Pakistan upstage S.Lanka for T20 clean sweep

ABU DHABI: Pakistan put up another clinical performance to win the only Twenty20 by five wickets against Sri Lanka at Abu Dhabi stadium on Friday, blanking their rivals in all three forms of the game.

Paceman Aizaz Cheema took 4-30 to bowl Sri Lanka out for 141 in 19.3 overs before skipper Misbah-ul Haq kept his nerves with a fighting unbeaten 48 to help his team chase down the target with three balls to spare.

The victory capped a remarkable performance by Pakistan who won the preceding three-Test series 1-0 and the five-match one-day series 4-1.

Misbah, who hit three boundaries and a six off 38 balls, added 46 for the fourth wicket with Asad Shafiq (33) after Pakistan lost their way in persuit of the target. They lost Mohammad Hafeez (13), Imran Farhat (13) and Umar Akmal for a first ball duck.

Shafiq hit three boundaries during his run-a-ball knock before he was bowled by Lasith Malinga.

Misbah hit Dilruwan Perera for a huge six and when 43 needed off the last four overs, the Pakistani captain hit three boundaries in Dilhara Fernando's 17th over of the innings.

When Pakistan needed 23 off the last two overs Afridi hit Fernando for two sixes over deep mid-wicket before the paceman had him caught behind.

Pakistan needed nine off the last over bowled by Malinga whose first ball saw two taken by Misbah but the ensuing throw went for four before Shoaib Malik knocked off the winning runs.

Earlier Cheema took 4-30 in a superb display of swing bowling to derail Sri Lanka who had looked set to put up a big total on the back of maiden Twenty20 half-century by Dinesh Chandimal.

Chandimal had looked threatening during his 44-ball 56, hitting six boundaries and added a firey 31 for the second wicket with skipper Tillakaratne Dilshan (28) before Cheema came into his own.

Sri Lanka were off to a flying start of 30 by the third over before losing opener Upul Tharanga, bowled by Cheema for 12.

Dilshan miscued a drive off spinner Saeed Ajmal in the sixth over but Sri Lanka still had a ten run average by the sixth over.

Pakistani bowlers led by Cheema, playing only his second Tewnty20 match, checked Sri Lankan innings as they lost their last seven wickets for 54 runs.

Chandimal brought up his maiden half-century in the shortest form of the game off 40 balls before Cheema had him in the 19th over of the innings, trapped leg-before.

Cheema also had Thissara Perera (nought) and Malinga (one) to finish his four-over spell.

Sri Lanka's poor batting was not helped by two run outs of Angelo Mathews (14) and Chamara Silva (four).

England Near to Clean Sweep Against India

England eye clean sweep against India

LONDON: England captain Alastair Cook is hoping to complete a miserable tour for India on Friday by wrapping up a 3-0 one-day series victory over the tourists. India are yet to taste victory over England this summer, having been whitewashed 4-0 in the Test series and trailing 2-0 ahead of Friday's final one-dayer in Cardiff. However India came agonisingly close to pipping England at Lord's last weekend, and Cook remains wary of the threat posed by the wounded tourists heading into the match. "The last two games have been very close, and have shown what a talented side India are," Cook said. "We're going to have to play at the top of our game to try to win, and finish the summer on a high as a one-day team." Cook however is satisfied with England's form in his first season in charge as skipper of the limited overs side, which also included a 3-2 series win over Sri Lanka. "It's been a good start, and I'm very happy with the way the lads have taken to me as captain and bought into the ideas," Cook said. "I'm very happy with winning both series. We know how tough it's going to be in the next two months or so (in a return series in India), but this side has always responded well to challenges." Cook also believes England's one-day squad can improve. "We are a very young side trying to make progress," he said. "The exciting thing is I don't think we've played as well as we can. "We have been put under pressure in this series, but have still won the games. That is very encouraging. Meanwhile Cook paid tribute to India batsman Rahul Dravid, who will be playing his 344th and final one-day game. "He's scored 10,000 runs in both forms of the game. He's managed to adapt his game to every surface," Cook said. "He is an all-time great."