Jayawardene’s 123 helped Sri Lanka to chase Pakistan’s 288/8 in 46.3 overs losing four wickets. The result gave Sri Lanka the first ODI series win at home against Pakistan and rendered the remaining two ODIs in Colombo the matters of pride.
Winning the toss, Sri Lanka invited the guests to bat first. Despite losing Nasir Jamshed early, Kamran Akmal and Younis Khan stabilized Pakistani innings adding 71 runs.
Unfortunately, both fell without getting deserved fifties – Akmal on 45 and Khan on 44. Umar Akmal topscored with 66 while contributions from lower order – 32 from Shahid Afridi and 30 each from Abdul Razzak and Navel-ul-Hasan propelled them to a good total.
Angelo Mathews and Muttiah Muralitharan each grabbed two wickets for Sri Lanka who were playing without Sanath Jayasuriya and Lasith Malinga.
Jayawardene opened Sri Lankan innings with Tharanga and laid the foundation for the victory. They added 202 runs in 33.3 overs before Tharanga was out leg before to Saeed Ajmal.
Tharanga scored 76 off 96 balls.
Tharanga’s fall caused a mini-collapse with Jayawardena, who completed his ninth ODI century, and Thilan Samaraweera felling in next two overs.
Jayawardene played 108 balls for 123 runs and was out off Abdul Razzaq playing a tired shot.
Kumar Sangakkara’s not out 37, and S Kandamby’s 32 ended Pakistani hopes to reclaim the dominance and keeping the series alive after three wickets.
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