Get Ball by Ball Commentary of Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 1st T20I 2013

Sri Lanka will now have their chance of levelling the series in just two days time. Till then, this is Rohan Sharma, on behalf of the scorer, wishing you good night (or morning) wherever you may be.

Here are some Hafeez quotes as well: "The boys really showed character, and we were looking for a good start, so the boys got that for us. We went into the middle and tried a couple of things, with the young players. In this game Shahid Afridi was brilliant. It's always difficult to set a total here, so that's what I was thinking. We had three spinners in the team, so we had the dew on our minds as well.

Some Afridi quotes from Andrew Fernando: "Pakistan won and I'm very happy for that. I have to mention Mohammad Hafeez, who was not feeling well but still he played for the country. We had good support from the crowd. The bowling was good, but I want to be more consistent in my batting"

Unfortunately folks I won't be able to provide any post-match presentation as the telecast has switched over to another program. Will be getting some quotes from my colleague, Andrew Fernando, so will add those in a little while. What you need to know though is that Pakistan have won this first encounter by three wickets, with Afridi hitting a ridiculous six outside off over to fine leg to seal the chase.

Shahid Afridi, for his unbeaten 39 off 20 balls, has been deemed Man of the Match

What an exciting finish to a match which seemed a foregone conclusion till Sri Lanka began taking out key wickets at important junctures of the chase. Lasith Malinga was the star of the show for them, and could have got more than his 3 for 26. But it was innings from Mohammed Hafeez (32), Sharjeel Khan (34) and Shahid Afridi (39*) that kept the Pakistan chase on course. We will take just a quick break before we are back for the match presentation

19.1

Kulasekara to Shahid Afridi, SIX, Afridi does it! He does it! Afridi paddle sweeps this ball pitching outside off beautifully over fine leg, timing it so sweetly that it just clears the rope to bring an end to the contest. What a knock from this experienced campaigner! He managed to hold his nerve to see his country through for a win

So 6 are required off the final over. What do we have in store for us?

END OF OVER:
19 | 6 Runs 1 Wkt | PAK: 140/7 (6 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 7.36, RRR: 6.00)

Shahid Afridi33 (19b)
Sohail Tanvir0 (0b)

Lasith Malinga4-0-26-3
Thisara Perera3-0-27-1

18.6

Malinga to Shahid Afridi, 1 run, Afridi on strike and hits this to the off side, hesitant as he runs down, before deciding to go ahead with it. Tanvir was a little slow out of the blocks as the fielder picks up the ball and fires it at the striker's end, with Sanga taking the ball and hitting the stumps. Replays show that Tanvir was just in. Pakistan will be pleased that Afridi will be on strike for the final over

18.5

Malinga to Bilawal Bhatti, OUT, Bhatti clears the front leg, looking to belt this out of Dubai Sports City, but instead succeeds in hitting this one straight up in the air. Thisara calls for the catch, even though Sanga is close with the gloves, and manages to hold on to the skier, with a nice roll to finish it off

Bilawal Bhatti c NLTC Perera b Malinga 10 (15m 8b 1x4 0x6) SR: 125.00

18.4

Malinga to Shahid Afridi, 1 run, tests him with a shorter one as Afridi takes the bait, hitting this one high in the air, but luckily it falls just before the fielder coming in deep from the boundary

Asim: "This is Afridi's format. He owns it.

18.3

Malinga to Bilawal Bhatti, 1 run, full and on middle as Bhatti just eases this to the leg side for one

18.2

Malinga to Bilawal Bhatti, 2 runs, cheeky shot from Bhatti as he angles his bat outside off to get this wide of third man, giving him enough to run back for the second

18.1

Malinga to Shahid Afridi, 1 run, fires this full on the pads in search of a yorker as Afridi has this covered to get this away to the leg side

END OF OVER:
18 | 13 Runs | PAK: 134/6 (12 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 7.44, RRR: 6.00)

Shahid Afridi30 (16b)
Bilawal Bhatti7 (5b)

Thisara Perera3-0-27-1
Lasith Malinga3-0-20-2

17.6

NLTC Perera to Shahid Afridi, 1 run, yorker from Perera which is driven down to long-off, keeping Afridi on strike for the next over

17.5

NLTC Perera to Shahid Afridi, 2 runs, full and on the pads as Afridi flicks this behind square to fine leg, running hard in order to complete two

17.4

NLTC Perera to Shahid Afridi, FOUR, gets this one horribly wrong as Perera fires a full toss, which was heading leg side, and Afridi does the smart thing by paddling this on its way to the rope. Perera not at all amused as Pakistan bring it close once again

Rakesh S: "A couple of 6's or boundaries in this over and Pakistan can win this in singles. Will they??"

17.3

NLTC Perera to Bilawal Bhatti, 1 run, full, swinging delivery as Bhatti goes for the big heave. Perera appeals for leg before, as the ball seemed to hit the pad, and in all that commotion Bhatti runs down the track, sees his partner is not interested, and just makes it back to his crease to beat Dilshan's throw. The third umpire is called, but the decision is ruled not out

17.2

NLTC Perera to Bilawal Bhatti, FOUR, fires in a bouncer as Bhatti is not at all in control of this as he top edges this behind to third man, beating third man to the boundary, despite his dive

And with that single Afridi becomes the first player to score 1000 T20 runs and take 50 T20 wickets

17.1

NLTC Perera to Shahid Afridi, 1 run, full from Perera as Afridi gets this away to long-on

Thisara into the attack once again

END OF OVER:
17 | 4 Runs 1 Wkt | PAK: 121/6 (25 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 7.11, RRR: 8.33)

Bilawal Bhatti2 (3b)
Shahid Afridi22 (12b)

Lasith Malinga3-0-20-2
Nuwan Kulasekara3-0-24-0

16.6

Malinga to Bilawal Bhatti, no run, low full toss again as Malinga goes for the yorker, but this one had some bat on it before it hit the pads. The umpire almost seemed to be moving his right arm, but was probably getting his hand into a more comfortable position in his pocket

16.5

Malinga to Shahid Afridi, 1 run, full and on leg as Afridi is able to squirt this away to deep extra-cover

16.4

Malinga to Bilawal Bhatti, 1 run, in the slot and Bhatti lofts this gently over mid-on

Pakistan INNINGS		R	B
Sharjeel Khan	caught	34	31
Ahmed Shehzad	caught	4	9
Mohammad Hafeez	lbw	32	27
Umar Akmal	run out	5	3
Sohaib Maqsood	lbw	13	9
Umar Amin	caught	8	9
Shahid Afridi	not out	39	20
Bilawal Bhatti	caught	10	8
Sohail Tanvir	not out	0	0
Saeed Ajmal
Usman Shinwari
EXTRAS	(nb 1)
TOTAL	146 (7 wkts; 19.1 ovs)

Sri Lanka BOWLING	O	R	W	Econ
SL Malinga	4.0	26	3	6.50	(1nb)
KMDN Kulasekara	3.1	30	0	9.47
SMSM Senanayake	3.0	14	1	4.66
BAW Mendis	4.0	29	1	7.25
AD Mathews	2.0	20	0	10.00
NLTC Perera	3.0	27	1	9.00

END OF OVER:
19 | 6 Runs 1 Wkt | PAK: 140/7 (6 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 7.36, RRR: 6.00)

END OF OVER:
18 | 13 Runs | PAK: 134/6 (12 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 7.44, RRR: 6.00)

END OF OVER:
17 | 4 Runs 1 Wkt | PAK: 121/6 (25 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 7.11, RRR: 8.33)

Match Coverage

'We were 15 runs short' - Chandimal

Thirimanne's flying catch

SL wary of Pakistan's momentum

Afridi leads Pakistan to tense win

Pakistan 2nd innings Partnerships

END OF OVER:19 | 6 Runs 1 Wkt | PAK: 140/7 (6 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 7.36, RRR: 6.00)

END OF OVER:18 | 13 Runs | PAK: 134/6 (12 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 7.44, RRR: 6.00)

END OF OVER:17 | 4 Runs 1 Wkt | PAK: 121/6 (25 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 7.11, RRR: 8.33)

'We were 15 runs short' - Chandimal

Thirimanne's flying catch

SL wary of Pakistan's momentum

Afridi leads Pakistan to tense win

END OF OVER:
19 | 6 Runs 1 Wkt | PAK: 140/7 (6 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 7.36, RRR: 6.00)

END OF OVER:
18 | 13 Runs | PAK: 134/6 (12 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 7.44, RRR: 6.00)

END OF OVER:
17 | 4 Runs 1 Wkt | PAK: 121/6 (25 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 7.11, RRR: 8.33)