ABU DHABI: An all-round performance from young Shadab Khan and responsible batting from Babar Azam was enough to seal a comfortable 32–run victory in the second ODI of the five-match series against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi on Monday.
After winning the toss and opting to bat first, Pakistan were in all sorts of trouble after being reduced to 101 for six in the 28th over.
However, 109-run seventh wicket partnership between Babar and Shadab put Pakistan back in the contest as the Green Caps finished the innings with fighting score of 219 for the loss of nine wickets.
Babar, meanwhile, became the first batsman in ODI history to score five consecutive centuries in one country, as he finished the innings with the top score 101 off 133 with the help of six boundaries.
Shadab on the other hand scored his maiden ODI half-century and finished with the score of 52 off 68 balls with the help of a single boundary.
For Sri Lanka, pacer Gamage was the pick of the bowler as he claimed four wickets, whereas all-rounder Thisara Perera claimed two.
In reply, Pakistani bowlers were on target from the word go and made it really tough for the opposition.
Third wicket 40-run partnership between captain Upul Tharanga and Lahiru Thirimanne kept Islanders hopes alive, but flurry of wickets in the middle stage made it extremely tough for the visitors.
Tharanga, who was dropped twice and saw an LBW appeal rejected against him which looked plumb with a naked eye, went on to score a hard-fought hundred, but it did not prove enough as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 187 in the 48th over.
For Pakistan, leg-spinner Shadab Khan finished the innings as the pick of the bowlers, as he claimed three wickets.
The next match of the series will be played on Wednesday at the same venue.
