Cardiff (June 12, 2107): Sarfraz Ahmed played a gritty knock to guide Pakistan to a three-wicket win over Sri Lanka to ensure their ICC Champions Trophy 2017 semi-final berth.
Sarfraz Ahmed lead from the front as Pakistan booked their place in the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 semifinals thanks to a win over Sri Lanka. Nuwan Pradeep’s three wickets put Sri Lanka in the driver’s seat, but Sarfraz and Mohammad Amir guided Pakistan home.
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First, young batsman Fakhar Zaman departed after scoring his debut ODI fifty, but not before seeing Pakistan off to a confident start.
Fakhar scored quick-fire 50 off 36 balls after getting caught by Asela Gunaratne from the bowling of Nuwan Pradeep.
However, the following batsmen failed to capitalise on the start provided by the young batsman as Babar Azam (10), Mohammad Hafeez (01), Azhar Ali (34), Shoaib Malik (11), Imad Wasim (4), Fahim Ashraf (15) fell one after the another.
| Pakistan innings (target: 237 runs from 50 overs) | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Azhar Ali | c Mendis b Lakmal | 34 | 50 | 2 | 1 | 68.00 |
|
Fakhar Zaman | c Gunaratne b Pradeep | 50 | 36 | 8 | 1 | 138.88 |
|
Babar Azam | c de Silva b Pradeep | 10 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 55.55 |
|
Mohammad Hafeez | c Pradeep b Perera | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 20.00 |
|
Shoaib Malik | c †Dickwella b Malinga | 11 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 55.00 |
| Sarfraz Ahmed*† | not out | 61 | 79 | 5 | 0 | 77.21 | |
|
Imad Wasim | c †Dickwella b Pradeep | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 133.33 |
|
Fahim Ashraf | run out (Perera) | 15 | 15 | 1 | 1 | 100.00 |
| Mohammad Amir | not out | 28 | 43 | 1 | 0 | 65.11 | |
| Extras | (b 4, lb 6, w 13) | 23 | |||||
| Total | (7 wickets; 44.5 overs) | 237 | (5.28 runs per over) | ||||
Did not batHasan Ali, Junaid Khan
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | 0s | 4s | 6s | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
SL Malinga | 9.5 | 2 | 52 | 1 | 5.28 | 34 | 5 | 1 | (4w) |
|
RAS Lakmal | 10 | 0 | 48 | 1 | 4.80 | 35 | 6 | 0 | (2w) |
|
N Pradeep | 10 | 0 | 60 | 3 | 6.00 | 30 | 5 | 1 | (3w) |
|
NLTC Perera | 8 | 0 | 43 | 1 | 5.37 | 27 | 2 | 1 | (4w) |
| DAS Gunaratne | 5 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 3.80 | 17 | 2 | 0 | ||
| MD Gunathilaka | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2.00 | 4 | 0 | 0 | ||
| DM de Silva | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3.00 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
However, a 75-run partnership between Sarfraz Ahmed and Mohammad Amir took Pakistan to incredible win over Sri Lanka and ensured a semifinal berth.
Earlier, Junaid Khan and Hasan Ali took three wickets each as Sri Lanka were all out for 236. Niroshan Dickwella scored a brilliant half century but the Pakistan bowlers were able to restrict them to a below par total. Fahim Ashraf and Mohammad Amir also contributed with two wickets each. Pakistan will now take on England in the semi-final.
Brilliant bowling from Pakistan pacers earlier restricted Sri Lanka to 236 runs.
Hasan Ali ended resistance by tail-enders as he bowled out Lakmal, after Junaid Khan and Mohammad Amir ripped through the opponent’s middle-order picking up four wickets in quick succession.
Junaid picked up wickets of Thisara Perera and de Silva for just a single each, hastening the collapse after captain Angelo Mathews was bowled by Mohammad Amir on 39.
Junaid Khan bowled a ripper to get rid of Dhananjaya de Silva. Mohammad Amir again bowled a brilliant ball while captain Sarfraz Ahmed took a sensational catch to get rid of well-settled Niroshan Dickwella.
Hasan Ali struck in a déjà vu repeat of Wayne Parnell’s wicket to dismiss Mendis, followed by debutant Fahim Ashraf who clean bowled Chandimal for a duck, as Pakistan put brakes on Sri Lankan batting early into the game.
Junaid Khan earlier struck in his second over to dismiss opener Gunathilaka cheaply, after Pakistan won the toss and decided to bowl first.
The winner of the match would face England in the semifinals while the losing team would be knocked out of the tournament.
Sarfraz Ahmed have brought Pakistan within inches of victory after Nuwan Pradeep’s three wickets put Sri Lanka in the driver’s seat in the final league game of the ICC Champions Trophy 2017. The winner of the clash will take on England in the semi-final.
22:23 hrs PST: Pakistan looked in trouble after losing seven wickets, but the skipper has truly led from the front. PAK 222/7
22:20 hrs PST: Pakistan are just 18 runs away from victory!
22:17 hrs PST: A beautiful drive from Sarfraz Ahmed and it brings up his fifty! PAK 217/7
22:15 hrs PST: A wide ball from Lakmal and Sarfraz Ahmed gets his 3rd boundary! PAK 211/7
22:41 hrs PST: It’s all going terribly wrong for Sri Lanka. Another misfield and another boundary. PAK 205/7
22:09 hrs PST: Another catch miss for Sri Lanka! The fielding has really failed them today. PAK 199/7
22:08 hrs PST: Sarfraz Ahmed moves into the 40s. PAK 198 for the loss of 7 wickets.
22:04 hrs PST: 39 overs gone. Pakistan need 41 off 66 balls.
22:00 hrs PST: A mishit from Sarfraz and Thisara Perera misses an easy catching effort at mid-on. PAK 194/7
21:54 hrs PST: Another boundary for Sarfraz Ahmed as the fielder makes a mess of it in front of the boundary. PAK 192/7
21:51 hrs PST: A single takes the partnership to 25 runs. This is turning out to be extremely crucial for Pakistan. PAK 188/7
21:47 hrs PST: Sri Lanka gifts 4 runs in overthrows! It’s a comedy of errors at Cardiff! PAK 183/7
21:40 hrs PST: 34 overs gone. Pakistan are 173 for the loss of 7 wickets.
21:36 hrs PST: Sri Lanka are choking Pakistan right now with the batters struggling to score any run. PAK 168/7
21:31 hrs PST: It has been a woeful batting performance by Pakistan till now! PAK 166/7
21:26 hrs PST: OUT! Faheem Ashraf backed the run too much as the ball touched the bowler’s fingers and hit the non-striker end wicket for a run out. PAK 162/7
21:23 hrs PST: The pair of Sarfraz Ahmed and Faheem Ashraf is key to Pakistan’s chances in this match. PAK 162/6
21:18 hrs PST: The Sri Lanka frontline pacers have eight overs left. What will Mathews do? PAK 158/6
21:14 hrs PST: 28 overs gone.Pakistan are 157 for the loss of 6 wickets.
21:11 hrs PST: A boundary for Ashraf! This is getting interesting! PAK 150/6
21:08 hrs PST: The Pakistan fans are putting their hopes on Faheem Ashraf and he starts with a six! PAK 144/6
21:02 hrs PST: OUT! Nuwan Pradeep strikes again as Imad Wasim becomes his third victim. PAK 137/6
20:58 hrs PST: 25 overs gone. Pakistan are 132 for the loss of 5 wickets.
20:54 hrs PST: OUT! Fifth wicket goes down for Pakistan as Shoaib Malik is caught behind for 11, PAK 131/5
20:42 hrs PST: 5 runs from Lakhmal’s over. Pakistan are 124/4.
20:40 hrs PST: Pakistan’s batsmen are going for some seriously tight singles here. Sri Lanka need to do better with hitting the stumps at such opportunities.
20:37 hrs PST: Malik and Sarfaraz take 8 rubs from Malinga’s over. Pakistan 119/4.
20:35 hrs PST: FOUR! Malinga strays a little too wide and Sarfaraz duly sends the ball through the off side field.
20:33 hrs PST: Excellent over from Lakhmal; just the one run and a wicket from it. Pakistan are 111/4 after 20 overs.
20:28 hrs PST: WICKET! Azhar Ali edges one to Mendis at slip who makes no mistake. Lakhmal gets his first wicket of the game.
20:26 hrs PST: Another tight over from Sri Lanka; just 4 off it. Pakistan 110/3 after 19 overs.
20:20 hrs PST: After 18 overs, Pakistan are 106/3.
20:12 hrs PST: OUT! Wickets are tumbling fast as Mohammad Hafeez departs. PAK 95/3
20:07 hrs PST: OUT! Pradeep strikes for Sri Lanka. Babar Azar departs for 10. PAK 92/2
20:00 hrs PST: A loud caught behind appeal from Thisara Perera, but was denied by the umpire.PAK 89/1
19:57 hrs PST: 14 overs gone. Pakistan are 87 for the loss of one wicket.
19:52 hrs PST: Babar Azam boasts of an ODI average of 54! PAK 80/1
19:49 hrs PST: Short, wide and punished by Babar Azam as he gets his first boundary. PAK 78/1
19:47 hrs PST: Babar Azam is the new batsman for Pakistan. PAK 74/1
19:45 hrs PST: OUT! Fakhar Zaman goes for the big one but is caught in the deep, PAK 74/1
19:44 hrs PST: Fifty for Fakhar Zaman! PAK 74/0
19:43 hrs PST: Deft touch by Zaman and the ball rushes to the boundary. PAK 73/0
19:51 hrs PST: Asela Gunaratne is introduced into the attack. PAK 68/0
19:39 hrs PST: 10 overs gone. Pakistan are 65 for no loss.
19:26 hrs PST: Zaman dances down the wicket and hits it straight down the ground for a boundary. PAK 41/0
19:23 hrs PST: A slower delivery and Azhar Ali hits it out of the ground! PAK 37/0
19:20 hrs PST: 7 overs gone. Pakistan are 31 for no loss.
19:17 hrs PST: Nuwan Pradeep is the new bowler for Sri Lanka. PAK 27/0
19:13 hrs PST: Azhar Ali joins the party with a boundary of his own. PAK 26/0
19:05 hrs PST: 4 overs gone. Pakistan are 19/0 with Fakhar Zaman getting his 4th boundary of the game.
19:02 hrs PST: This is turning out to be a very costly over. Zaman drives it through cover for another four. PAK 14/0
19:00 hrs PST: Back to back boundaries for Fakhar Zaman. PAK 10/0
18:53 hrs PST: No run conceded in the first over. PAK 0/0
18:52 hrs PST: Lasith Malinga to bowl the first over. PAK 0/0
| Sri Lanka innings (50 overs maximum) | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
N Dickwella† | c †Sarfraz Ahmed b Mohammad Amir | 73 | 86 | 4 | 0 | 84.88 |
|
MD Gunathilaka | c Shoaib Malik b Junaid Khan | 13 | 20 | 2 | 0 | 65.00 |
|
BKG Mendis | b Hasan Ali | 27 | 29 | 4 | 0 | 93.10 |
|
LD Chandimal | b Fahim Ashraf | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
AD Mathews* | b Mohammad Amir | 39 | 54 | 2 | 1 | 72.22 |
|
DM de Silva | c †Sarfraz Ahmed b Junaid Khan | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 16.66 |
|
DAS Gunaratne | c Fakhar Zaman b Hasan Ali | 27 | 44 | 1 | 0 | 61.36 |
|
NLTC Perera | c Babar Azam b Junaid Khan | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 20.00 |
|
RAS Lakmal | b Hasan Ali | 26 | 34 | 3 | 0 | 76.47 |
| SL Malinga | not out | 9 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 64.28 | |
|
N Pradeep | c & b Fahim Ashraf | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 |
| Extras | (b 1, lb 5, w 12, nb 1) | 19 | |||||
| Total | (all out; 49.2 overs) | 236 | (4.78 runs per over) | ||||
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | 0s | 4s | 6s | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mohammad Amir | 10 | 0 | 53 | 2 | 5.30 | 36 | 3 | 0 | (2w) |
|
Junaid Khan | 10 | 3 | 40 | 3 | 4.00 | 41 | 6 | 0 | (2w) |
| Imad Wasim | 8 | 1 | 33 | 0 | 4.12 | 25 | 2 | 0 | ||
|
Fahim Ashraf | 6.2 | 0 | 37 | 2 | 5.84 | 15 | 1 | 0 | (1nb, 2w) |
|
Hasan Ali | 10 | 0 | 43 | 3 | 4.30 | 31 | 4 | 0 | (1w) |
| Mohammad Hafeez | 5 | 0 | 24 | 0 | 4.80 | 16 | 0 | 1 | (1w) |
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Sri Lanka were bowled out for 236 against Pakistan in the final league game of the ICC Champions Trophy 2017. Niroshan Dickwella scored his 4th ODI fifty while Junaid Khan and Hasan Ali picked up three wickets each.
18:17 hrs PST: 2013 was the last time a Pakistan bowler delivered 3 or more maidens in an ODI, before Junaid Khan in this game. SL 235/9
18:13 hrs PST: OUT! That’s the end of Asela Gunaratne as he is caught in the deep off Hasan Ali. SL 232/9
18:10 hrs PST: At the end of the 48th over, Sri Lanka are thanks to a whirlwind innings from Asela Gunaratne.
18:07 hrs PST: A dil-scoop from Gunaratne! SL 225/8
18:04 hrs PST: 46 overs gone. Sri Lanka are 218 for 8.
18:02 hrs PST: A reverse weep from Gunaratne, but the catch is put down by the
18:00 hrs PST: 45 overs gone. Sri Lanka are 214 for 8.
17:55 hrs PST: OUT! Hasan Ali gets the better of Suranga Lakmal as he is castled for 26. SL 213/8
17:48 hrs PST: 200 comes up for Sri Lanka in the 43rd over. SL 200/7
17:45 hrs PST: Asela Gunaratne and Suranga Lakmal have steadied the innings. SL 198/7
17:35 hrs PST: A good over by Imad Wasim as just 2 runs came off it. SL 184/7
17:32 hrs PST: 38 overs gone. Sri Lanka are 182 for the loss of 7 wickets.
17:24 hrs PST: Sri Lanka have lost 4 wickets in the matter of just 12 runs. SL 174/7
17:22 hrs PST: It was a straight one from Junaid Khan and Perera edged it to the slip fielder. SL 167/7
17:20 hrs PST: Another wicket goes down as Junaid Khan dismisses Thisara Perera. SL 167/6
17:17 hrs PST: Mohammad Amir has been brilliant in his second spell with two wickets to his name. SL 168/6
17:14 hrs PST: Brilliant catch by Sarfraz Ahmed, but the ball did hit the ground! The batsman is safe. SL 165/6
17:09 hrs PST: OUT! Second wicket for Amir as he dismisses Niroshan Dickwella! SL 162/6
17:05 hrs PST: OUT! Another wicket goes down. Dhananjaya de Silva is caught behind for 3 as Junaid Khan strikes again. SL 162/5
16:58 hrs PST: OUT! Finally the breakthrough for Pakistan! Mohammed Amir castles Angelo Mathews for 39. SL 161/4
16:53 hrs PST: Dickwella was beaten thrice in that over. Can Junaid Khan claim the all-important wicket? S: 162/3
16:51 hrs PST: Junaid Khan is back in the attack and he has been Pakistan’s best bowler till now. SL 161/3
16:48 hrs PST: 30 overs gone. Sri Lanka are 16 for the loss of 3 wickets.
16:45 hrs PST: Another one for Angelo Mathews! The Sri Lanka skipper is looking in prime form as he hits it to the long-on boundary. SL 155/3
16:44 hrs PST: A brilliant boundary for Angelo Mathews and Sri Lanka’s score goes past 150. SL 151/3
16:43 hrs PST: The partnership between Niroshan Dickwella and Angelo Mathews is 63 off 82 balls. SL 147/3
16:38 hrs PST: Sri Lanka were completely outplayed in their first game against South Africa, but the win over India will give them a lot of confidence. SL 140/3
16:33 hrs PST: A close shave for Angelo Matthews, but he was able to make his ground. SL 134/3
16:30 hrs PST: Angelo Matthews was brilliant against India and his team will be banking on him again to guide them to glory. SL 133/3
16:27 hrs PST: 24 overs gone. Sri Lanka are 124/3
16:25 hrs PST: Excellent over for Sri Lanka, as they take 12 runs off Ashraf. They are 118/3 after 23 overs.
16:20 hrs PST: FOUR! Mathews hits the first boundary in nearly 10 overs through the leg side.
16:18 hrs PST: SL 106/3 after a tight over from Hafeez.
16:13 hrs PST: 100 comes up for Sri Lanka in the 21st over. SL 102/3
16:10 hrs PST: Niroshan Dickwella brings up his fifty with a single. SL 97/3
16:05 hrs PST: 19 overs gone. Sri Lanka are 96/3
16:02 hrs PST: Sri Lanka came into the tournament with an ‘underdog’ tag and a win here can do wonders for this team. SL 91/1
15:55 hrs PST: 17 overs gone. Sri Lanka are 86 for the loss of three wickets.
15:51 hrs PST: Angelo Matthews is the new batsman for Sri Lanka. SL 83/3
15:48 hrs PST: OUT! Another wicket goes down as Faheem Ashraf takes the important wicket of Dinesh Chandimal. SL 83/3
15:42 hrs PST: OUT! Hasan Ali is the one to strike for Pakistan as he takes the wicket of Kusal Mendis. SL 82/2
15:40 hrs PST: Pakistan have lost just once against Sri Lanka in ICC tournament. SL 82/1
15:38 hrs PST: Niroshan Dickwella has played brilliantly till now and he is just 12 runs away from his half century. SL 81/1
15:30 hrs PST: A brilliant shot by Kusal Mendis and the ball rushes to the boundary. SL 70/1
15:29 hrs PST: Pakistan’s woeful performance continues as Babar Azam commits yet another misfielding. SL 66/1
15:23 hrs PST: Imad Wasim is bowling a straight one and without much movement, the Sri Lankan batters are looking very comfortable. SL 59/1
15:520 hrs PST: 50 comes up for Sri Lanka for the loss of one wicket.
15:14 hrs PST: India defeat South Africa by 8 wickets last night to guarantee their spot in the semifinals. The winner of this match will now face England in the semis. SL 40/1
15:09 hrs PST: 8 overs gone. Sri Lanka are 37 for the loss of one wicket.
15:05 hrs PST: The wicket has not bothered the Sri Lankan batters much as they continue to keep the scorecard ticking. SL 36/1
14:57 hrs PST: It was a weak shot from Danushka Gunathilaka and Shoaib Malik made no mistake in taking the catch. SL 26/1
14:54 hrs PST: OUT! Gunathilaka is the first person to go for Sri Lanka as Junaid Khan strikes! SL 26/1
14:48 hrs IST: After a superb over, Junaid suffers the downside as he concedes three fours in his over. Sri Lanka start well and have moved to 25/0 after four overs
14:46 hrs PST: CRACK! Superb shot from Gunathilaka. Short and wide from Junaid and the batsman pounces on the width and cracks it to the deep extra cover for a boundary.
14:42 hrs PST: Dickwella has started off well and Sri Lanka have started off steadily. Sri Lanka 12/0 after three overs.
14:038 hrs PST: Junaid Khan to partner Amir at the other end. He starts off with a maiden. Good swing on offer for the left-armer. Sri Lanka 4/0 with two overs.
14:33 hrs PST: Mohammad Amir opens the bowling. Niroshan Dickwella gets going with a boundary. Sri Lanka 4/0 in first over.
14:26 hrs PST: Time for the national anthems of both the nations. Conditions are overcast in Cardiff but there is no threat of rain for the moment. However, it is the UK weather, folks. It can be very fickle indeed.
14:20 hrs PST: Shoaib Malik is playing his 250th ODI for Pakistan. It seems he has been playing for so long. From his debut in 2000 till 2017, he has batted in all positions. Yes, even at No.11.
14:45 hrs IST: Considering the short boundaries in Swalec, sensible move by Sarfraz to pick only one spinner in Imad Wasim.
14:07 hrs PST: Here are the playing XIs of both the sides.
Sri Lanka: Niroshan Dickwella(w), Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews(c), Asela Gunaratne, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dinesh Chandimal, Thisara Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Pradeep
Pakistan: Azhar Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed(w/c), Fahim Ashraf, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir, Junaid Khan, Hasan Ali
14:00 hrs PST: Pakistan have chosen to bowl vs Sri Lanka. Shadab Khan is not playing in this match for Pakistan.
13:55 hrs PST: All set for the toss. Looks like Dhananjaya de Silva will come in for Kusal Perera, who was ruled out due to a hamstring injury he sustained in the game against India at The Oval.
13:49 hrs PST: Pakistan’s batting has not clicked in this whole tournament. The Cardiff wicket has seen good scores and Sarfraz Ahmed will be hoping for a better display from his batsmen.
13:36 hrs PST: Scenarios time. If Sri Lanka win, they are through. Lose and they are out. Same for Pakistan. However, if the game is washed out, then Sri Lanka go through as Pakistan have a poor net run-rate.
13:31 hrs PST: Cardiff is a jinxed venue for Sri Lanka. They have lost three ODIs at Swalec and in 2011, they lost a dramatic rain-ruined Test against England after they were bowled out for 82 on the final day.
13:20 hrs PST: Pakistan play an ODI against Sri Lanka in England for the first time since 1983. In England, they hold a 3-0 record against Sri Lanka.
13:14 hrs PST: Heading into the clash, both teams have mixed fortunes against each other. Sri Lanka have won seven out of the last 11 outings against Pakistan, but Sarfraz Ahmed’s team have a 2-1 advantage over Angelo Mathews’ side in the Champions Trophy.
13:038 hrs PST: A warm welcome to the game between Pakistan and Sri Lanka from Cardiff. This is the final league game of the ICC Champions Trophy and it is a virtual shoot-out for the semi-final.
The final league game of the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 is a winner takes it all encounter. Pakistan, who have been inconsistent, square off against Sri Lanka who have also not displayed consistency. The situation is simple for both teams. A win puts them into the semi-final while a loss eliminates them. The situation is slightly dire for Pakistan as a washout will also knock them out. Sri Lanka, buoyed by their victory over India in their previous game, will be aiming to repeat their performance and qualify for the semi-final.
Key players
Pakistan’s batting has been their weak point but in the game against South Africa, debutant Fakhar Zaman played some attacking cricket to give Pakistan a good start. If he clicks, then the likes of Shoaib Malik, Babar Azam and Sarfraz Ahmed have the ability to build on. However, the team’s bowlers put up an excellent performance and they will be aiming for a repeat.
Angelo Mathews is pivotal in the Sri Lankan batting line-up. Along with Kusal Mendis, the team have some exciting batsmen who can take the game away from the opposition.
Quotes
It was such a contrast to the South Africa game where we believed in our skills and ability – Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur on the team’s volatility
