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RAWALPINDI: Mohammad Wasim Junior’s three-wicket haul and Mohammad Rizwan’s half-century powered Pakistan to a clean sweep against Sri Lanka here at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Pakistan chased down a partly 212-run target in 44.4 overs with eight wickets in hand.
With this victory, Pakistan clinched the three-match series 3-0.
The home side were jolted early in the chase in the shape of Haseebullah Khan’s wicket, who was only playing in his second ODI, departed for a duck after playing 12 balls.
After an early blow, Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam forged a 74-run partnership that made light work of the chase. The scorecard read 82 in 15.2 overs when Maheesh Theekshana removed Zaman.
The soutpaw made 55 from just 45 deliveries peppered with eight fours. After his wicket, the visitors kept it tight, which resulted in Babar’s dismissal, bowled by Jeffrey Vandersay.
The right-hander struck four boundaries on his way to 34 from 52 balls. It was the cherry on top for Sri Lanka as in-form Salman Ali Agha (6) was also sent back in quick succession.
As a result, the Green Shirts were reduced to 115-4 in 24.3 overs before an unbeaten century stand between Mohammad Rizwan and Hussain Talat took them home.
Rizwan top-scored with 61* from 92 balls, while Hussain Talat hit a single boundary in his 57-ball 42.
For Sri Lanka, Jeffrey Vandersay remained the long bright star, who picked up a three-wicket haul in his quota of 10 overs.
Earlier, Pakistan pacer Mohammad Wasim picked up three wickets to rattle Sri Lanka’s batting line-up for a below-par score.
Put into bat first, the Islanders could not get going and were eventually bowled out for 211 in 45.2 overs.
Pathum Nissanka and Kamil Mishara provided a rapid start, adding 55 for the opening wicket in only 8.1 overs.
Haris Rauf broke the opening partnership with the wicket of Pathum Nissanka, who once again got a start but could not convert it. The right-hander hit four boundaries in his 24 from 27 before getting cleaned up.
Mishara followed him as he was caught behind on Wasim’s bowling, after making 29 from 30 with the help of five fours.
After openers were sent back, the stand-in skipper, Kusal Mendis, and Sadeera Samarawickrama tried to stabilize the innings with a 43-run partnership.
However, it was Wasim again who broke the promising stand and derailed the Islanders’ innings. Mendis was bowled with a beauty after scoring 34 from 54 balls.
The wicket sparked a collapse with the visitors losing wickets at regular intervals and were eventually bowled out. Sadeera Samarawickrama remained the top-scorer with 48 from 65 deliveries. The right-handed batter managed to hit two boundaries in his knock.
For Pakistan, it was an all-round bowling effort as Mohammad Wasim led the wicket charts with three wickets. Faisal Akram and Haris Rauf chipped in with two wickets apiece while Shaheen Shah Afridi and Faheem Ashraf took one each.
