PAK vs SL Ball by Ball Commentary

A single to end the innings! Razaullah yet again spills out a low full toss, but this time, it is way below waist height, on off. Eshan Malinga rocks back to drive it toward extra cover and gets a quick single. Sri Lanka ends up posting 182 runs on the board!

Full, on off, shaping away. Dushmantha Chameera looks to flick it but gets the leading edge before the ball bounces off toward the left of the diving backward point for a single.

FOUR! Not entirely from the middle off the bat, but will work for the visitors. Short of a length, outside off. Dushmantha Chameera swings his arms and gets the connection from the upper part of the bat. It loops over the mid off fielder and bounces away for four runs.

NO BALL AND A BYE! A full toss from Razaullah, over waist height, outside off. Eshan Malinga fails to connect his pull. Dushmantha Chameera calls for a run and they get that successfully as the keeper misses the underarm to hit the stumps at the striker's end.

Back of a length, around leg, Dushmantha Chameera pulls it to long on for one.

BYE! Short of a length, angling across. Eshan Malinga rocks back and misses his pull. The keeper fumbles and the batter gets a bye.

OUT! CAUGHT AND BOWLED! Hands up in the air in delight for Razaullah as he has his maiden T20I wicket. A special moment to cherish for any bowler. A slower ball, on a length around off stump, clocked at 119.8 kph, and it climbs on Theekshana more than he expects. He goes back and across, looking to pull, but he's through the shot too early and the ball balloons into the air off the top edge. Razaullah moves a couple of steps to his right and settles under it for a simple catch. Sri Lanka are 172/8, with 5 balls remaining.

OUT! TAKEN! Naseem gets the danger man. Fuller in length, on the stumps around middle and leg stump. Udara backs away, looking to free his arms and launch over the boundary, but fails to get the desired leverage. He miscues it off the inside half of the bat, sending an easy chance towards the long-on boundary. Hasan Nawaz ranges to his right, gets into a comfortable position, and pouches it securely.

FOUR! Clever batting from Udara and now he gets into the 90s! Naseem Shah bends his back and offers a bumper, over off. Lahiru Udara keeps his calm and upper-cuts it over short third for a boundary.

Back of a length, around off, Maheesh Theekshana dabs it to cover with soft hands and gets a single.

OUT! KNOCKED HIM OVER! Naseem gets his second wicket. Dunith keeps shuffling across in the crease and looks to play the scoop shot over short fine leg, but Naseem unleashes a laser-straight yorker on the stumps. Wellalage misses to connect and loses the balance, and also sees the leg stump getting uprooted. Sri Lanka are 167/6.

Short of a length, outside off, slower one. Lahiru Udara looks to hit it away, but gets the inside edge and it rolls toward the left of the keeper. Single taken.

On a length, outside off, Dunith Wellalage cuts it to deep cover for one.

FIVE WIDES! This has gone horribly wrong for Naseem Shah! Pitches it fuller, around the leg stump and swings it way down the leg side. Dunith Wellalage fails to connect his flick and it beats the diving keeper for a boundary.

Dot ball to end the 18th over! Flatter and much fuller, on middle. Lahiru Udara drills it back to the bowler. Abrar does well to make a stop to his left. 10 runs off the over. 19 from the last 2 for Sri Lanka.

Quicker and fuller, on leg. Lahiru goes for a sweep but gets a top edge behind backward square leg for a couple of runs.

FOUR! What a shot! Great awareness of the fielding placements. Slightly short of a length and outside off, Udara shuffles across his stumps and gets right inside the line. He scoops it over the top of short fine leg, and the ball runs away to the fence, beating the fielder's chase and slide.

Around off, slower through the air, on a length. Dunith Wellalage guides it wide of short third for a single.

Speared in, flatter and shorter, on the pads. Udara stabs it behind backward square leg for a single.

PUT DOWN! That is a very lucky escape for Lahiru Udara! Pitches on a length outside off stump, floating wide to tempt the hit. Udara presses forward with a big heave in mind, but he is nowhere near the pitch of the ball and skies it off the top edge of the bat. Abrar turns and sprints back, eyes glued to the ball, and stretches out his hands, but only gets his fingertips to it. Yet another life for Udara, and the batters scamper back for a couple.

Slower bouncer, outside off, Udara hops and guides it to deep third for a single.

Back of a length, outside off, Dunith Wellalage cuts it half-heartedly toward deep point for one.

Back-of-the-hand slower one from Shah, fuller in length and angling it away from the off stump. Dunith Wellalage makes room to punch it aerially, but yet again gets beaten.

Hard-length delivery, angling across off. Dunith Wellalage tries to lash it over the inner cricle toward the off side, but misses on the top edge.

FIVE WIDES! Khawaja Nafay has looked pretty nervy throughout the entire innings! Naseem pitches it fuller, on leg and swings back to take it away from the stumps. Dunith Wellalage misses his flick and Nafay, despite putting a dive to his right, fails to gather it into his gloves. The ball deflects and races to the deep third fence.

Change of pace, on the back of a good length, outside off. Lahiru Udara gets on his back foot and pulls it down to deep square leg for one.

Back of a length, just outside off, Dunith Wellalage guides it to deep third for a single.

Short of a length, over off. Dunith Wellalage rocks back and tucks it to the vacant mid-wicket region, asking for a couple. But Shadab Khan himself sprints toward the rolling ball and keeps the pressure on the batters. They end up getting just a single.

OUT! CAUGHT! Shadab strikes back and looks to the heavens as he breaks the 57-run stand. Short and wide outside off, with plenty of width on offer. It was hardly a wicket-taking ball, but Shanaka throws his bat at it and slaps it flat down the ground, without enough power or elevation behind the shot. Fakhar Zaman moves to his left at long off and holds on to a comfortable catch. Sri Lanka are 140/5, with 25 balls left.

SIX! MUSCLED! Short by Shadab, on middle, spinning away. Dasun Shanaka has all the time in the world as he rocks back and effortlessly heaves it over cow corner for a mammoth six.

Dropped short, on middle, Udara hangs back and pulls it firmly to the left of deep mid-wicket for a single.

Huge appeal for LBW, but the umpire remains unmoved. Sahibzada Farhan takes the review. The UltraEdge shows no bat involvement, and the Ball Tracking reflects that the impact on the pad is outside off. Shadab pitches it fuller, but keeps his line outside off. Lahiru Udara goes for a reverse sweep, but misses it out completely to hit the pad.

A touch fuller, on off. Dasun Shanaka taps it with soft hands to cover and gets a single to bring Udara to strike.

FOUR! Brilliant batsmanship from Udara! Razaullah bangs it a tad shorter and on top of middle, Lahiru Udara creates room by moving leg side and cuts it over backward point for a boundary. Lahiru Udara gallops to 74 in just 44 balls.

Beaten! Back of a length, wide outside off, extra bounce. Udara swings his bat across the line, but gets beaten on the outside edge.

A bit untidy from Nafay there! A length ball well outside off, Shanaka wants nothing to do with it. Nafay, though, seems to switch off for a moment behind the stumps. The ball pops out of his gloves and trickles away to short third. The batters pinch a bye.

Short of a length and outside off. Udara backs away again for room and slashes hard, gets an outside edge which sails on the bounce and down to deep third for a single.

FOUR BYES! Oh, dear! That has flown away. Razaullah drags it too short, banging it into the pitch around leg stump. Udara gives himself room by backing away and goes for the uppercut, but he swings and misses. The ball sails over the keeper’s head and races away to the fence behind.

SIX! That's gone a mile! Good length around middle and leg, Udara shuffles across his stumps and picks it up with a contemptuous flick. The ball sails over the long leg fence and into the stands.

SIX! But full marks for the effort in the deep! Short of a length around middle stump, a googly at 90.9 kph. Shanaka rocks back and pulls it flat and hard through the on side. Hasan Nawaz is stationed at deep mid-wicket right on the edge of the rope, and he holds the catch, but his momentum is carrying him over the boundary. He lobs the ball up, steps beyond the rope, scrambles back in and dives full length, but he cannot get there in time as the replay shows that he is in contact with the ropes while holding the ball.

PUT DOWN! Shadab drops a tough chance. That was travelling. Length delivery around off stump, and Udara swings it off the toe end, straight back at the bowler. Shadab gets both hands to it but cannot hold on, and the ball loops off his palms towards cover for a single.

Skiddy delivery, on a length, on off. Udara stabs it off the back foot to covers.

The conventional leg break, short on off. Shanaka cuts it to the right of backward point. Saim dives and makes a fine stop and keeps the batters to a single only.

A smidge short on middle, Lahiru Udara drags it across with a pull shot to deep square leg for a single.

Onto the pads, short in length. Dasun turns it to deep mid-wicket for a single. Sensible batting by Shanaka.

FOUR! Udara keeps marching on! Abrar shortens the length this time, in front of the stumps. Lahiru Udara gives himself room by backing away and punches it crisply through the extra cover and mid off gap for a boundary.

The carrom ball, full on the stumps, Dasun Shanaka eases it through cover-point for a single.

Full, spinning in a touch, Dasun Shanaka clips it to square leg.

Full on the stumps, quicker too, tapped off the front foot into the leg side.

100 up for Sri Lanka! Length ball around off at 86.5 kph. Udara drops down on one knee, and scoops it fine, over the keeper’s head and towards the long stop fence. The man at short third chases it down and cuts it off before the rope, and they settle for three.

FOUR! Nicely done! Full and quick, on the leg stump line. Lahiru Udara gets low on his knee and firmly nails the sweep to the left of short fine leg for a boundary.

On the stumps, and full, blocked watchfully off the front foot by Dasun.

FIFTY FOR LAHIRU UDARA! It takes him 32 balls to bring up his maiden T20I half-century, and he gets there with a single. A length ball around off, Udara stays back and cuts it to deep point to complete the job. It has been a superb knock, with the spinners singled out for special treatment. This is a big moment for him, having pulled his side out of a tight spot, and he will want to bat on till the end.

PUT DOWN! Full and flat, outside off, Lahiru tries to power it down the ground, but mistimes it off the toe end. It goes flat and low towards the bowler. Saim Ayub crouches low to pluck it but the ball just pops in and out of his grasp and splashes away to cover.

Shorter than a length, on the leg stump. Dasun gently nudges it through mid-wicket for a single.

Pitched a tad shorter, on leg, Udara hangs back and nudges it to the left of deep mid-wicket for a single.

FOUR! Well-executed! Full and flat, on off, Lahiru Udara switches his stance while going low on his back knee and nails the reverse sweep, over backward point for a boundary. Udara moves to 48 off just 29.

Excellent spell from Imran on his T20I debut. He ends with figures reading 2/21 in 4 overs. Bowls a length-delivery that shapes in on top of off, Dasun Shanaka gets right behind the line and bunts it down the pitch.

Attacks the stumps, full in length. Lahiru flicks it wide of mid-wicket for a single.

Length ball, on middle and leg. Shanaka again misses steering it across. They get a leg bye as the ball rolls off the thigh pad towards square leg.

Good length, angling into the pads, Udara misses the glance as the ball deflects off his front pad towards short fine leg for a leg bye.

Swings in a touch, full on middle, Dasun clips it to deep square leg for a single.

OUT! FANTASTIC CATCH! Imran has two to his name and he is pumped up. Good length, curving away from off stump with extra lift from over the wicket. Arachchige rises on his toes to meet it and goes for the cut, but the bounce beats him and he cannot get the elevation. It sails flatly to backward point, and Shadab Khan pouches it with both hands, diving to his left and fingers pointing to the sky.

FOUR! Up and over! Pitches it up, around the leg stump. Lahiru Udara gets down on one knee and sweeps it late, over the short fine leg fielder for four runs.

Angling in, fuller one, on middle. Sahan Arachchige works it to long on for one.

OUT! CAUGHT! Saim breaks a budding 60-run stand. Flighted delivery, just outside the off pole, turning away slightly and enticing the attack. Mendis sinks to one knee to drag a slog-sweep across the line, but miscues it pretty badly. He can only manage a towering top-edge into the deep. Fakhar Zaman strolls in from the long off boundary, gets comfortably beneath the drop, and secures the catch cleanly. Sound, unhurried fielding in the deep.

Short, on middle, Lahiru Udara pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Short of a length around middle and leg. Udara rocks back and knocks it to the right of long on for a couple of quick runs.

On a nagging length, on middle, Lahiru Udara flicks it to deep mid-wicket and gets a couple due to a misfield by the fielding in the region.

Flatter and a bit fuller, on leg. Udara gently taps it through mid on for a single.

Short, around middle, Kamindu Mendis works it to deep mid-wicket for one.

FOUR! Exceptional from Mendis! He is looking top-notch from the moment he stepped on the crease. Flighted and a bit fuller, around the toes of the batter. Kamindu Mendis stays low and reverse sweeps it between backward point and short third for a boundary. This brings up the 50-run partnership between Kamindu and Udara.

Flatter and fuller. Kamindu Mendis charges down the track and ends up yorking himself. However, he does well to jam it back to the bowler.

Pitches it up, on middle, Lahiru Udara pushes it to long on for a single.

Fuller, on middle, Lahiru Udara pats it to cover. There's a bit of confusion between the batters, as Mendis sets off early to take a single, but Udara rejects the call, and rightfully so.

Fuller, on middle, Lahiru Udara nudges it to mid-wicket for one.

Excellent running between the sticks! Tossed up, fuller, outside off. Lahiru Udara slog sweeps it to wide of long on and gets a brace.

FOUR! Oh, what a shot that is! A touch fuller, around off. Lahiru Udara gets down on one knee and sweeps it firmly into the gap, between deep mid-wicket and long on for a boundary.

Risky running! Short of a good length outside off. Udara gets on the back foot and cuts smartly to the left of deep point to collect two runs. Razaullah collects and releases a swift throw to the keeper's end. Nafay prepares for the dismissal but spills the ball, dislodging the bails purely with his gloves.

FOUR! What a gorgeous stroke! Pitched full and on middle, Lahiru Udara makes room and goes inside out over extra cover for a beautifully-timed boundary.

Fuller, on middle, Kamindu Mendis skips down the track and flicks it to long on for one.

Drags his length back, does Abrar, around off, Lahiru Udara works it across with soft hands toward sqaure leg and gets a brace.

Wrong'un now, from Abrar Ahmed, shorter length yet again. Lahiru Udara stays on his back foot and pulls it to the right of long on for a comfortable double. 50 up for Sri Lanka! In 6.5 overs.

Tossed up, around off, Kamindu Mendis nudges it to long on for a single.

A touch fuller, around middle and off. Kamindu Mendis does pretty well to connect the reverse sweep, but finds the backward point fielder.

Short of a length, on middle and leg. Lahiru Udara miscues his pull to long on for a single.

Fullish, just outside off, Kamindu Mendis drives it to long off for one.

A slightly slower one, on the back of a good length, around leg. Kamindu Mendis misses his flick and wears high up on the pad. The ball drops dead on the track and the batters gets across for a leg bye.

FOUR! Pure placement from Mendis! Just a shade behind the good length, slanting away from the batter. Kamindu Mendis opens the face of the bat and steers it beautifully through cover-point for four runs.

FOUR! Edged and over! Once again, it's the pace and bounce from Imran, pitching it hard on the good length, outside off. Kamindu Mendis attempts to hit it across the line, but gets nicked on the top edge and it loops over short third for four runs.

Nails a yorker, on middle, Lahiru Udara squeezes it to deep square leg and gets a single.

Hits the deck hard, does Imran, over off. Kamindu Mendis pats it back to the bowler.

Back of a length, angling away from the left-hander. Kamindu Mendis rocks back and looks to lash it over cover, but gets beaten on the outside edge due to some extra bounce off the deck.

FOUR! Expertly played by Udara! Fuller ball, on the stumps, Lahiru Udara backs away to give himself some room. He uses the pace and slices it over backward point for a boundary.

Big swing and a miss! Over 145 kph, full and swinging away, outside off. Lahiru Udara does not move his feet at all and tries to smack it over covers, but gets beaten comprehensively.

Fuller than a length, curving away from the batter. Udara mistimes the drive off the inner half of the bat. It rolls down to mid on.

WIDE! Too straight down leg, on a good length. Udara tries to tickle it behind but misses.

FOUR! Absolutely belted away! Full and speared in on middle. Lahiru Udara backs away to create room, exposes all the stumps and smashes it through the cover and mid off gap for a cracking boundary.

Pushed outside off, slightly fuller, Mendis drives it through cover-point for a single.

Right on the money! Hits the back of a length, and gets the ball to swing back into the batter, on top of off. Kamindu tries to punch it through cover, but the ball sneaks between the yawning bat and pad gap.

Pitched short and moving across the batter with some bounce. Kamindu Mendis is pegged back and tries to block it down the pitch but gets a fat outside edge. The ball flies wide of the short third fielder and they take a single.

FOUR! First genuine shot off the middle of the bat! On a length, nipping away sharply. Kamindu Mendis gets the timing spot on and pings a square cut through backward point and cover-point for a crisp boundary.

Beauty! Hammers it on a length, angling it across the batter. Kamindu Mendis gets squared up to defend, but just manages to withdraw his bat inside the line to leave.

WIDE! Banged short and goes over the head of the batter. Mendis lets it through.

OUT! CAUGHT! Kamil Mishara was swinging the bat like a rusty gate. But his struggles come to an end. On a back of a length, around off, Kamil Mishara stays put and looks to pull it across the line but only manages a thick leading edge that flies up the chimney, over mid off. Fakhar Zaman lurks under it and takes a fine catch. And Imran has his first T20I wicket. Sri Lanka are 18/2, in 3.3 overs.

Back of a length, climbing on the batter, jagging back. Lahiru miscues the pull shot off the splice and it goes on a couple of bounces to mid on for a single.

Good length around the off stump, swinging away across the batter. Mishara swings across the line and gets a leading edge, and the ball lobs towards widish deep backward point on the bounce for a single.

Pitched outside leg on a length, Kamil Mishara hangs back and whips it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Fuller and outside off, Kamil Mishara drives it crisply off the front foot, but finds the fielder at cover-point.

FOUR! Not convincing, but that will ease his nerves massively! Slightly back of a length, on leg, Kamil Mishara heaves it off the inner half of the bat but gets it over mid-wicket for a boundary to get off the mark after nine balls.

Nips back in this time around, on a good length. Mishara is cramped for space, tries to work it across but gets an inside edge onto the thigh pad.

Beaten! Pushed wide outside off, on a fuller length, Mishara throws the bat at it to slap it to the cover region but gets beaten all ends up. He is yet to get off the mark and looks pretty restless.

Holds up on the surface, full on middle and leg. Lahiru Udara looks to flick but he is perhaps a fraction early on the shot and chips it on the bounce and wide of mid-wicket. One run taken.

Off the middle, but straight to the fielder. Five dots on the bounce and that's a handsome start for the debutant Imran. On a length, shaping away, Mishara prods forward and cracks it but fails to pierce the cover gap.

Play and a miss again! Angles it across the batter, on a length, wide outside off. Kamil, this time, tries to whack it across the line, trying to access the leg side, but misses to connect as the ball keeps leaving him.

And again! Back of a length, curving away late, outside off. Kamil Mishara tries to flay it behind point but gets beaten on the outside edge once more. Good swing and carry for Imran.

Swing and a miss! Good-length delivery, swinging away, outside off. Kamil Mishara tries to cut it square on the off side, but the ball zips over his angled bat.

Shapes away, on a good length, around off. Mishara hangs back and taps it with soft hands to backward point.

Shapes into the right-hander, full on middle, Lahiru Udara whips it to deep fine leg for a single.

Fuller and ouside off, Mishara goes for a cover drive but the ball squirts behind to the keeper off the bottom edge.

OUT! IN THE AIR AND GONE! Naseem dismisses the Sri Lankan captain and is beaming with a broad smile. Naseem gets a fair bit of outswing, on a fuller length, wide outside off. Kusal chases the outgoing delivery and flashes hard at it, only manages a thick outside edge and the ball flies straight towards deep third. Mohammad Imran stationed there, bends a bit low and takes a fine catch. Sri Lanka are 9/1 in 0.5 overs.

Slightly fuller and on the stumps, Lahiru Udara tucks it wide of the mid on fielder for a quick single.

Outswinger on a fuller length, around off. Udara confidently drives it but straight to cover.

A bit too straight onto the pads, on a fuller length. Kusal Mendis whips it wide of deep backward square leg for a single and gets off the mark.

WIDE! Far too wide outside off, on a length. Mendis leaves as the ball breaches the tramline.

FIVE WIDES! Oh dear! That's gone horribly wrong for Naseem. Swings down the leg side on a shorter length. Kusal lets it through and the ball stays out of the reach of the diving keeper, Khawaja Nafay, and races to the deep fine leg fence.

Swing straightaway! Full and outside off, shaping away, Udara, with barely any footwork tries to drive it to cover, but gets it chipped wide of backward point for a single. Sri Lanka and Udara are off the mark.