Another final, same old Pakistan

Pakistan once again failed to deliver at the final hurdle, as Sri Lanka lifted the Paktel Cup under the lights of Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium, following a convincing 119-run humbling of the hosts and favourites.

Pakistan, undefeated in the their four-game group stage programme, started strongly as the consistently underperforming Saman Jayantha was run out trying to take a single to Shoaib Malik at square leg in Shoaib Akhtar's maiden opening over. Jayantha's fellow opener, Sanath Jayasuriya fell eight overs later for 21, well caught at short cover by a rare sight, a diving Inzamam-ul-Haq off Naved-ul-Hasan following an inside edge.

This, however, was the closest that Pakistani hands got to the trophy as Marvan Atapattu, who narrowly avoided being run out on 18, and Kumar Sangakkara added 106 for the third wicket, keeping the run rate in consistent upward momentum before the Sri Lankan skipper advanced to drive a full and wide delivery from Shoaib Malik, only to miss it and for Moin Khan to complete the necessary behind the stumps.

Pakistan were unable to stem the flow of runs as Sangakkara was joined by Mahela Jayawardene and they added forty before the keeper, who had scored a run-a-ball 68, chopped Abdul Razzaq onto the stumps. Tillakaratne Dilshan at six continued where Sangakkara left off, and added 39 before a straighter ball from Shahid Afridi beat his defences and cannoned into the middle stump.

Mohammad Sami yorked Upul Chandana for seven, and Jayawardene (49) fell in the final over, bowled trying to club Afridi over extra cover, but Chaminda Vaas delivered a telling psychological blow off the final delivery of the innings, heaving Afridi for six over midwicket off one knee to conclude the Sri Lankan innings on 287-7.

Salman Butt and Yasir Hameed started the Pakistan reply confidently, responsibly and taking boundaries where they were offered off Vaas and Nuwan Zoysa. It took a change of bowling, and Dilhara Fernando's first ball, to disrupt Hameed's castle off an inner edge. Butt, however was joined by Shoaib Malik and Pakistan proceeded calmly to 85-1 until spin came into play.

With the run rate rising, Upul Chandana found sharp turn tossing one up to Butt, and bowled the left-hander through the gate. This brought Inzamam to the wicket, and Vaas back into the attack for the prize wicket - which came, courtesy of a Vaas speciality, full, inswinging, pads, LBW. At 91-3, Pakistan were wobbling and on the verge of another self-destruct, and the trigger would be the veteran Jayasuriya.

His first ball accounted for Yousuf Youhana, dancing down the wicket and caught well out his ground, and as he tied up one end Chandana struck at the other. Just after the run rate climbed above 7 an over, Shoaib Malik perished in similar fashion to Youhana and Pakistan were on the brink.

Abdul Razzaq fell next, playing across the line to Jayasuriya and finding the outside edge to Dilshan at slip before Shahid Afridi did as Shahid Afridi does. Dot, six, one, dot, four, caught off a top edged hoik at long leg by Farveez Maharoof off Jayasuriya.

The last rites were applied as Moin feathered Chandana through into the gloves of Sangakkara, but Sami and Naved stayed the executioner's axe for another five overs before Jayasuriya completed his fourth ODI five-wicket haul. Atapattu held on to a mistimed Sami drive at mid-off before Shoaib missed a straight ball.

The first Test between the two nations starts next week - will Bob Woolmer manage to bring the killer instinct to this Pakistani side, or will Sri Lanka continue their excellent sub-continental form? Everything will be revealed on Wednesday in Faisalabad.

Sri Lanka 287-7
KC Sangakkara 68, MS Atapattu 66
Shahid Afridi 2-60
Pakistan 168
Salman Butt 40, Shoaib Malik 37
ST Jayasuriya 5-17, UDU Chandana 3-56

CricketWeb Player of the Match
ST Jayasuriya - 21 & 8-2-17-5

Sri Lanka won by 119 runs

Sri Lanka won the Paktel Cup

Posted by Neil