Well, that is all we have from you. This is Alagappan Muthu, signing off. Thank you for your comments, hope you keep them flying in for the second ODI, which will now happen on Tuesday, and it will be a day-night affair as well
Aditi: "An almost-neutral fan's observations: 1. Angelo will soon need a new partner- Mahela will most likely not be around after the world cup. 2. Sanga is probably/ hopefully irritated enough with his dismissal that we get a few big ones in the next 4 matches :) 3. Fawad must invest in a properly fitted helmet- he looks like a kid in this one! 4. Maqsood seems like a wonderful find, and Fawad is doing well too- wonderful for Pakistan :) 5. Pakistan were better at running between the wickets in this match than what can usually be expected of them. SL were worse than usual in the field. 6. Watching SL matches being played in SL can give one a headache with the vuvuzelas! 7. Hambantota is astonishingly beautiful! More cricket there, please."
"Much needed win and relaly happy we have chased this total especially by two youngsters. One of the best partnerships I have ever seen," Misbah-ul-Haq says, "I think we lost our way in between after the first partnership. Good recovery by the two but this will also give the other batsmen confidence. It is, but I think the rules have been changed four fielders in the deep and the last powerplay makes it really difficult to protect. This is how cricket is going on and when you are chasing 100 in last ten overs, it is possible. We are looking forward to not conceding so many in the next games. Irfan is out wicket-taking option and thats why I use him at the top, because if the set batsman is there it will be really difficult to stop"
Sohaib Maqsood is the Man of the Match for his match-changing 89 off 73. "Special knock, batting after a few months and getting off with a good innings is always good. Batting no.3 and four in the previous series, but this is a new series and whichever is good for the country, I will do it. Planning was simple, he was a rotator and I was aggressive. The plan was not to loose wickets and we have to target the bowlers, even when Malinga's eight overs. Hopefully, I would take it as the best innings of my career"
"Good game, I thought the fifth wicket partnership with Maqsood and Alam won them the game but I thought we didn;t do too many mistakes," Angelo Mathews says."The wicket played pretty well and more often than not when we scored 250 plus the bowlers do the job but here the brilliance of Maqsood did it. We didn't really do too many mistakes, but there was the stumping that we missed. Happy with my form, hopefully it can continue"
6.30 pm Pakistan have turned an ODI that had been drifting towards meaninglessness into a sensational one. Their come-from-behind victory was down to Fawad Alam's gritty innings after a bit of a fumble by the top order. But his partner during a vital hundred-stand. Sohaib Maqsood blunted Lasith Malinga's yorkers, he had a life off Rangana Herath and capitalised on it with some powreful bottom-handed flicks and whips
shaheer: "who needs ajmal :P"
Noman Yousuf: "'Brilliant!'... That's the only to describe this run chase!" Karthik Krishnaswamy might use a few more in his report, so stay tuned for that and the presentaion
Fahad Fazli: "Ive been following pak cricket for last 20 years & have seen all ups and downs so this victory brings tears to eyes because I couldnt have expected it once we were 103/5..we just dont win from those situations but so happy for Maqsood & Fawad!!! Go boys go!!!"
Sumedha: "I feel Malinga not giving his 100% here. Is he not fit? Looks like Kulasekara bowling faster than Malinga "
hadi: "you got to admire SL fans sportsmanship, they've almost lost it but you still hear the famous horns blowing "
SD: "Mathews scored 89 and got out. Maqsood scored 89 and stayed not out. Pakistan lost just one wicket fewer than Sri Lanka, and won with one ball remaining. The difference was that much. "
Mid-off goes back, extra cover in place
Pakistan need four off six to pull off one of their more memorable victories. It will be Kula to bowl
murali: "After a long time, watching a thrilling game!!!" Suspect you haven't been watching Sri Lanka playing over the past few months
END OF OVER:44 | 8 Runs | PAK: 271/6 (5 runs required from 36 balls, RR: 6.15, RRR: 0.83)
- Shahid Afridi9 (6b)
- Sohaib Maqsood88 (72b)
- Lasith Malinga9-0-60-1
- Nuwan Kulasekara8-0-50-0
The X Factors take aim at each other
Malinga's final over
END OF OVER:43 | 10 Runs | PAK: 263/6 (13 runs required from 42 balls, RR: 6.11, RRR: 1.85)
- Sohaib Maqsood82 (68b)
- Shahid Afridi7 (4b)
- Nuwan Kulasekara8-0-50-0
- Lasith Malinga8-0-52-1
yasir: "Afridi is kind of investment who gives dividend once in 5 years,but when give,it clear all the debt.."
Shahid Boom Boom Afridi with 22 off 18 needed ofr Pakistan. Walks out and taps Fawad on the back of his helmet as he walks off. The pressure piles on Nuwan Kulasekara. Mid-on is up in the circle, Fine leg goes back
END OF OVER:42 | 8 Runs 1 Wkt | PAK: 253/6 (23 runs required from 48 balls, RR: 6.02, RRR: 2.87)
- Sohaib Maqsood79 (66b)
- Lasith Malinga8-0-52-1
- Rangana Herath9-0-49-1
Fawad Alam c Priyanjan b Malinga 62 (105m 61b 7x4 0x6) SR: 101.63