Pakistan finally got onto the scoreboard with a convincing win in an inconsequential fourth match of the series, beating Sri Lanka by 146 runs. Sri Lanka leads the five game series 3-1 with one to play at RPS in Colombo.
The visitors made quite a few changes in the starting eleven. Imran Nazir came in for Nasir Jamshed, while Mohammad Yousuf and Misbah-ul-Haq made comebacks in place of Fawad Alam and Shoaib Malik. Sri Lanka also made three changes to their line-up, with the inclusion of Malinga Bandara, Lasith Malinga and Ajantha Mendis.
Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat and got off to flier; 61 coming off 9.5 overs before Nazir was bowled by Thilan Thushara. After that, Younus Khan and Kamran Akmal were involved in another 45-run stand, but three quick wickets pegged the Pakistanis back to 130/4 in the 26th over. It was here that match turned around towards Pakistan, as the pair of Younus Khan and new-comer Umar Akmal added 176 runs for the fifth wicket in 23 overs.
While Younus got out for a well-compiled inning of 89, and guided Akmal through the course of the partnership, the youngster managed to reach his maiden ODI century; smashing an unbeaten 102 in only 72 deliveries. There were five fours and four sixes in his knock. Bandara was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 2/44 in his ten overs.
In reply, the Lankans added 36 for the first wicket before Mahela Jayawardene was consumed by Naved-ul-Hasan Rana. However, it was the second wicket partnership between Upul Tharanga and Kumar Sangakkara that kept the Lankans in the hunt as they reached their 100 in only 16 overs for the loss of one wicket.
Sangakkara’s loose shot saw him get out to Rao Iftikhar, and that began a collapse for the hosts. Of the remaining batsmen, Thilina Kandamby was the only one to get to double figures, while Tharanga finally got out for 80. Sri Lanka lost their last eight wickets for 45 runs, and collapsed without a fight. Rao Iftikhar ended with figures of 5/30; incidentally his best in this format of the game.
Akmal was named the man-of-the-match for his match-winning century. The fifth and the final match will be played on Sunday on the same ground.