Pakistan v Sri Lanka
At Sharjah, April 17 (day/night)
15-Apr-2003
At Sharjah, April 17 (day/night). Pakistan won by 217 runs. Toss: Pakistan.
The 20,000 hollering fans saw a colourful but one-sided spectacle. After elbowing Pakistan
aside in both qualifiers, Sri Lanka were trampled underfoot. Waqar Younis won an important toss,
and Imran Nazir made a smash-and-grab 63 off 61 balls. However, the real damage was done by
Yousuf Youhana, with a career-best 129, and Younis Khan. Darting between the wickets for ones
and twos, they sentenced Sri Lanka to the death of a thousand cuts. With Muralitharan in hospital
after tearing shoulder ligaments - on his 30th birthday - no one could staunch the flow. The pair
put on 155 before perishing in successive balls, aiming for the leg-side ropes. At 52 for one from
nine overs, Sri Lanka were on course, but they were soon buffeted by quality quick bowling:
Jayasuriya, pulling, and Sangakkara, fencing, were both beaten for pace by Shoaib Akhtar. The
middle order capitulated with shocking speed. Sri Lanka, minus Murali, were all out inside 17
overs for 78, their second-lowest one-day total.
Man of the Match: Yousuf Youhana.
of the Series: M. S. Atapattu.
of the Series: M. S. Atapattu.