Colombo: Sri Lanka crushed Pakistan in the fourth One Day International, beating them by 44 runs, played here at R. Premadasa Stadium, Sri Lanka, leading the five-match series 2-1.
Sri Lanka restricted Pakistan to 199 runs with its powerful bowling, with Thisara Perera taking four wickets, including a hat-trick.
After the collapse of top order, Kumar Sangakkara and the skipper Mahela Jayawardene helped Sri Lanka to give Pakistan a reasonable target of 244 runs.
Unfortunate Sangakkara was caught on Saeed Ajmal’s ball when he was just three runs short of the century. Sri Lanka made 243 runs for eight in full 50 overs.
As for Pakistan bowling, Sohail Tanveer, Saeed Ajmal and Mohammad Hafeez took two wickets each, while Umar Gul could only take one wicket.
Chasing the target, Pakistan’s start was not so well, but later the brilliant Azhar Ali (81 runs off 126 balls) and the captain Misbah-ul-Haq gave strength to Pakistan.
Everything thing was fine for Pakistan until Misbah’s departure in the 38th over, but then what happened was only a horrific nightmare for the losers. Kulasekara sent Umar Aklaml to pavilion in the next over and in the 41st over Thisara Perera made a brilliant hat-trick, punishing Younis Khan, Shahid Afridi and Sarfaraz Ahmed. He did not stop even then and ran out Sohail Tanvir on the last ball of the same over.
Young Azhar Ali was the only batsman from the losing Pakistan side who tried his best to support the ramshackle batting order, but to no avail.
Sri Lankan bowlers booked Pakistan on 199 runs in 45 overs. Kulasekara, Mathews and Weerakon took one wicket each, Malinga two and Perera took four wickets.
The fifth match will be played at the same venue on June 18 (Monday).
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