da apostebet： Karachi, March 15: Pakistan crushed Sri Lanka by 222 runs with a dayto spare to win the third cricket Test here at the National Stadium onWednesday
Samiul Hasan16-Mar-2000Karachi, March 15: Pakistan crushed Sri Lanka by 222 runs with a dayto spare to win the third cricket Test here at the National Stadium onWednesday. Sri Lanka, who clinched the series 2-1, found themselveshapless against the charged-up Pakistanis and were dismissed in just46 overs while scoring 228 in pursuit of a record 451-run victorytarget.Earlier, Pakistan were bowled out for 421 after resuming their secondinnings on Wednesday morning at 375 for seven.Pakistan’s excellent and convincing victory not only helped them toboost their morale after a spate of losses but also maintain theirremarkable 45-year unbeaten record at the National Stadium. They nowhave 17 victories and 17 draws.The victory also ended a five-match win drought after beingwhitewashed in Australia and then losing back-to-back Tests to SriLanka in Rawalpindi and Peshawar.The combination of coach Javed Miandad and skipper Moin Khan turnedthe fortunes of Pakistan cricket. The team which looked disjointed inthe last five months, is gradually regrouping into a winning unit.The batsmen occupied the crease and put decent score on the boardwhich helped the bowlers to fire on all cylinders without fearing thatthey had to defend a small total besides taking wickets.The fielders backed their bowlers by holding catches and in themeantime producing three run-outs, including two in Sri Lanka’s secondinnings, which speaks of their agility and alertness.The star performer of the penultimate day’s play was speedster WaqarYounis who bowled at a sizzling pace to virtually break the back ofthe Sri Lankan batting. He utilized all his experience when heproduced speed and swing from the pitch which looked to have easeddown.It was after a long time when Waqar was seen in full cry. He seemed tohave regained his customary rhythm of old. The way he shattered RusselArnold’s confidence, after trapping Sanath Jayasuriya with aninswinger which deceived the left-hander, was in a class of his own.In his sixth over, Waqar mixed his deliveries with inswingers andshort-pitched stuff before delivering an almost unplayable outswingerfrom the spot when the batsmen hate. Russel could do nothing but edgeit and Moin Khan did the rest by grabbing a fine catch just in frontof Inzamam-ul-Haq in the first slip.The crucial wicket which all but ended Sri Lanka’s hopes of stretchingthe match into the final day was of anchorman Marvan Atapattu whoperished behind the wickets by playing a reckless shot off a wilddelivery from Mohammad Akram.Atapattu’s dismissal opened gates for Pakistan from both the ends andthough Romesh Kaluwitharana and Ravindra Pushpakumara scored 33 and 44runs respectively, it was just a delay of the inevitable.While Waqar finished as the most impressive bowler with two for 32,while Shahid Afridipicking up three wickets conceding 50 runs. Shahidnow has 10 wickets here in two matches, besides a half century.Earlier, Pakistan added 46 runs in 60 minutes to prosper to 421. MoinKhan was the first man out when he holed out to PramodiyaWickremasinghe off Pushpakumara who finished with four for66. Moin’s105-ball 70 spiced seven boundaries.He was associated in a 88-run eighth wicket partnership with WaqarYounis who clobbered four fours and a six before falling to MuttiahMuralitharan for the fifth time in the series.The spin king ended up with four for 107 to take his tally of wicketsto 26 which earned him the Man-of-the-Series award. Waqar, for his 13wickets, edge out Inzamam-ul-Haq with 355 runs to bag theMan-of-the-Series award from Pakistan. Inzamam, however, had thesatisfaction of being adjudged Man-of-the-Match.