Babar, Shadab star in Pakistan victory over Sri Lanka

Pakistan's Babar Azam (left) and Shadab Khan run between the wickets during the second One Day International match against Sri Lanka at Zayed Cricket Stadium on Monday in Abu Dhabi.

Shadab Khan's spirited all-round performance (52 not out, three wickets for 47 runs) and Babar Azam's scintillating century (101) saw Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 32 runs at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match One Day International series.
Babar was involved in a 109-run seventh-wicket partnership with Shadab, which took Pakistan from 101 for six to 210 for seven. Babar had turned 23 on Sunday and his birthday celebration continued on Monday as the lad from Lahore followed up on his 103 scored in Dubai in the first ODI, with his seventh century off 130 balls in the Capital. As for Shadab, he had a sensational outing bagging career-best figures with bat and ball.
However, Upul Tharanga almost gatecrashed into Pakistan's party with his 15th century. The Lankan skipper along with Jeffrey Vandersay put on a 76-run eight-wicket partnership - a record in Abu Dhabi but Pakistan prevailed.
Earlier, electing to bat, it wasn't the best of starts for Pakistan as Fakhar Zaman and Ahmed Shehzad fell cheaply. Lankan bowlers Lahiru Gamage and Suranga Lakmal operated with good discipline. Gamage scalped Mohammad Hafeez to peg Pakistan to 40 from 10 overs.
The stage was set for a repeat of the Dubai rescue act by Shoaib Malik and Babar. But here, the duo had raised 30-odd runs when Thisara Perera sent Malik packing. He also snared skipper Sarfraz Ahmed. Spinner Jeffrey Vandersay then trapped Imad Wasim. At 101 runs for six wickets, Pakistan were in a deep hole with only Babar at one end with 43 runs. New batsman Shadab had a previous best of 14 runs. It was then that Babar turned things and the pair, without taking much risk, took Pakistan past 200 in the 48th over. Babar reached his century from 130 balls. He had taken just 33 innings to score his seventh ton - the least by any batsman.
Soon, Shadab reached his maiden 50 and took Pakistan to 219.
For Lanka, Gamage finished his duty with four wickets of Babar, Hafeez, Hasan Ali and Rumman Raees.
In reply, Sri Lanka didn't start well either as Niroshan Dickwella was trapped leg-before by Junaid Khan. Amid some close calls, dropped catches and boundaries, Kusal Mendis and Tharanga chugged to 30 by end of 10 overs. But Hasan Ali got Mendis with a short ball.
Then, Lahiru Thirimanne and Tharanga stitched a decent partnership in the next 10-odd overs. But in the 23rd over, Shoaib Malik had Thirimanne leg-before to end a 40-run partnership.
Shadab was brought into the attack and he bamboozled batsmen with his googly. First it was Dinesh Chandimal, who failed to read the delivery and stood rooted in disbelief as he was bowled, and then Milinda Siriwardana, who had no clue about the ball. The rout continued as Mohammad Hafeez sent back Thisara Perera. Shadab bowled Akila Dananjaya to make it 93 for seven.
Tharanga at the other end was having the rub of the green go his way as he was dropped four times. Tharanga also found an able partner in Vandersay. The pair got together at 93 for seven and took Lanka to 169 when Vandersay got out. Tharanga continued his valiant fight and got to a well-deserved century but in the process Lakmal got run out. Tharanga managed to take Lanka close to Pakistan's target but fell short by 32 runs. He also became the first Lankan to carry his bat in one-day matches.
Sri Lanka, thus, slipped to yet another defeat - their 18 in 23 matches played this year. There are three more to be played in this series and the Lankans can still turn things around.
ashwani@khaleejtimes.com