Five memorable one-day games between Sri Lanka and Pakistan

Pakistan and Sri Lanka face off in a five-match one-day series starting 13th October.

Pakistan and Sri Lanka will slug it out in the five-match series starting from 13^th October in Dubai. Sri Lanka tasted success in the Test series as Pakistan lost their first series after 15 years in UAE. Sarfraz Ahmed and co will feel that they will better prepared in the shorter formats as the side recently lifted their maiden Champions Trophy title beating India at The Oval.

Upul Tharanga will be keen to end his side’s winless streak after their suffering from a whitewash in one day series played against India at home. We will look back at the five most memorable games played between the two teams in limited overs cricket.

1. Sanath Jayasuriya’s blitz against Pakistan in Singer Cup on 4^th April,1996 in Singapore

Newly crowned World Cup Champions Sri Lanka produced an emphatic display with the bat to beat Pakistan in the opening game of tri-nation series played in Singapore. Sanath Jayasuriya stamped his authority on the game with belligerent fastest hundred in one-day cricket as the likes of Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Saqlain Mushtaq were smashed to all parts of the ground. Jayasuriya struck 11 sixes and helped Sri Lanka pull off impressive to reiterate the fact their triumph in 1996 Cricket World Cup played in the sub-continent was not a fluke.

2. Sri Lanka and Pakistan in the finals of Singer Cup played on 7^th April,1996 in Singapore

The game provided all the twists and turns as Pakistan emerged victorious in a low-scoring game in the finals of the Singer Cup played in Singapore. Pakistan batted first as the side battled hard to get going on a slow surface and could only manage 215 runs in 48.3 overs.

Ijaz Ahmed scored a crucial half century coming in at no. 6 with useful cameos by Inzamam-ul-Haq and Rameez Raja. In reply, Sri Lanka got off to a perfect as Sanath Jayasuriya went berserk from the outset. The openers added 70 runs with majority of the runs coming from the bat of Jayasuriya.

The left-hander went onto score fastest 50 in one-day cricket in just 17 balls beating Australia’s Simon O’Donnell record of 18 balls. Jayasuriya dismissal triggered a dramatic collapse as the side went from being 96 for 1 to 106 for 5 in no time.

Waqar Younis and Saqlain Mushtaq did the damage with the ball in the middle orders to see Aravinda de Silva and Arjuna Ranatunga dismissed for low scores.

3. Pakistan run-massacre against Sri Lanka in Nairobi on 4^th Oct, 1996.

Originally selected as leg-spinner in the Pakistan side, Shahid Afridi did the opposite as he was promoted to no.3 in the game against Sri Lanka. Afridi displayed his destructive abilities with the bat and decimated bowlers like Chaminda Vaas, Muttiah Muralitharan and Sanath Jayasuriya to produce fastest century in the one-day cricket in just 37 balls. He smashed 11 sixes in innings and took a particular liking to the left arm spin of Jayasuriya who conceded 94 runs from his 10 overs. Afridi turned out to be overnight superstar for Pakistan and would go on to play for another two decades showing his freakish performances with the bat time and again.
Pakistan did eventually won that game after scoring 371 runs courtesy of blistering hundred by Shahid Afridi. Surely, the game will go down as one of the epic contest played between Sri Lanka and Pakistan in the terms of limited overs format.

4. Pakistan pulling off a heist against Sri Lanka at Jamshedpur on May 19,1999

The Pakistan side under the leadership of Wasim Akram in 1999 could do just anything possible as the green shirts produced another stellar show with the ball to pull off an improbable win over Sri Lanka. Pakistan batted first to score 246 runs courtesy of a mammoth opening stand by Saeed Anwar and Shahid Afridi. The Sri Lankans came back well as Pakistan’s middle order failed to produce anything to see them put a decent total on the board.

In reply, Sri Lanka looked to be coasting at one towards a comfortable win with Aravinda de Silva leading the way with the bat. Mahela Jayawardene played well for his 61 runs and added 104 runs with Aravinda to see Sri Lanka dominate the proceedings in the middle overs of the innings. Sri Lanka was comfortably placed at 217 for 3 after 45.4 overs before de Silva’s run-out triggered a dramatic collapse.

Hashan Tillakaratne played well and remained unbeaten till the end while the others failed to produce anything. Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akthar and Saqlain Mushtaq brought their A-game to the table with the ball in the last five overs to see Pakistan win the game by nine runs. Sri Lanka will rue the fact they lost the game after going from 217 for 3 to be bundled out for 237 in space of five overs.

5. Pakistan pull off an upset over Sri Lanka at Colombo in ICC Cricket World Cup game played on Feb 26, 2011

Sri Lanka looked in better state to win the game as Pakistan had a point to prove in this opening battle of the heavyweights in the 2011 ICC World Cup group game played at Colombo. Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq scored half centuries and helped Pakistan post a formidable total on the board.  With the plenty of good players in the Sri Lankan lineup, 277 never looked out of reach as openers started the chase in a great fashion adding 76 runs in just 14 overs.

Tillakaratne Dilshan and Upul Tharanga looked comfortable at the crease before Shahid Afridi came on to the attack and weaved his magic with the ball. He dismissed Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara to put Pakistan on top in the game. Afridi who also was the captain came back at the end of the innings to end Sri Lanka’s classic fightback as Pakistan went on to win the game by 11 runs. Afridi picked up four wickets and was named man of the match for his superlative show with the ball.

It is going to be yet another exciting series as Pakistan take on Sri Lanka in the forthcoming one-day series in United Arab Emirates.