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Titleholders Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by 64 runs in the Asia Cup Super League match played here at National Stadium on Sunday.
Brief Scores: Sri Lanka 302-7 in 50 overs; Pakistan 238-9 in 50 overs
Sangakkara is the Man of the Match for his brilliant ton which enabled his side post a big total. He also effected a stumping in the second half.
Kumar Sangakkara hit a steady century to help Sri Lanka post a challenging 302-7 against Pakistan in a Super League match in the Asia Cup at the National Stadium here on Sunday. The swashbuckling left-hander scored a 110-ball 112 to lift his team after they were sent into bat by Pakistan on a flat pitch. The 30-year-old Sangakkara added 93 for the fourth wicket with Chamara Silva (46) and 88 for the third with Chamara Kapugedera (43) to boost Sri Lanka after they were derailed by paceman Sohail Tanveer, who finished with a career-best 5-48. Sangakkara, who hit 101 against Bangladesh in the first round in Lahore, took 56 balls to reach his half-century but eventually opened up, hitting debutant leg-spinner Mansoor Amjad for a six on his way to his ninth one-day hundred. It took him 96 balls to reach the century, his second against Pakistan. In all Sangakkara hit ten boundaries and one six. Pakistan, who were forced to bring in paceman Wahab Riaz after spearhead Umar Gul was ruled out of the Asia Cup due to injury, made early inroads through Tanveer. He trapped Sanath Jayasuriya (eight) and then had Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene (29) caught at point by Misbah-ul Haq in his second spell. Tanveer returned for his third spell to have Silva caught behind, bowled Sangakkara and got out Thilan Thushara (28). Tanveer's previous best of 4-34 came against Zimbabwe at Hyderabad earlier this year. India beat Bangladesh by seven wickets in the first match of the Super League on Saturday. All four teams play each other once to decide the July 6 finalists.
Pakistan Innings: Misbah Ul-Haq 76 runs, Shoaib Malik (c) 52, Younis Khan 47 & Sohail Tanvir 5 wkts, Wahab Riaz & Mansoor Amjad once each.
Sri Lanka Innings: Kumar Sangakkara (wk) 112 runs, Chamara Kapugedera 43, Chamara Silva 46 & Ajantha Mendis 4 wkts, Nuwan Kulasekara 2 & Chaminda Vaas & Sanath Jayasuriya one each.
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Well, Sri Lanka now move up the points tally to stay beside the Indians. On the other hand, Pakistan has moved down to a shaky position where they will have to rely on their fate which would be as important as their performance. Pakistan were slow to get out of their blocks early and the biggest problem with them this evening was their set batsmen never converted their starts into big one to help their side get any close. Misbah in the end provided some rich entertainment but all those fireworks went down in a losing cause. In the end, Sri Lanka registered a comprehensive win. The Pakistanis will have to play out of their skins to stay in contention. If that happens, this tournament can only get more exciting. Do join us tomorrow for another Super four game. Till then from all of us here in the comm box, Adios...
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