Shadab’s last-over six, Ashraf hat-trick seal Pakistan win

SHADAB Khan and Sarfraz Ahmed celebrate the victory.—AP

ABU DHABI: All-rounder Shadab Khan hit a last over six to give Pakistan a sensational two-wicket win in the second Twenty20 international against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi on Friday.

Needing 12 off the final over, and eight from the last three balls, Shadab smashed Sri Lankan pacer Vikum Sanjaya for a six and then took a couple off the next delivery to help Pakistan chase down a modest 125-run target in 19.5 overs.

Shadab remained not out with an eight-ball 16 with a six and a boundary to give Pakistan an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

The final match in Lahore on Sunday remains of great significance as it will see Sri Lanka return to Pakistan eight years after the team was targeted in a deadly ambush in the same city in 2009.

Earlier, fast bowler Faheem Ashraf derailed the Sri Lankan innings with figures of 3-16 as he became the first Pakistan player to achieve a hat-trick in Twenty20 internationals.

That gave Pakistan eight wickets in the space of just 20 balls for 18 runs as Sri Lanka ended on 124-9 in 20 overs.

Danushka Gunathilaka top-scored with a 48-ball 51 with four boundaries and a six, but Ashraf’s feat stopped Sri Lanka from posting a challenging total.

Sri Lankan skipper Thisara Perera then grabbed 3-24 in his four overs to leave Pakistan in a spot of bother, removing Shoaib Malik for nine with the total at 55-4.

Skipper Sarfraz Ahmed (28) and Mohammad Hafeez (19) added 39 for the fifth wicket to bring Pakistan within 31 runs of victory.

But when Hafeez and Sarfraz fell, Pakistan still needed 21 off 14 balls which Shadab made possible.

Sri Lanka had needed early wickets and they were lucky to get Fakhar Zaman (11) run out, Ahmed Shehzad (27) and Babar Azam for one.

“In that crunch situation, on this difficult pitch, that shot was a very difficult shot by Shadab,” said the skipper.

“Our youngsters are putting up big performances and Ashraf was outstanding as bowler.”

Perera said his team did put up a good fight.

Scoreboard

SRI LANKA:

M.D. Gunathilaka c Imad b Shadab 51

E.M.D.Y. Munaweera run out 19

S. Samarawickrama run out 32

S. Prasanna run out 1

N.L.T.C. Perera c sub b Hasan 3

M.D. Shanaka lbw b Fahim 1

I. Udana c Hasan b Fahim 6

M.L. Udawatte c Babar b Fahim 0

S.S. Pathirana c sub b Hasan 1

S.M.A. Priyanjan not out 2

J.R.M.V.M. Sanjaya not out 4

EXTRAS (LB-1, W-3) 4

TOTAL (for nine wickets, 20 overs) 124

FALL OF WKTS: 1-43, 2-106, 3-107, 4-109, 5-111, 6-117, 7-117, 8-117, 9-119.

BOWLING: Imad Wasim 4-0-23-0 (1w); Usman Khan Shinwari 2-0-18-0; Hasan Ali 4-0-31-2; Fahim Ashraf 3-0-16-3; Shadab Khan 4-0-14-1; Mohammad Hafeez 3-0-21-0 (1w).

PAKISTAN:

A. Shehzad c Shanaka b Perera 27

Fakhar Zaman run out 11

Babar Azam lbw b Udana 1

Shoaib Malik c S’wickrama b Perera 9

M. Hafeez c Perera b Pathirana 14

Sarfraz Ahmed run out 28

Imad Wasim lbw b Perera 2

Fahim Ashraf c Gunathilaka b Sanjaya 4

Shadab Khan not out 16

Hasan Ali not out 3

EXTRAS (LB-5, W-5) 10