Highlights ICC Champions Trophy 2017, Sri Lanka vs Pakistan, cricket score and result: Sarfraz, Amir lead Pak to semis berth

Pakistan captain, Sarfraz Ahmed: First of all, thanks to the Almighty. I can’t believe it. Thanks to Amir, he played really well. I just told him to play his game and not to worry about the score. That if we took it to the 40th over we would win. Dropped catches are part of the game. Allah helped us today.

Sri Lanka captain, Angelo Mathews: A see-saw kind of a game. Credit should go to Pakistan. They held their nerves and are deserved winners. It was a bit of a funny wicket. We hadn’t got the runs but we knew we could defend this. The bowlers did their job and also batted well. We didn’t hold on to our catches and that cost us the game. Proud of the boys. Even though we only had 236 to defend, they gave it their all. In a big tournament like this, they fought hard. I’m proud of them.

Sarfraz Ahmed becomes the first Pakistani captain to win a Man of the Match award in ICC Champions Trophy.

What a true Pakistani victory. Is this Skipper Sarf’s moment? He has shown remarkable temperament, despite the dropped chances, to see Pakistan home. Lots of homework for the Pakistani batsmen to do before they take on England on the same ground. Pakistan dug themselves a hole and then battled hard not to fall in it. They are unpredictable, we know this. What’s in store for England, then? 

Pakistan chased this down thanks to Sarf, Fakhar and Amir. Time for Babar, Azhar, Hafeez and Malik to come to the party now.

Highest eighth wicket stands in ICC Champions Trophy:

75* – Sarfraz Ahmed/Mohammad Amir v Sri Lanka, Cardiff, 2017*
70 – Mitchell Johnson/Brett Lee v West Indies, Johannesburg, 2009

This will be Pakistan’s 14th semi-final appearance in ICC events – the joint most for any team.

Sarfraz Ahmed has been adjudged the Man of the Match for obvious reasons.

Sri Lanka have now lost 58 matches in ICC events – the joint most for any team. Zimbabwe have also lost 58.

What an outstanding partnership this has been! Certainly one of the most memorable partnership for Pakistan this decade. Mickey Arhtur exults in joy, Azhar Ali too joins his coach in celebrations. Amir and Sarfraz hug each other. If one would have said Pakistan would qualify for the semis after the match against India, all would have ridiculed that person. But here they are in the semis!

It’s all over. Amir has shown more poise than some of the top order batsmen in his team and Sarfraz has ridden his luck to see Sri Lanka through. A tournament that promised so much for Sri Lanka after that win against Sri Lanka ends with a disappointing and somewhat embarrassing loss after an amateurish show in the field. The bowlers showed a lot of heart but found little help from their fielders. Good Sri Lankan teams of the past used to pride themselves on their fielding. This team needs to do a lot of work in that department before hoping for sustained success at the international level.

100-plus runs added by 8th wicket in an ICC ODI tournament match:

New Zealand v Zimbabwe , Hyderabad, 1987
India v New Zealand, Bangalore, 1987
Sri Lanka v Pakistan, Cardiff, 2017*

There it is! Pakistan qualify for semi-final after Sarfraz Ahmed guides the last ball to the third man fence for a boundary. Pakistan defeat Sri Lanka by three wickets.

Mathews tosses the ball back to Malinga. Can the veteran pacer do something magical and bring Sri Lanka back into the game? A silly mid on has been positioned. Sarfraz clips it in front of square on the leg side for a single. Malinga bounces Amir and umpire decides that it is not a legal delivery. Wide signaled! 9 needed. Amir rides the bounce of the second ball and taps it past point for a s ingle. Malinga bowls a dipping yorker and Sarfraz clips it to square leg for a couple. Six needed. Will Sarfraz finish this off in style? I hope not. Another slower full toss Sarfraz nudges it behind square for anothe brace. Pakistan are 4 away from booking that semi-final berth against England.

After 44 overs,Pakistan 226/7 ( Sarfraz Ahmed (C) (W) 52 , Mohammad Amir 27)

Gunaratne is back. A slip has been deployed. Amir strides forward to block the first ball. Amir cuts the second ball to point. Amir nurdles the third ball to midwicket and Sarfraz decides to take on the fielder with a brave single. Sarfraz hands the strike back to Amir on the fourth ball. Amir blocks the fifth ball. FOUR! Amir lunges forward and crunches it through covers. This partnership is worth 64 runs now. 11 runs needed off 36 balls.

After 43 overs,Pakistan 220/7 ( Sarfraz Ahmed (C) (W) 51 , Mohammad Amir 22)

Last move from Mathews. Brings Dhananjaya de Silva into the attack. Amir defends the first two balls. The third ball is a tap through covers for a single. Sarfraz punches the fourth ball to midwicket. Risky! Sarfraz cuts the fifth ball very late and calls Amir across. Amir retains strike with a drive through covers. 17 off 42 balls.

After 42 overs,Pakistan 217/7 ( Sarfraz Ahmed (C) (W) 50 , Mohammad Amir 20)

31 off 54 needed! Amir clips to midwicket to bring his captain on strike! FOUR! The margin is now under 30 runs! An atrocious delivery from Lakmal, a leg side line and Sarfraz glances it to the fine leg fence. Mathews not impressed at all. Two consecutive singles follow. FOUR! Sarfraz creams it through covers. What an innings this has been from the Pakistan skipper. He has lead from the front. 11 off the over. Pakistan are 20 runs away from semis.

After 41 overs,Pakistan 206/7 ( Sarfraz Ahmed (C) (W) 41 , Mohammad Amir 18)

Catches win matches they say. We don’t think like that is what Sri Lanka is trying to tell us. DROPPED! Sarfraz pulls Maling in front of square on the leg side, Seekugge Prasanna runs in but fails to hold onto it. Malinga needs to bowl the batsmen out now. Can’t trust his fielders at this rate! FOUR byes! Sloppy wicketkeeping. Amir leaves a length delivery and Dickwella fails to collect it cleanly. Oh boy, another misfield on the fifth ball and Pakistan take a single. 8 off the over.

Pakistan are trying their best to lose this and Sri Lanka are trying harder to give Pakistan a win. Two chances for Sarfaraz now!

They call it “Champions” Trophy but these two teams have been pedestrian in the field so far. Probably none of them deserves to go to the semi-final based on this performance. Parera has missed the simplest of chances at mid on. Sarfraz could have walked to him to say. “You’ve just dropped the Champions Trophy” a la Steve Waugh and Gibbs circa 1999. Sri Lanka can still come back if they get Sarfraz here. Surely, Pakistan is going to present them with more chances, you won’t expect them to do this in singles. Sri Lanka must stay alert in the field to hold on to that half chance now.

After 40 overs,Pakistan 198/7 ( Sarfraz Ahmed (C) (W) 40 , Mohammad Amir 15)

The first delivery is a single to third man by Amir. Sarfraz is happy to block two deliveries. And he works the fourth ball around for a run. Amir on strik! A wicket needed. But the southpaw sees both of them out.

At the risk of jinxing, this partnership between Sarfaraz and Amir is now worth 34. There is no rush in terms of the required run rate but Sri Lanka have induced false shorts throughout this innings. That dropped chance off Malinga’s bowling is the latest exhibit and Perera will be cursing himself for dropping that sitter. Pakistani fans are getting vocal but one wicket can change everything.

After 39 overs,Pakistan 196/7 ( Sarfraz Ahmed (C) (W) 39 , Mohammad Amir 14)

Lasith Malinga is back! He starts with a short ball around leg, Sarfraz ducks thinking it is a wide but the umpire thinks otherwise. Malinga attempts a dipping, slow yorker but it goes down the leg side. WIDE! DROPPED! Has Thisara dropped the match here? I think so. Sarfraz chips it towards Thisara at mid on, he rushes in and fluffs the ball. Got a bit too excited I feel. Lasith Malinga is fuming. Ahmed tickles the third ball to fine leg for a single. Amir just taps the fourth ball for a run. The Malinga smile is back. Ball six: another slow yorker and Sarfraz drives it uppishly to mid on but it falls well short of the fielder.

After 38 overs,Pakistan 193/7 ( Sarfraz Ahmed (C) (W) 38 , Mohammad Amir 13)

FOUR! Short and wide from Lakmal and Sarfraz cuts it through point. The third man hares across from third man, got to the ball but failed to stop the ball as he parries it to the fence. He blocks the second ball to covers. The next ball is on a length and swinging in Sarfraz buries it onto the ground. Another defensive shot from the Pakistan skipper. This is intelligent cricket. Sarfraz takes a single off the fifth ball. He wans to keep the strike as much as possible. Can Amir survive this ball? Yes he can, he nudges it to square leg and wants a single. Sarfraz says no mate stay there.  44 off 72

After 37 overs,Pakistan 188/7 ( Sarfraz Ahmed (C) (W) 33 , Mohammad Amir 13)

Pakistan need 53 off 84. Pradeep comes back to bowl his last over. He bounces Amir and it goes well over the southpaw’s over. Wonder why wasn’t that called a wide! The second ball is short and wide, Amir cuts it through point and runs three. Excellent running which brings Sarfraz Ahmed on strike. Ahmed crouches, watches the ball and dead-bats it right under his eyeline. Sarfraz drives the fourth delivery down the ground and mid on dives to his left to stop. Game of margins this! A slip for Amir and he blocks the fifth ball. Amir offers back foot defense on the last ball too. Nuwan Pradeep has finished his quota.

After 36 overs,Pakistan 184/7 ( Sarfraz Ahmed (C) (W) 32 , Mohammad Amir 10)

Sarfraz drives the second ball through covers and asks Amir to come back for the second wicket. Perera bowls a short ball and the captain pulls it to fine leg. Single taken. Amir on strike. Amir punches it towards point and the fielder makes a sharp save. Pakistan take a single but the slip fielder hurls a throw to the non-striker’s end and misses. The result? Four overthrows and a single! Perera not at all pleased with that effort. He bowls a bouncer and the umpire spreads his arms. Wide signalled! The Pakistan captain watchfully defends the fifth and sixth deliveries.

After 35 overs,Pakistan 175/7 ( Sarfraz Ahmed (C) (W) 29 , Mohammad Amir 5)

Pakistan need 64 runs off 96 balls. While Sri Lanka need 3 wickets. Phew Pakistan and their nature of making games interesting. It is hard to be a Pakistan fan! Four dots and two singles come in this over.

There is a difference between quit and shut. Sri Lanka did not quit when Pakistani openers were batting well and they are now on their way to play against England in the semi-final. Meanwhile, Lasith Malinga has taken 68 wickets in ICC tournaments (World Cup and Champions Trophy) which is the second most by any bowler. Things can change but only time will tell. The battle is now between Sarfraz Ahmed and Sri Lanka.

After 34 overs,Pakistan 173/7 ( Sarfraz Ahmed (C) (W) 28 , Mohammad Amir 4)

Pradeep reintroduced into the attack. His first ball is a good length delivery which angles away and Sarfraz misses his glance and gets rapped on the pads. Sri Lankan players start appealing but the umpire turns it down. Mathews doesn’t take the review and rightly so because it was going over the leg stump. Sarfraz takes a single of the third ball to the leg side. Amir drives the fourth ball through covers for a brace. The last ball too is a single. Decent over for Pakistan, 5 off it.

After 33 overs,Pakistan 168/7 ( Sarfraz Ahmed (C) (W) 27 , Mohammad Amir 1)

Constant bowling changes! Now Gunaratne comes back into the attack. Pakistan into a survival mode now. The run rate is not a problem right now. The number of wickets is. 1 run off the over.

A decent partnership comes to an end for Sri Lanka courtesy Parera’s fingertips and Ashraf’s laziness. Sarfaraz and Ashraf were been trying their best to gift Sri Lanka a wicket with some needless hoicks over the top and some mindless running between the wickets. Sri Lankan fielders have missed quite a few chances in the field today else they could have had a few more wicket here. Pakistan isn’t keen on staying out there and absorb all the pressure, they are riding their luck and hoping to chase this down on a wing and a prayer.

Sloppy cricket from Faheem Ashraf, much like most of his other teammates who have batted today. You can feel Sarfaraz is under immense pressure by looking at his running. The panic button is on and some of this cricket is straight out of South Africa’s book for a knock-out game. Sarfaraz is now batting with the tail and it’s a matter of time, basically.

After 32 overs,Pakistan 167/7 ( Sarfraz Ahmed (C) (W) 26 , Mohammad Amir 1)

Thisara Perera sustaining the pressure on Pakistan. A double and single off his 7th over.

After 31 overs,Pakistan 164/7 ( Sarfraz Ahmed (C) (W) 23 , Mohammad Amir 1)

Time for some off spin, says Angelo Mathews. In comes Danushka Gunathilaka for his first over of the match. Amir takes a single off the first ball. Ahmed defends two deliveries before bringing Sarfraz back on strike on the fourth. The last two balls are dots. 2 runs off the over.

After 30 overs,Pakistan 162/7 ( Sarfraz Ahmed (C) (W) 22 , Mohammad Amir 0)

4 runs and a wicket off the over.

OUT! This over was not looking threatening at all. But Pakistan thought, why not? Sarfraz drives Thisara down the ground and Thisara gets his hands to it and the ball hits the stumps. Faheem Ashraf is backing up too far and fails to plonk his bat in time. He is run out for 15. Sarfraz shakes his head in disbelief.

After 29 overs,Pakistan 158/6 ( Sarfraz Ahmed (C) (W) 21 , Fahim Ashraf 12)

Gunaratne comes back and starts with three dots. The fourth ball Sarfraz nudges it to midiwicket and sets off for a crazy run. He was miles out of his crease but the fielder fails to hit the stumps at the non striker’s end. Even Mickey Arthurt cannot believe what is happening at the centre.

After 28 overs,Pakistan 157/6 ( Sarfraz Ahmed (C) (W) 20 , Fahim Ashraf 12)

FOUR! Another short ball and Faheem pulls it to fine leg once again. He is not shying away from playing the big shots. Ashraf pushes the second ball through covers for another single. Sarfraz cuts the third ball behind point to pick up a couple. He hands Faheem the strike back on the fourth ball. Ball six is a short ball and hits Faheem on the elbow as he looked to defend. The white object goes over the keeper for a boundary. 12 off the over. Pakistan need 80 runs off 132 balls.

Mathews is keeping his best bowlers, he isn’t thinking 50 overs, his mind is set on 10 wickets and rightly so. He is telling the Pakistanis that his bowlers are coming after that and every Pakistani batsman bar Fakhar Zaman has looked tentative so far. The short delivery is working well for Sri Lanka. Pakistan batsmen are in two minds thinking whether to leave or play them. None of the Pakistani batsmen roll their wrists while playing the pull shot but are still going for them even with men back at the boundary. This is either going to come off spectacularly or fail embarrassingly.

After 27 overs,Pakistan 145/6 ( Sarfraz Ahmed (C) (W) 17 , Fahim Ashraf 7)

Pakistan need 100 off 144 balls with 4 wickets in hand. Malinga continues and begins with a short ball, Ahmed pulls it to square leg for a single. The next two balls are yorkers before he mixes it up with a bouncer to befuddle Faheem, who has a wild swing at it only to miss. SIX! Faheem knew it was coming, he anticipated the short ball and pulled it over the fine leg fence. He goes back over the wicket. Ball six: a back of a length delivery which Faheem dabs to third man for a single.

After 26 overs,Pakistan 137/6 ( Sarfraz Ahmed (C) (W) 16 , Fahim Ashraf 0)

The second ball goes for a single. FOUR! Imad creams it through covers to get off the mark with a boundary and falls on the next ball. 5 runs off the over.

Lasith Malinga just dismissed Shoaib Malik and now only their skipper Sarfraz Ahmed can save them. This was Lasith Malinga’s 25th wicket in ICC Champions Trophy which is the second most by any bowler. Pakistan’s unpredictability in ICC tournaments is the most predictable thing one can say. And Pakistan lost another as I write this. Imad Wasim also gone. It’s tough to be a fan of Pakistan team at the moment.

Advantage Sri Lanka. Imad Wasim talked about wanting to be an all-rounder in the lead up to this game but not today. Pakistan have only themselves to blame for some very ordinary batting. The pressure is clearly getting to them and I will go on a limb to say that this game is Sri Lanka’s to lose now.

OUT! A loose shot from Imad Wasim. Pradeep lands it on a length and outside off, Imad could’ve left it alone but he tried to dab it to third man and in the process edged it to Dickwella. Pakistan lose their 6th wicket and now they will need a captain’s innings to win this match.

After 25 overs,Pakistan 132/5 ( Sarfraz Ahmed (C) (W) 15 , Imad Wasim 0)

Just the wicket Pakistan needed! Malinga got rid of Malik and Sri Lanka are well on top now. Only four runs off the over.

Still got it 😎💪#SLvPAK #CT17 pic.twitter.com/UOtEhT8Yp5

— ICC (@ICC) June 12, 2017

OUT! Malinga doesn’t bowl a wicket taking delivery but the lead up to the wicket has fetched him this. He bangs it short around leg and Malik looks to pull it but only manages a faint edge to Dickwella. Malinga is jumping in joy, the Sri Lankan players gather around him to celebrate. Boy, are they excited!

After 24 overs,Pakistan 128/4 ( Shoaib Malik 10 , Sarfraz Ahmed (C) (W) 13)

Suranga Lakmal’s 7th over: 0, 0, 1, 3, 0, 0.

After 23 overs,Pakistan 124/4 ( Shoaib Malik 9 , Sarfraz Ahmed (C) (W) 10)

Maiden from Lasith Malinga. An over which almost got them a wicket. Malinga deceived Malik so well Malik almost spooned a catch to midwicket.

After 22 overs,Pakistan 124/4 ( Shoaib Malik 9 , Sarfraz Ahmed (C) (W) 10)

Pakistan start the over with two singles before taking any unnecessary and brave single. Sarfraz pushes it to mid on and sets off. The fielder fails to hit the bull’s eye. Why are Pakistan playing like this? Risking a wicket for just a run! Anyways they end the over with two singles. 5 off the over.

After 21 overs,Pakistan 119/4 ( Shoaib Malik 7 , Sarfraz Ahmed (C) (W) 7)

Angelo Mathews is aware that one more wicket could really put Pakistan under pressure and he brings Lasith Malinga into the attack. The Lankan pacer starts with a short ball ad Sarfraz pulls it to fine leg for a single. Malinga bowls a slow dipping yorker and Malik jams it out to midwicket. One run taken. FOUR! A half-volley and Sarfraz drives it through covers. Risky, risky! Sarfraz pushes it to covers and calls Malik across. They both hesitate at first before going for it. Had the throw been a direct hit at the non striker’s end, Sarfraz was a goner! The last thing Pakistan want is a run out right now.

Like the old adage goes, when you are feeling you are being outplayed by a batting team, just add two wickets to the scoreboard and think whether they still seem as dominant. Sri Lanka have done just that courtesy some tentative batting from Pakistan and some nifty bowling changes from Angelo Mathews. The last catch from Mendis will lift them too after they let a few slip by early on.

After 20 overs,Pakistan 111/4 ( Shoaib Malik 6 , Sarfraz Ahmed (C) (W) 1)

A fantastic over from Lakmal. Just a single and a wicket off the 20th over.

They peppered Azhar with so many short balls and got him finally. Sarfaraz and Malik have to see Pakistan through here. They did at this ground against England last year but that was a dead rubber, this is a knockout game in an ICC event. A little bit more pressure, one would imagine.

OUT! Sri Lanka are back in the game and the bowling change works. He angles it on a length and Azhar edges it to Kusal Mendis at first slip, who judges it brilliantly and catches it. Azhar falls for 34.

After 19 overs,Pakistan 110/3 ( Azhar Ali 34 , Shoaib Malik 6)

Pakistan score three runs off his 5th over and concedes an extra in the form of a wide.

After 18 overs,Pakistan 106/3 ( Azhar Ali 32 , Shoaib Malik 5)

Pradeep starts the over with a dot but Azhar upper cuts the second ball over the keeper for a boundary. He immediately gets off the strike with a run to midwicket. Malik drives the fourth ball to mid on and takes a sharp single. Azhar pats the fifth ball through point for another run. Seven off the 19th over.

Shoaib Malik is playing his 250th ODI. He is the 10th Pakistani player to achieve the milestone. Pakistan are in trouble here after losing Babar Azam and Mohammad Hafeez in quick succession. Shoaib Malik has started well with a boundary off the first ball and he has to play well today if Pakistan don’t want to mess up this chase.

Pakistan had to be Pakistan I guess. Two unnecessary wickets. Azam was playing a super skills competition – that is how precise he was in picking the fielder at mid-wicket. Hafeez averages 41 against Sri Lanka in 33 games but he too fell to an extremely ordinary shot. On to Shoaib Malik now, playing his 250th game for Pakistan. This game is not over and Sri Lanka are definitely in it.

Pakistan will need Shoaib Malik to play a big innings given the situation they are in. Can the experienced campaigner provide that?

After 17 overs, Pakistan 99/3 ( Azhar Ali 26 , Shoaib Malik 4)

Sri Lanka building the pressure now. Two wickets in two overs. Perera choked the scoring off first four balls and that led to Hafeez’ wicket off the fifth. Shoaib Malik got off the mark in style with a thumping four through cover-point. Sri Lanka need to build sustained pressure now.

Stumble from Pakistan. But not sure Sri Lanka have the bowling to capitalise. Unless Pakistan show familiar stress while chasing.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) June 12, 2017

OUT! Well, well! Pakistan lose another one. Perera removes Hafeez. 

It’s a good length delivery on middle and leg, stops a tad on Hafeez who is early into his flick and gets a leading edge to mid-wicket where the fielder makes no mistake. 

Shoaib Malik is the new batsman.

This is a good period of play for Sri Lanka. Pradeep has been the bowler Mathews has always turned to for a break through in this tournament and he has answered his team’s call once again. Sri Lanka must continue to think wickets here. It isn’t impossible to defend 236 in 50 overs but it’s highly unlikely after the start from Fakhar. One more good partnership will be enough for Pakistan.

Perera continues….

After 16 overs,Pakistan 94/2 ( Azhar Ali 25 , Mohammad Hafeez 1)

Pradeep has been a tad expensive but has got both the wickets. He got Babar in that over. Pradeep concentrated on bowling short in that over and Babar departed off a back of a length delivery. 4 runs and a wicket in that over. Sri Lanka need another wicket as soon as possible.

OUT! Pradeep provides the breakthrough. Babar is back in the hut. It’s a back of a length delivery on off, Babar goes back and looks to flick, but he hits it uppishly straight to the mid-wicket fielder. A soft dismissal. 

Mohammad Hafeez strides out to the middle.

Pradeep continues….

After 15 overs,Pakistan 90/1 ( Azhar Ali 23 , Babar Azam 10)

Thisara Perera allows only three runs off his third over. Time for drinks.

After 14 overs,Pakistan 87/1 ( Azhar Ali 21 , Babar Azam 9)

Pradeep continues. Azhar pulls the second delivery to midwicket for a single. Sloppy fielding on ball four. Babar tries to slash the fourth ball but it takes the inside edge and goes to third man. The third man collects it and hurls a throw to the keeper who mindlessly throws it towards the non striker’s end. With no one to back up, Malinga had to chase the ball. Pakistan ran three on a ball where only one run should’ve been scored. Pakistan end the over with a run and a brace. 7 runs off it.

After 13 overs,Pakistan 80/1 ( Azhar Ali 19 , Babar Azam 4)

Thisara Perera comes back! Azhar punches the second ball towards midwicket to bring Babar on strike. He strays down the line on the next ball and concedes a wide. However he bowls four successive dots to end the over.

Fakhar Zaman’s fifty from 34 balls today is the second fastest fifty by a Pakistani batsman in ICC Champions Trophy. Shahid Afridi holds the record of hitting fastest fifty in ICC Champions Trophy. He hit it in 18 balls against Netherlands at Colombo (SSC) in 2002.

After 12 overs,Pakistan 78/1 ( Azhar Ali 18 , Babar Azam 4)

Nuwan Pradeep had bowled four dots and taken a wicket but he spoils his over with a short and wide delivery which Babar cuts to the point fence.

India and Bangladesh will now play against each other in the second semi-final as Pakistan failed to chase down 237 runs today in 10 overs. ​

OUT! Nuwan Pradeep draws first blood. Fakhar was looking dangerous but Sri Lanka have managed to dismiss him. Pradeep bowls a bouncer and Zaman hooks it albeit straight to Asela Gunaratne at fine leg. But the rookie player has done his job; he scored a 50 off 35 balls. Babar Azam, Pakistan’s No 3, arrives at the centre.

After 11 overs,Pakistan 74/0 ( Azhar Ali 18 , Fakhar Zaman 50)

Mathews decide that enough is enough, I am not giving any pace to the batsmen and brings Asela Gunaratne into the attack. The result, you ask? Four consecutive singles, a boundary to third man on the fifth. FIFTY! Fakhar Zaman taps the sixth ball to point to score his maiden ODI half-century.

65/0 after the first 10 overs? Pakistan would take this with a wide smile! Imagine, now, if Fakhar Zaman and Sharjeel Khan were opening together. It would have made Pakistan a very dangerous side!

We know Fakhar is susceptible to the short ball directed at his body but his attempts to create width for himself outside off make him look a little ugly. He is good at stealing quick singles and it will be interesting to see if he can show that facet of his game. Remember, he scored a 180-odd for Pakistan A against Zimbabwe so he can bat long.

This is drifting away from Sri Lanka quickly. Fakhar Zaman has come out and put Sri Lanka under pressure straight away who on their part have looked a little sloppy in the field. At this rate they may catch a late night flight to Colombo tonight itself.

After 10 overs,Pakistan 65/0 ( Azhar Ali 16 , Fakhar Zaman 43)

Lakmal comes back into the attack. FOUR! Lakmal bowls a leg side line and Fakhar pulls it to the fine leg fence. Zaman takes a brace on the fourth ball. Eight runs off the over.

After 9 overs,Pakistan 57/0 ( Azhar Ali 16 , Fakhar Zaman 36)

EDGED but FOUR! Fakhar nicks Pradeep to the first slip but the ball falls just in front of Gunaratne and rolls away to the third man fence. Fakhar takes a single to mid on on the third ball. A leg bye is taken on the fourth ball. SIX! Fakhar tries to go over midwicket but top edges it over the keeper and out of the ground for half a dozen. The ball has to be changed again. Fakhar takes a single off the last ball.

Thisara Perera’s bowling strike rate of 29.5 in ODIs against Pakistan is the third best among all the bowlers who have atleast bowled 900 balls against them befpre today. Sri Lanka are in a spot of bother now as Pakistan have not lost a wicket yet. Sri Lanka will hope that Perera will break the opening stand of Azhar Ali and Fakhar Zaman to put some pressure back on Pakistan and make the match interesting.

After 8 overs,Pakistan 44/0 ( Azhar Ali 16 , Fakhar Zaman 24)

SIX! Guess what? Azhar Ali just danced down the track and smoked Thisara Perera over the bowler’s head. He struck it so cleanly that the umpires had to change the ball. He takes a single off the third ball. FOUR! Fakhar charges down the track and slams it down the ground. Malinga has a word with Thisara and makes some fielding changes. Long on has been deployed now. Thisara responds by bowling a Wide but ends the over with a dot and a single.

Thisara Perera comes into the attack. Can he make a difference with the ball today?

After 7 overs,Pakistan 31/0 ( Azhar Ali 9 , Fakhar Zaman 19)

Nuwan Pradeep comes into the attack. A tidy over from him! On the fifth delivery, Pradeep nipped a length delivery back into Azhar and beat him on the inside edge. Dickwella thought that Azhar was a goner but replays show that there was no bat involved.

After 6 overs,Pakistan 27/0 ( Azhar Ali 7 , Fakhar Zaman 18)

Fakhar takes a leg bye off the second ball. FOUR! Lakmal bangs it short and Azhar pulls it through midwicket for a boundary. He drives the next ball towards the bowler before taking a single off the sixth.

It’s worth giving Pradeep a go with the new ball. He has been the best bowler for Sri Lanka in this tournament so far. Malinga can save himself for the older ball. Sri Lanka needs early wickets here. Mathews can’t afford to sit back and allow the game to drift away from him.

After 5 overs,Pakistan 21/0 ( Azhar Ali 2 , Fakhar Zaman 18)

Azhar cuts the second ball to third man for a single. Malinga goes around the wicket to Zaman and bowls a length ball and the southpaw blocks it. Fakhar cuts the third ball to covers. Malinga slows up the fifth ball and Fakhar defends it towards the off side for a quick and risky single. Azhar blocks the sixth ball to the leg side.

Early days for Azhar Ali but he is doing what Pakistani top order batters do almost every game: he is putting unnecessary pressure on himself that can very well produce a false shot. He is on 2 off 17, Fakhar is on 17 off 9 – a perfect depiction of outdated and modern day ODI batting. All he really needs to do is get a single and give Fakhar the strike!

After 4 overs,Pakistan 19/0 ( Azhar Ali 1 , Fakhar Zaman 17)

Jaffa of a delivery! Lakmal lands a back of a length delivery first up and swings it away to whistle past Azhar’s outside edge. Azhar defends the second ball. The third ball is on a length again and Azhar clips it to midwicket. Azhar bunts the fourth ball  back to the bowler. Finally, Azhar gets off the mark off his 15th ball with a single to mid on. FOUR! Fakhar pulls this poor delivery to fine leg.

Butterfingers from Gunathilaka at the start. He drops one that was hit straight to him at point from Azhar Ali and then fails to pick the ball while trying to run him out. Sri Lanka need to create chances, not let easy ones go by if they are looking to defend a score of 236. Fakhar Zaman has already made them pay for their errors by peppering the off-side field for three boundaries in Malinga’s second over.

Azhar Ali’s strike rate of 78.70 in ODIs post ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 is the lowest among players who have faced atleast 1500 balls. Pakistan need him to anchor the innings today so they can chase 237 runs without many difficulties.

After 3 overs,Pakistan 14/0 ( Azhar Ali 0 , Fakhar Zaman 13)

Zaman starts attacking from this over, getting three boundaries in four deliveries, targeting the off-side on each occasion. He is playing wonderfully once again, and seems to have carried his big-hitting form over from the match against South Africa. 12 off the over.

After 2 overs,Pakistan 2/0 ( Azhar Ali 0 , Fakhar Zaman 1)

Suranga Lakmal bowls from the other end, and starts off with a wide down Zaman’s leg-side. The first run off the bat is scored in the second legal delivery of the over, with Zaman pushing off for a single after blocking it. Gunathilaka once again at it, this time running towards the ball, but failing to collect the ball cleanly to effect a run-out. Two off this over. Couple of close chances for the Lankans early in the innings.

After 1 overs,Pakistan 0/0 ( Azhar Ali 0 , Fakhar Zaman 0)

Azhar Ali starts off by leaving the first couple of deliveries, going down the channel outside off. DROPPED! Azhar cuts straight to Gunathilaka at backward point, where the fielder spills a regulation chance! Maiden for Malinga to start things off with.

The players are back at the field, with Azhar Ali and Fakhar Zaman opening the innings for Pakistan. Lasith Malinga to bowl the first over of the innings.

A mini-recovery from Sri Lanka. Last 3 wickets managed to put 69 runs on the board when at one stage it seemed like Pakistan can just run through their batting. They would have hoped to cross 250 with a late flourish but Gunaratne, the accomplished batsman in the middle just couldn’t get going in the death overs. Sri Lanka will be well aware of some nerves in the Pakistan dressing room.

They have the runs on the board and even the most optimistic Pakistan supporter wouldn’t put his money on their batting line up. Sri Lankan bowlers need to put these batsmen under pressure by not giving any freebies. A moment or two of brilliance in the field early on should get their adrenaline flowing. Still anything possible in this game.

The lowest total defended by Sri Lanka in ICC ODI tournaments is 228. They defended 228 against West Indies at Cape Town in 2003 World Cup.

Pakistan should be very pleased with their effort to restrict Sri Lanka to 236. They chased 302 against England on this ground last year and will be looking to draw inspiration from that. 

They cannot use the South Africa game chase template where they went in a shell and blocked everything that came their way. There are no demons in the pitch and if Fakhar Zaman can get them off to a brisk start then the other batters should look to focus on rotating the strike. Chase is on!

I felt Sarfraz was a little off the mark with his bowling changes. He allowed Mathews and Dickwella to get going against Hafeez, Imad and Faheem before brining on his pacers. But all is well that ends well!

Hasan Ali has taken 36 wickets from 19 ODIs which is the most by any Pakistani player from his first 19 ODIs.

Pakistan have bundled out Sri Lanka for 236. What an extraordinary collapse this has been. At one stage, Sri Lanka were 161/4 in the 31st over but Amir and Junaid combined to dismantle Sri Lanka’s middle order. The last wicket to fall was of Nuwan Pradeep who lobbed an easy catch to Faheem Ashraf.

Hasan Ali has taken 36 wickets from 19 ODIs. Since his debut, only Rashid Khan has taken more wickets than him – 43 from 15 ODIs.

OUT! Asela Gunaratne holes out to square leg off Hasan Ali’s bowling. He departs for 27. Can Sri Lanka go past 260 now?

After 48 overs,Sri Lanka 232/8 ( Asela Gunaratne 27 , Lasith Malinga 6)

Mohammad Amir finishes his 10th over with a 6-run over. On the fourth ball, Amir bowled a bouncer to Asela and the white object hit flush on the his helmet. Fortunately, he looks fine.

After 47 overs,Sri Lanka 226/8 ( Asela Gunaratne 23 , Lasith Malinga 5)

Malinga dabs the second ball to third man for a single. Gunaratne plays a similar shot to bring Lakmal back on strike. Runt out chance missed! Lasith tapped the fourth ball to covers and set off for a single, but gave up immediately. But the fielders fails to score a direct hit at the striker’s end and Malinga survives! FOUR! Outrageous from Gunaratne. Hasan bowls it on a length, Gunaratne goes across and just scoops it over the keeper’s head.

A customary drop from Pakistan gives Gunaratne a reprieve. Can he make them pay for that mistake? He can’t go hammer and tongs for everything just yet. Perhaps see a few more overs and look to get 20 in the last two overs.

After 46 overs,Sri Lanka 218/8 ( Asela Gunaratne 17 , Lasith Malinga 3)

DROPPED! Faheem Ashraf puts down Asela Gunaratne at short third man on the fourth ball. Other than that, it was a tidy over from Junaid, 4 off it. He finishes his quota of overs. His figures: 10-3-40-3

Sri Lanka will be pinning their hopes on a Gunaratne cameo to stretch this to around 250. Junaid Khan deserves a standing ovation – he gave away 12 runs in his last five overs. That’s just when Sri Lanka were looking to get away.

A useful inning from Lakmal this. He managed to break the shackles for his team and hit a few boundaries before getting completely deceived by a Hassan Ali slower off cutter that really gripped on the pitch. Sri Lanka need another partnership like the last one to see them through the full 50 overs. Malinga and Pradeep need to think survival from here and let Gunaratne attempt to take them as close to 250 as possible.

After 45 overs,Sri Lanka 214/8 ( Asela Gunaratne 16 , Lasith Malinga 1)

Hasan Ali’s 8th over: 1, Wide, 1, W, 0, 1, 0.

OUT! Hasan Ali breaks the partnership. He goes through Lakmal’s defence with a full delivery. Lakmal walks back after contributing 26 vital runs. Lasith Malinga strides out at the centre.

After 44 overs,Sri Lanka 210/7 ( Asela Gunaratne 15 , Suranga Lakmal 25)

Amir comes back! Gunaratne clips the first ball through fine leg fore three before scoring a brace off the third ball. FOUR! Lakmal is taking the pressure off Gunaratne here. He lofts Amir over his head and takes a single off the fifth ball. 10 off the over.

After 43 overs,Sri Lanka 200/7 ( Asela Gunaratne 12 , Suranga Lakmal 18)

Asela drives the first ball straight to covers. He looks to cut the second ball but it goes straight to backward point. He eases down the third ball for a single. 200-run mark comes up for Sri Lanka on the last ball after Lakmal collects a brace off it.

After 42 overs,Sri Lanka 197/7 ( Asela Gunaratne 11 , Suranga Lakmal 16)

Hasan Ali starts the 42th over with a short ball which Lakmal tries to pull but misses. FOUR! Welcome boundary for Sri Lanka. Hasan bowls a ‘hit me’ delivery and Lakmal lunges forward to cream it through covers. Lakmal tries to flick the third ball but the ball hits him on his pads and they take a leg bye. Gunaratne punches the fifth ball through mid on for another run. FOUR! Brilliant over for Sri Lanka, 10 off it. Lakmal lofts Hasan over mid off for a boundary.

Sarfaraz has taken Amir and Junaid off. They bowled 8 overs between them in this spell giving away 28 runs and picking for wickets. Is Sarfaraz missing a trick here by not bowling both of them out? A partnership here will give Sri Lanka a sniff. Pakistan are really behind the over rate too. A few quick overs from Imad is helping the over rate, perhaps that’s what Sarfaraz is after. Lakmal and Gunaratne meanwhile are struggling to put bat to ball or find any gaps in the field when they do.

After 41 overs,Sri Lanka 187/7 ( Asela Gunaratne 10 , Suranga Lakmal 8)

Imad Wasim sustains the pressure from the other side by allowing only two runs off his 7th over.

After 40 overs,Sri Lanka 185/7 ( Asela Gunaratne 9 , Suranga Lakmal 7)

Dot balls piling up. Five of them in this over and a single.

Can the Pakistan batsmen convert this bowling performance into a victory? 

161-3 to 167-7 in 4 overs, this is a serious collapse. And England will be watching this Pakistan bowling side very closely.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) June 12, 2017

After 39 overs,Sri Lanka 184/7 ( Asela Gunaratne 8 , Suranga Lakmal 7)

Imad Wasim reintroduced into the attack. Lakmal inside edges the first ball onto his pads. Wasim is bowling his over so fast, I think he wants to make Jadeja proud. Lakmal fails to get off the strike. Another maiden over, fourth of Sri Lanka’s innings.

After 38 overs,Sri Lanka 184/7 ( Asela Gunaratne 8 , Suranga Lakmal 7)

Hasan Ali replaces Mohammad Amir into the attack. A slip is in place, Pakistan can afford that right now. Lakmal gives the strike to Asela on the first ball itself. Gunaratne defends one ball before returning the favour. Lakmal flicks the fifth ball through square leg for a comfortable single. Misfield in the deep! Gunaratne clips the sixth ball through square leg and the fielder hurries towards the ball and fluffs it. That allows Sri Lanka to take two runs.

Another loose shot. Another wicket. Junaid and Amir have been relentless from Pakistan. Thisara tried to flay at one one away from his body but could only edge it to slip. Pakistan have caught well today barring a guffaw from captain Sarfaraz. Sri Lanka needs a quick reassessment of their target. They need to just bat these overs and take whatever they can get. A total of 240 will give their bowlers something to bowl at. In a pressure game like this, Pakistan is equally capable of self-destructing themselves if put under pressure.

After 37 overs,Sri Lanka 179/7 ( Asela Gunaratne 5 , Suranga Lakmal 5)

Junaid Khan starts the over with two dots. But then Gunaratne and Lakmal keep themselves busy at the centre. They milk three singles and a brace.

Fast bowlers steaming in, fielders holding on to catches, runs drying up. Did we take a time machine back to the 90s? How good has Junaid Khan been. He has literally given no margin to the batsmen bowling slightly short of length and consistently moving it away from the batsman off the pitch.

After 36 overs,Sri Lanka 174/7 ( Asela Gunaratne 4 , Suranga Lakmal 1)

Gunaratne, Sri Lanka’s designated finisher, now has to bat out 15 overs and steer Sri Lanka over 220. Can he do that? Amir and Junaid have put the Islanders in defensive mode. The first two balls are dots. FIVE WIDES! Amir errs in his line and strays down the leg side and despite a dive to his left, Sarfraz fails to stop the white object. Gunaratne and Lakmal rotate the strike on fourth and fifth ball respectively. 7 runs off the over. Sri Lanka are surviving!

After 35 overs,Sri Lanka 167/7 ( Asela Gunaratne 3 , )

Scoring has hardly mattered in the last four overs as Sri Lanka are gifting their wickets to Pakistan. 2 runs and a wicket off Junaid’s eighth over.

OUT! Sri Lanka have lost their seventh wicket. Amir and Junaid have turned the match on its head! They have hunted in pair to put Pakistan on top in this virtual quarter-final clash.  But one also has to credit Sarfraz Ahmed’s captaincy; he kept a slip in the 35th over. Thisara edged it to Babar Azam at first slip, who reverse cupped it. How good is Babar as a slip fielder really? Suranga Lakmal saunters out in the middle.

After 34 overs,Sri Lanka 165/6 ( Asela Gunaratne 2 , Thisara Perera 0)

Sri Lanka have given up a set platform. After Mathews and Dhananjaya, Amir dismisses Dickwella. The next two balls go for 3 runs. Ball five: Amir angles it on a length, from around the wicket, and nips it away ever so slightly. Gunaratne edges it and Sarfraz dives to his right to catch it. But hold on, he is not claiming it and the umpires decide to take it upstairs. NOT OUT is the verdict because after pouching it the Pakistan keeper failed to hold onto it and spilled it. Nonetheless this has been an excellent over from Mohammad Amir.

Is there a better sight in cricket than a Pakistani pacer – a genuine pacer – steaming in and the crowd chanting his name? This is the dil of Pakistan cricket.

OUT! Sri Lanka are falling apart and Dickwella, the set batsman chops on. He looked to drive it but only managed an inside which made a mess of the three sticks. Three wickets in three overs. Thisara Perera is the new man in.

Pakistan picks back to back wickets again. That’s the hallmark of a good batting unit, they come hard at the new batsman. Dickwella feels the pressure to get the scoreboard moving and just like his captain tries to manufacture a shot. This is already a minor collapse. Thisara and Gunaratne are both naturally aggressive players but they will be in two minds here against this rampaging Pakistani duo.

After 33 overs,Sri Lanka 162/5 ( Niroshan Dickwella (W) 73 , Asela Gunaratne 0)

Junaid continues. His first ball is a back of a length and outside off and de Silva blocks it. The second ball is a wicket! Pakistan strike twice in quick succession. Third maiden for Junaid Khan.

If there is one bowler who deserved a wicket here it was Junaid Khan. He squared him up from a back of length delivery. These wickets have also stemmed the flow of runs 19 runs for 2 wickets from the last five overs now. Well done Pakistan!

Mathews goes. Big wicket. Sarfaraz sensed the game was drifting away and brought back his strike bowlers from both ends to have a burst. Mathews would be disappointed with that shot. He was trying to shovel a ball from outside off stump by shuffling across. Dhananjaya doesn’t last long too, caught behind off a beauty. Sri Lanka need a few overs of consolidation here. Pakistan is clearly going for wickets now with Junaid getting both movement and bounce.

Mohammad Amir finally took a wicket in ICC Champions Trophy after delivering 140 balls (23.2 overs). Pakistan have an upper edge now in the match with Mathews’ wicket but Sri Lanka can make a comeback if Dickwella scores a big century.

OUT! Junaid Khan reaps fruits of his disciplined bowling. He was troubling Dickwella since the start of his innings but this time de Silva falls against him. Junaid lands it on a length and angles it away to get the faintest of edges off Dhananjaya as the batsman edges it to Sarfraz Ahmed. No need of the umpire here as the batsman started walking as soon as the Pakistan captain took his catch. Asela Gunaratne saunters out in the middle.

After 32 overs,Sri Lanka 162/4 ( Niroshan Dickwella (W) 73 , Dhananjaya de Silva 1)

Mathews was looking solid at the crease but Amir got rid of him to bring Pakistan back into the game. Dhananjaya de Silva is the new man in. Remember he was drafted into the squad because of an injury to Kusal Perera. Dickwella is still playing at the centre and it will be interesting to see his approach. Amir takes one wicket and concedes only one run off 6th over.

Pakistan’s chance to make a comeback? Sarfraz has a slip in for Amir who is bowling with the crowd right behind him. Hopefully we won’t see Faheem and the spinners bowling in tandem now? Pakistan must look for wickets!

OUT! The drinks break does the trick for Pakistan. Amir bowls a back of a length delivery and Mathews tries to pull it without any conviction. He inside edges it and hears his stumps gets rattled. The captain departs for 39.

This is a typical Mathews one day inning. Watchful at the start while dispatching anything loose with power and now he is starting open his shoulders and take more risks. Sri Lanka has been smart through the middle overs, avoiding any damage after losing two quick wickets in succession. At some point, one of these two batsmen will have to start taking some more risks. It’s a good time for Dickwella to throw caution to winds really soon. Mathews can look to bat deep.

After 31 overs,Sri Lanka 161/3 ( Niroshan Dickwella (W) 73 , Angelo Mathews (C) 39)

Junaid Khan comes back and concedes only one run off his over. But he managed to get past Dickwella’s outside edge thrice in a row. His spell so far: 6-2-29-1 Time for drinks.

Angelo Mathews’ good run against Pakistan continues. 

After 30 overs,Sri Lanka 160/3 ( Niroshan Dickwella (W) 73 , Angelo Mathews (C) 38)

Pakistan bring Mohammad Amir back into the attack. They need a wicket, can he provide that? FOUR! Welcome back, says Angelo Mathews. He slaps the first ball through wide mid on for a boundary. Mathews pulls the third delivery in front of square on the leg side for a brace. Sri Lanka end the over with three singles. Smart cricket this from Dickwella and Mathews. Nine runs off Amir’s 5th over.

Pakistan are giving Sri Lanka a chance again. Sarf’s bowling changes are a little surprising – he persisted with Faheem, bowled Hafeez and Imad in tandem and is brining back a leading pacer in the 15th over of this partnership. Just two overs for Hassan Ali at the start against this pair.

After 29 overs,Sri Lanka 151/3 ( Niroshan Dickwella (W) 73 , Angelo Mathews (C) 30)

Good over for Sri Lanka. They rotate the strike four times in the over before Dickwella crunches the sixth delivery through covers for a boundary.

After 28 overs,Sri Lanka 143/3 ( Niroshan Dickwella (W) 67 , Angelo Mathews (C) 28)

Dickwella drives the first ball through covers for a single. Mathews instantly hands him back the strike with a run to fine leg. Ball four: Superb fielding! Pakistan have improved drastically since their clash against India. Dickwella pulls it through midwicket and Fakhar Zaman hares across from square leg to stop a certain boundary. Three runs taken.

After 27 overs,Sri Lanka 138/3 ( Niroshan Dickwella (W) 63 , Angelo Mathews (C) 27)

Another tight over from Imad Wasim. Pakistan are not allowing easy runs to Mathews and Dickwella. Four dots and two singles off Wasim’s 4th over.

After 26 overs,Sri Lanka 136/3 ( Niroshan Dickwella (W) 62 , Angelo Mathews (C) 26)

SIX! First maximum of the innings. Mathews comes down the ground and slams Hafeez over long on. HUGE MIX-UP! Mathews nudges the second ball towards midwicket and looks for a quick single. But Imad scores a direct hit at the non striker’s end. The umpires takes it upstairs and replays show that he made his ground. Nine runs off the over.

After 25 overs,Sri Lanka 127/3 ( Niroshan Dickwella (W) 62 , Angelo Mathews (C) 18)

Imad Wasim comes back into the attack. Sri Lanka score 5 runs off it.

After 24 overs,Sri Lanka 122/3 ( Niroshan Dickwella (W) 61 , Angelo Mathews (C) 14)

Another tight over from Hafeez. The over starts with three dots but Sri Lanka end it with a couple and two singles.

Angelo Mathews is now the fastest Sri Lanka player to score 3000 runs outside Sri Lanka in ODIs (in 92 innings) beating Upul Tharanga’s record who achieved the feat in 94 innings.

After 23 overs,Sri Lanka 118/3 ( Niroshan Dickwella (W) 58 , Angelo Mathews (C) 13)

Ashraf bowls a height no ball first up and Dickwella swats it behind square for a single. Mathews to face the Free Hit delivery and he flicks the low full toss to the square leg boundary. The Sri Lankan batsmen keep themselves busy in the remainder of the over by taking four singles and a brace,

After 22 overs,Sri Lanka 108/3 ( Niroshan Dickwella (W) 54 , Angelo Mathews (C) 7)

Hafeez concedes four runs off his second over. Sri Lanka are taking it slow after the double blow.

It’s been a slow start for the Sri Lankan skipper but he is the man in form and he can make up for this. He didn’t have a slip in while Hafeez was bowling to Mathews but there is definitely a case for bringing back one out of the three main pacers for an over or two. He can continue to tie down the other end with one out of Hafeez and Imad.

After 21 overs,Sri Lanka 102/3 ( Niroshan Dickwella (W) 51 , Angelo Mathews (C) 7)

Change of ends for Faheem Ashraf. Mathews fails to score a run off the first two balls before Mathews punches the third ball through covers for a single. Dickwella plays the ramp shot on the fourth ball and takes one. Mathews leaves the fifth ball alone and defends the sixth one.

After 20 overs,Sri Lanka 100/3 ( Niroshan Dickwella (W) 50 , Angelo Mathews (C) 6)

Mohammad Hafeez introduced into the attack. An LBW appeal is turned down on the first ball. FIFTY! Dickwella works the second ball around for a single to get to the milestone. Fine innings from the southpaw and his captain congratulates him. Hafeez induces an outside edge off the third delivery but no first slip means he will get a brace for it. The last three balls go for a single.

After 19 overs,Sri Lanka 96/3 ( Niroshan Dickwella (W) 49 , Angelo Mathews (C) 3)

This pitch has little bit in it for the bowlers. There is seam movement and a lottle bit of bounce too. Another tight over from Hasan, he changed the angle after three balls to Dickwella. Good lines from Hasan in that over. Goaded Mathews into a false shot as he went for a cut too close to his body but was beaten by pace. Four singles off it. Dickwella is on 49 now!

Angelo Mathews’ batting average of 43.90 against Pakistan in ODIs is the second highest among all the Sri Lankan batsmen. It’s vital for the SL captain now to form a partnership with in-form Dickwella to get Sri Lanka’s innings going.

Sri Lanka’s smooth sailing has been jolted by a beauty from Hassan Ali. And as it happens so often in cricket, one brings two as Chandimal playing his first game of the tournament drags one on from Ashraf. Angelo Mathews is in there much earlier than he would have like. He is the key wicket for Sri Lanka now. If he stays till the 40th over, Sri Lanka will breathe a lot easier.

After 18 overs,Sri Lanka 93/3 ( Niroshan Dickwella (W) 47 , Angelo Mathews (C) 2)

Fahim and Hasan are bowling well in tandem, after some good running for a couple, Fahim brings one back in and it flies inches wide of Dickwella’s inside edge. Fahim misses his lines off the next two balls to concede a couple of wides. Three singles off the next three balls make it 7 runs off the over.

After 17 overs,Sri Lanka 86/3 ( Niroshan Dickwella (W) 43 , Angelo Mathews (C) 1)

Another decent over from Hasan. He beat Mathews with a beautiful outswinger. Though, it seems like he’s still slightly on the shorter side. Sri Lanka batsmen must make sure that in trying to rebuild, they don’t go into a shell. Just a single off the over.

TWO in TWO overs!

First Hassan Ali :He jags one back in with some serious pace. That’s a bit of a Hassan Ali trademark now – Parnell in the last game and Mendis here. And the debutant Faheem Ashraf sends back experienced campaigner Chandimal. Serious inroads from Pakistan who are definitely back in it now. Expecting a bowling change from Faheem’s end with Mathews out to bat now.

This was the 10th duck of Dinesh Chandimal’s ODI career which is the joint second by any player among batsmen who have batted in top-7 since Chandimal’s ODI debut. 

After 16 overs, Sri Lanka 85/3 ( Niroshan Dickwella (W) 42 , Angelo Mathews (C) 1)

Another over where Pakistan scalped a wicket. Fahim has Chandimal off the first ball. Was a poor shot from the Sri Lanka batsman. Mathews then looked to drive one off the next ball but got an inside edge. Two runs off the last two balls made it 2 runs and a wicket off the over. The match has turned its head now. Sri Lanka are 3 down with Mathews and Dickwella at the crease. They need a big partnership.

OUT! Pakistan get 2 wickets in 2 overs. Fahim Ashraf sends back Chandimal.

It was full outsied off from Fahim, Chandimal, with feet stuck in his crease, looked to drive on the up but is late on to it and gets thick inside edge onto the stumps. MAIDEN ODI wicket for Fahim.

After 15 overs,Sri Lanka 83/2 ( Niroshan Dickwella (W) 41 , Dinesh Chandimal 0)

A successful over for Pakistan. Hasan kept troubling Mendis with one that comes back in. He nearly had him off the fourth ball but got an inside edge onto his pads. Finally, off the fifth ball he had the chance to let out a roar as he cleaned up Mendis with a beauty. 2 runs and a wicket off the over.

OUT! Hasan Ali provides the breakthrough, sends back Kusal Mendis. Good length delivery outside off, nips back in sharply. Mendis is beaten by the pace and movement. He looks to defend but the ball sneaks through bat and pad to rattle the timber. A much-needed breakthrough for Pakistan.

Sri Lanka will be really happy with that start after being put into bat. Mendis has played some majestic shots already. The young lad has the temperament for the big stage and a big inning from him here will push him closer to the league of top Sri Lankan batsmen of the yore. He has the dangerous Dickwella at the other end who will always keep the scoring rate up. If Pakistan don’t pick up a wicket soon, they could be looking at a stiff target. They may be looking for the ball to rough up and get a bit of reverse going to come back into this game.

Sri Lanka’s young guns continue to impress with the bat. They also have a lesson in there for Pakistani batters: play the ball with soft hands and rotate the strike. Pakistan will be concerned with this budding partnership between Dickwella and Mendis. Remember, they won the toss and elected to field first. Chasing and Pakistan don’t go along too well, as it is. As Pakistan have done so often in the past year, they will be looking at young Hassan Ali to give them a breakthrough. He is bowling with his tail up!

After 14 overs,Sri Lanka 81/1 ( Niroshan Dickwella (W) 40 , Kusal Mendis 27)

Ashraf comes back from the other end. His second over: 0, 1, 2, 1, 2, 1. The 50-run stand also comes up between Kusal Mendis and Niroshan Dickwella in the 14th over.

Hasan Ali continues….

After 13 overs,Sri Lanka 74/1 ( Niroshan Dickwella (W) 36 , Kusal Mendis 24)

Hasan Ali is into the attack and is greeted by a four on his first ball. Kusal Mendis drives it past the mid off fielder for a boundary.On the stumps, The second ball is turned for a single.The third ball is turned to third man by Dickwella. Hasan Ali tries a slower one now, but Dickwella reads it well and whips it to square leg. Single taken. Oh! This is a beauty. moves away a bit, and Mendis tentatively lunges forward to get beaten on the outside edge.

After 12 overs,Sri Lanka 66/1 ( Niroshan Dickwella (W) 34 , Kusal Mendis 18)

Faheem Ashraf comes into the attack to bowl his first over in international cricket. I have just seen the most beautiful dab for a couple. Dickwella harks back and dabs the length ball so well that he gets a couple for it. The southpaw flicks the second ball to square leg for another two. The runs are coming easily for Sri Lanka right now. They score 6 runs off it.

After 11 overs,Sri Lanka 60/1 ( Niroshan Dickwella (W) 28 , Kusal Mendis 18)

Kusal Mendis nudges the first delivery behind square for a single. Dickwella takes a brace off the second ball. FOUR! Poor delivery and duly punished. Dickwella steers the fourth ball, which is short and wide, through third man for a boundary. The last two balls for a couple and a single.

After 10 overs,Sri Lanka 50/1 ( Niroshan Dickwella (W) 19 , Kusal Mendis 17)

FOUR! Kusal flicks it the first ball through square leg. FOUR! Mendis pulls the third delivery, which is short, through square leg on the leg side. Second boundary of the over. The last three balls go for only two runs: one single and a wide. The first powerplay is over and Sri Lanka have managed to score 50 runs at the loss of one wicket. Given the early swinging conditions this has been a brilliant start.

After 9 overs,Sri Lanka 40/1 ( Niroshan Dickwella (W) 19 , Kusal Mendis 8)

Imad Wasim comes into the bowling attack, he replaces Mohammad Amir. He was instrumental in Pakistan’s win over South Africa. Can he continue that today? His first ball is on the stumps which Kusal nudges away for no run. Mendis nurdles the third ball behind square for no run again. Third ball is a tossed up delivery on middle, Sri Lanka’s No 3 clips it in front of square on the leg side for a single. The fourth ball is a dot. Dickwella pushes the fifth ball towards covers and steals a single. Wasim has stuck to stump-to-stump line so far. The last ball too is an easy single to square leg.

Kusal Mendis has scored 11 fifty-plus scores in his ODI career which is the second most by any player since his ODI debut. Sri Lanka will need another such knock from him today to post a decent total on the board.

After 8 overs,Sri Lanka 37/1 ( Niroshan Dickwella (W) 18 , Kusal Mendis 6)

FOUR! Shot of the day. Junaid angles it on a length and around off, Mendis shows the the full face of the bat and drives it down the ground. The followthrough was so beautiful that I could watch it all day long. However, Junaid responds well and bowls three successive dots. The fifth ball is a single through midiwicket. Junaid bounces Dickwella and the southpaw pulls is straight to the square leg fielder.

After 7 overs,Sri Lanka 32/1 ( Niroshan Dickwella (W) 18 , Kusal Mendis 1)

A single, couple and a three off Amir’s 4th over.

After 6 overs,Sri Lanka 26/1 ( Niroshan Dickwella (W) 13 , Kusal Mendis 0)

Wicket maiden from Junaid Khan. His bowling has been top notch today.

OUT! Danushka Gunathilaka departs for 13! The pressure was building on him and he looked to release it through a drive straight to mid off. Shoaib Malik pouches it comfortably. Junaid Khan collects first wicket. Kusal Mendis is the new man in.

After 5 overs,Sri Lanka 26/0 ( Niroshan Dickwella (W) 13 , Danushka Gunathilaka 13)

Amir bowls a tight over. Gunathilaka failed to pierce the gaps and could pinch only a run off the 5th over.

After 4 overs,Sri Lanka 25/0 ( Niroshan Dickwella (W) 13 , Danushka Gunathilaka 12)

FOUR! This what happens when power and a poor delivery combine. Short and wide from Junaid and Gunathilaka creams it through covers.  FOUR! Gunathilaka tries to loft the third ball over mid on but it goes through midwicket. Danushka takes a single off the fifth ball. FOUR! Outrageous! Dickwella shuffles across and scoops Junaid over the keeper’s head for a boundary. 13 runs off the over. Blistering start this!

After 3 overs,Sri Lanka 12/0 ( Niroshan Dickwella (W) 9 , Danushka Gunathilaka 3)

Dickwella drives the second ball through mid off for a couple. In the air….. but safe. Dickwella clips it high in the air but fortunately for him it falls in no man’s land as Sri Lanka run three. Gunathilaka flicks the last ball beautifully through midwicket but Ashraf gives it a chase and saves a run for his team. Eight runs off the over.

After 2 overs,Sri Lanka 4/0 ( Niroshan Dickwella (W) 4 , Danushka Gunathilaka 0)

Sri Lanka should play according to the conditions now. They can’t play their natural aggressive game. The ball is swinging, Junaid beat Gunathilaka thrice on the outside edge before bowling a maiden.

After 1 overs,Sri Lanka 4/0 ( Niroshan Dickwella (W) 4 , Danushka Gunathilaka 0)

Jeez, there is swing on offer at Cardiff. Amir moves the first ball away from Dickwella, which makes the southpaw cautious for three balls. But on the fifth delivery he drives it through covers. Foru off the first over.

Most players used by teams in a single edition of Champions Trophy:

15 – South Africa, (2002-03)

15 – India, (2006-07)

15 – India, New Zealand, England (2009-10) 

15 – Sri Lanka, (2017)*

Dhananjaya de Silva is playing today and he becomes the 15th player to play for Sri Lanka in ICC Champions Trophy 2017.

Dickwella and Gunathilaka are the openers for Sri Lanka. Amir to bowl the first over. Here we go….

Sri Lanka have won only one match out of 10 against Pakistan in ICC ODI tournaments. Moreover, in England, both have played three ODIs against each other and Pakistan have won all the three matches.

Sri Lanka XI: Niroshan Dickwella, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Asela Gunaratne, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dinesh Chandimal, Thisara Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Pradeep

 Dhananjaya de Silva comes in place of injured Kusal Perera.

Pakistan XI: Azhar Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed, Fahim Ashraf, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir, Junaid Khan, Hasan Ali

 Fahim Ashraf to make his ODI debut today.

TOSS: Pakistan win the toss and opt to field.

They came into #CT17 as underdogs, but today fight for a semi-final place - we preview the Pakistan team ahead of #SLvPAK! pic.twitter.com/O5bJrJkwv3

— ICC (@ICC) June 12, 2017

Hello and welcome to the live coverage of ICC Champions Trophy Group B encounter between Pakistan and Sri Lanka at Cardiff on Monday.

That the last semi-final spot will be decided in the last match of the group stage bodes well for the fans as well as the tournament itself.

Pakistan come into this game with their confidence rejuvenated after they stunned South Africa in a rain-affected match. Pakistan’s bowling clicked in the last game, with Hasan Ali and Junaid Khan both complimenting Mohammad Amir well. But batting has been Pakistan’s bane. Their hopes on Monday would rest on their bowlers rising to the occasion again.

For Sri Lanka, on the other hand, batting seems to be the stronger suit. Their bowlers have failed to either contain or take regular wickets. The match could very well be decided by who triumphs in the contest between Pakistan’s bowling and Sri Lanka’s batting.

Stay tuned for live scores and updates of ICC Champions Trophy 2017 match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka on Monday.