Hambantota, Sri Lanka: (Web Desk/APP) – Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan by 165 runs in the fifth and final one-day international in Hambantota on Sunday, but lost the series 3-2.
The hosts piled up their highest total of 368-4 against Pakistan after electing to bat and then bowled their rivals out for 203 in a match that held only academic interest.
Pakistan, who had also won the preceding Test series 2-1, will now clash with Sri Lanka in two Twenty20 matches in Colombo on July 30 and August 1.
Pakistan got a good start with Ahmed Shehzad and Azhar Ali but series of unfortunate dismissals cost them the defeat. First, Ahmed Shehzad was only slightly missing the turf when he was stumped by Chandimal after scoring 18 runs.
Azhar Ali and Mohammad Hafeez took the game forward but then Azhar Ali was run out with a direct hit while trying to take a cheeky single.
Hafeez tried to build up a partnership with Sarfraz but he too was victim of an unlucky decision. The ball seemed hitting the stumps in the first go. Umpire raised the finger and Hafeez went for review, hoping that the decision will be turned down. But as it turned out, the ball was just clipping the leg-stump and thus Hafeez had to go, shaking his head.
Sarfraz was run out just 7 balls later, again unlucky. He was the victim of another direct hit from third-man position by Lakmal. Pakistan s hopes were gone with Sarfraz and it was a formality only that the match had to be finished. They kept losing the wickets in regular intervals afterwards and finally were all out for 203.
However, Pakistan took the series and there were happy moments in the end as the almost new Pakistan captain Azhar Ali lifted the trophy. It was the first trophy for Pakistan in 9 years at the Island.
