

Shahid Afridi and Anwar Ali played key roles as Pakistan ended a successful tour of Sri Lanka with a thrilling one-wicket victory in the second Twenty20 global in Colombo yesterday. Sri Lanka needed 33 runs in the last over. The captain of Pakistan Test cricket Misbah Ul Haq and the skipper of ODI team – both have won their series and have brought trophy to Pakistan.

Shahid Afridi will take over the reigns for the two T20s and Azhar said while there will be a change in personnel, the team will continue its winning ways. 27-year-old Anwar Ali sent shockwaves across the cricketing world by taking the Lankan attack (including skipper Malinga) to the cleaners when the game looked dead and buried at 107 for 7 while chasing 173.

Left-arm paceman Sohail Tanvir was the pick of the Pakistan bowlers, claiming 3-29, which also earned him the man-of-the-match award.

Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bat first. Spinners Imad Wasim and Shoaib Malik shared one wicket each.

TNA spokesperson and former Parliamentarian Suresh Premachandran said that the US seems to have got involved with Sri Lanka ahead of the January 8 Presidential election to reduce the role China had in Sri Lanka.

Although Mukhtar Ahmed departed the scene early on, Ahmed Shehzad and Mohammad Hafeez, steadied the ship for Pakistan before Shoaib Malik and Umar Akmal finished with a flourish towards the end.

Kapugedera hit four sixes and two boundaries in 26 balls.

Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 2nd T20 live streaming can be watched on the official websites of PTV Sports and Ten Sports. When last reports came in the SL score was, Sri Lanka 54/2 (7.2/20 ov).

Debutant Dhananjaya de Silva looked promising during his knock of 31 and another youngster Milinda Siriwardana made 35, before Chamara Kapugedera justified his recall with three sixes in his unbeaten 31 off 16 balls. Lasith Malinga has so far been dismantled across two formats, and even Angelo Mathews’ usually-prolific limited-overs batting has been quieted.