SL vs PAK Ball by Ball Commentary

Usman Khan hits the winning runs! Flat and short, on middle. Usman goes deep in the crease and pulls it to the left of deep square leg and comes back for the second run. Pakistan win by 6 wickets, with 20 balls to spare and take the lead in the series.

Pushes the length up and this is on middle, Shadab pushes it to long on for a single.

FOUR! Sloppy from Sri Lanka in the field. Angled into the pads, on the fuller side, Shadab helps it towards short fine leg, where Nuwan Thushara moves to his left but fails to get his body behind the ball and it goes past him for a boundary. 3 more needed for Pakistan.

Begins from around the wicket and it is sprayed down leg, on a nagging length. Shadab crouches for the fine sweep but misses. Did that brush something? Not given as a wide, much to the surprise of the batter.

Continues to spear it in, very full, on middle, Shadab knocks it to long on and keeps the strike with a single. Pakistan need 7 more runs.

Fired in at 93 kph, full and on off, Usman shimmies down the track and hits it down to long on for one.

Flighted now, full and around off, patted back to the bowler.

The length stays full and this is a bit quicker, Khan wrists it but can't beat the fielder at mid-wicket.

Nice loop and drop, full and on middle. Usman pushes it back to de Silva with a straight bat.

Drops it short, on off, Shadab punches it to long on for a single.

A touch short, around off at 130 kph, Usman is on the back foot as he plays it down to covers. A dot ball to complete the 15th over, 10 required more.

Fuller and around off, pushed towards mid off and they crossed.

FOUR! Only 11 needed now. Chameera sees the charge from the batter and drops his length short. The line though is around middle and leg and Shadab finds it in his range to power it over mid-wicket. Another boundary.

FOUR! Fine timing and placement. Chameera delivers it on a shortish length, outside off, Shadab rocks on the back foot and plays a very wristy shot, as he steers it past point for a boundary. 15 needed off 33 balls.

Wide! Sliding down the leg side, Shadab tries to flick but misses. There is some sound, to be honest, Mendis appeals also but then smiles and asks his teammates to calm down. Wide given!

Drifting down the leg side, on a length, Usman nudges it behind square leg and picks up a single. That's all Pakistan need to do to close this game.

Delivers it full and around off, Shadab gets forward, opens the face of his bat and drives it square of the wicket on the off side, for a single.

Short and on off, Usman punches it back and the bowler makes the stop to his right. Good over from Dhananjaya!

Loopy and around off, Khan eases it towards long off and opens his account with a single.

Fuller and on middle, pushed back to the bowler who stopped it partially with a dive to his right.

Flighted and on off, defended off the front foot.

OUT! STUMPED! First sign of aggression shown by Fakhar Zaman and he pays the price. Flighted delivery, drifting in around middle and skidding down, Zaman rushes down the track for a big shot but misses. Kusal Mendis collects the ball and calmly dislodges the bails. Are Pakistan trying to make a match out of this? They are known to throw away games from a winning position. Let's see what's in store. 23 needed off 40 balls.

Bowls it slower through the air, short and outside off, Fakhar punches from the back foot to covers.

This one is fuller again, outside off, Zaman drives it to long off and keeps strike with a run. 23 needed off 42 balls.

Fuller and on leg, it's knocked down to long on for a run.

Leg spinner this time, on middle, Khan defends from the back foot.

Comes from 'round the wicket and delivers a full ball around off. Fakhar attempts to flick from the crease but gets a leading edge. It rolls towards covers and they take a run.

Googly, around off, Khan goes back to defend but gets an inside edge. It rolls behind square leg and they cross.

Beaten! Flatter and shorter outside off, staying very low, Usman tries to cut but misses.

Short and outside off, guided down to third man for a single. A good over from Chameera but one feels, the moment has already passed.

OUT! CAUGHT! This time, Dasun Shanaka makes no mistake but it's all too late. He had dropped Farhan on 36. A length delivery, around off, Sahibzada Farhan keeps his weight on the back foot and targets to go over the infield at mid off. No timing from his blade, though and he hands a simple catch to Shanaka at mid off. 28 needed off 49 balls.

Short and on middle, pulled to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Wide! Down the leg side, Fakhar tries to flick but misses. 100 up for Pakistan.

Short delivery, Zaman fails to connect with his pull shot.

FIFTY FOR FARHAN! Outstanding knock from him, continues with his rich vein of form. Length delivery, outside off, it's drilled through covers and Dasun Shanaka gives the chase. He slides and pulls the ball back just in time, saving one run.

Back of a length, around off at 140 kph, Farhan punches off the back foot to mid off. Stays on 48.

Up and behind the bowler. Flighted ball, around off and spinning in, served from 'round the wicket, Fakhar jumps down the track and smacks it straight down the ground. Opens his account with a couple of runs.

Loopy and full, around off, Fakhar Zaman leans forward and defends it from the inner part of his bat.

Very full, around leg, Fakhar moves back and pushes it towards the bowler.

Flatter and on off, turning away, Fakhar defends from the back foot to the leg side.

OUT! CAUGHT! Wanindu Hasaranga serves a friendly full toss, around off at 83 kph, Salman Agha wears his skates and tries to power it over long on. All he gains is an aerial shot without much distance and Pathum Nissanka takes the catch easily in the deep. 35 runs needed off 58 balls, so Pakistan don't have to worry much at this stage.

Shortish and on off, punched off the back foot to covers where the fielder misfielded and parried it towards point. They crossed.

Slightly slower and fuller as well, around off, Salman reaches out in front and wrists it to the right of long on. A fumble in the deep by Nuwan Thushara while picking the ball up allows the batters to take the second run.

Theekshana continues to dart it in, at the sticks, on the fuller side. Sahibzada works it down to long on and turns the strike over.

Fired in, full and on middle, Agha ekes out an inside edge that goes behind square on the leg side for a run.

FOUR! Good use of the crease! Theekshana spots Agha backing away but he sticks to the stumps, on a nagging length. Salman is quick to get on the back foot and hammers it past extra cover for a boundary.

Skidding through, on off. Sahibzada goes back but the ball is not that short for the pull. Farhan mistimes the pull and it goes uppishly but well wide of mid-wicket to his left. They cross.

Fractionally short and equally wide, Sahibzada presses back and gives himself room. He cuts it to the left of deep cover for a couple of runs.

Keeps it flat and short, on off, Farhan stays back and pats it wide of cover for a single.

Full and it is another googly, attacking the front pad. Farhan picks it from the hand and brings his bat out in front for the block.

Shorter and quicker, on off, Farhan hits it firmly to cover.

Looped up, full and on middle, pushed to cover by Sahibzada.

Flighted delivery, short and outside off, eased wide of point for a single.

FOUR! Nicely done! Googly from Hasaranga, full and outside off, Agha walks across the stumps and gets down the track as well. He gets to the pitch of the ball and thumps it back over Wanindu's head for a boundary.

FOUR! Easy pickings! Chameera goes searching for the yorker but ends up serving a low full toss, on middle. Farhan needs no second invitation as he clears the front leg and tonks it back over the bowler's head for four more. 13 from the over, Sri Lanka unable to create any pressure.

FOUR LEG BYES! Given as leg byes and Sahibzada Farhan is not happy one bit. The replays show why. It came off the bat of Farhan and also took some part of the glove. Sliding onto the pads, on a length, Farhan swings away and beats the short fine leg fielder to his right.

PUT DOWN! Not the easiest of chances but Sri Lanka need to convert every opportunity that comes their way. Hurls it on a good length, on off, Farhan swings through the line to pump it back over the bowler's head. It is spooned towards mid off, where Dasun Shanaka dives forward with the ball dipping on him. The ball carries to him and Shanaka tries to get his hands under the ball but fails to get hold of the catch. The ball goes behind for a couple of runs.

Good running! Slams the surface, over off, Salman gets on his toes and drops it beside the strip on the leg side. Kamil Mishara moves to his left from mid-wicket and gets to the ball. He releases an underarm throw at the bowling end but the throw goes wide of the stumps. Salman was in any way.

Rushes the batter again at 141 kph, in and around the off stump, on a good length. Farhan pushes out in front of his body with hard hands. The ball squirts off an outside edge wide of point for one.

The ball kisses off the deck and skids through, on a good length, on top of off, Agha pushes it in front of mid on for a single.

Too straight and too full as well, down leg, Agha turns it in front of square on the leg side for a run. A steady first over from Wanindu, only 4 runs off it but Sri Lanka need wickets from their star bowler.

At 85 kph, shorter in length, on middle. Farhan punches it off the back foot to long on and crosses over.

Offers flight but ends up serving a full toss, on middle, Salman clubs it to deep mid-wicket and gets off the mark with a single.

Very full and quick too, on the pads, Farhan knocks it to long on for a single.

Drags the length back, around off, Sahibzada hangs back and angles it to point.

A big swing and a miss! Loopy ball, seemed like the googly, full and outside off, Farhan crouches and has a big swing through the line but misses as the ball goes under the bat.

Speared in at the pads, full in length. Agha brings his bat out in front and dabs it on the leg side. At the end of the Powerplay, Pakistan are 59/1, needing 70 runs in 84 balls.

OUT! CASTLED! Maheesh Theekshana sneaks through, but the damage has been done. Stays around the wicket and this is fuller, on middle at 100 kph. Ayub gets the front leg out of the way and looks to launch it more towards long on - his famous no-look shot. The ball comes in with the arm to go under the blade and it brushes the crouched back pad before crashing into the stumps. 24 (18) for Ayub. Pakistan are 59/1, chasing 129.

FOUR! You can't keep Ayub quiet for long. Slightly fuller, on off, Saim rocks back, clears the front leg and swipes it up and over square leg for a four.

At 98 kph, pushed through again, fractionally short, on off, Saim pushes it to cover from the crease.

Darted in again, skidding through, on middle and leg. Ayub presses on the back foot and taps it to cover.

Sliding on with the arm, on a nagging length, on middle. Ayub hops back and squeezes out an inside edge to square leg.

Back of a lenght, around off at 87 mph, Sahibzada Farhan goes on his toes and defends it down.

A bit of room outside off, Ayub throws his hands at it and slaps it square of the wicket on the off side. The deep point fielder moves swiftly across to his left and stops the racing ball. They take a run.

BEATS THE BAT! Back of a length, around off and skidding away from the southpaw, Saim Ayub rocks back and tries to play a punchy drive through the line but misses. The keeper collects the ball and it's the bowler who is appealing. Nothing from the umpire. Dasun Shanaka thinks of trying his luck. Takes the DRS. UltraEdge shows a flat line. Review wasted.

Sliding down the leg side, Farhan fails to flick and it goes off his pads to backward square leg. They pinch a leg bye.

IN THE AIR... SAFE! Pacy delivery this time, cross-seam, on a length and on middle at 140 kph, Farhan stays back and tries to go for a big shot down the ground. His bottom hand comes off the handle and hence he fails to get the timing right. The ball flies and clears mid on. They take a couple.

FOUR! Change in bowling, but there is no change in the result. Dushmantha Chameera begins with a slower one, at 108 kph, full and outside off, Sahibzada Farhan waits for it and clobbers it over extra cover for a boundary. The 50 is on the board.

Fullish and on middle, Sahibzada Farhan leans across and bunts it down to long on for a single. 7 runs from the over!

Quicker and short, on middle, turned in front of square leg for a run.

Fuller and on off, driven back to the bowler with a straight bat.

Flighted and full, on middle, defended down the pitch.

FOUR! Too short and punished! Around off and skidding in from outside off, Saim Ayub swivels on the back foot and hammer-pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a boundary.

Flatter and shorter, on middle, it's forced down to long on for a single.

Goes full and outside off, Farhan strokes it down off the bottom half of the bat. It rolls through mid on and they take a run. 19 from this over and Pakistan have raced to 40 in no time.

SIX! This one sails over the fence as well. It's a great start from Pakistan, making a statement. Sharp delivery, short and on middle at 134 kph, Sahibzada Farhan eases himself on the back foot, brings a horizontal bat down and smokes it over deep backward square leg for a biggie.

SIX! OUT OF HERE! Yet another slower one attempted, at 117 clicks and this has been handled with authority. Fuller and outside off, Sahibzada Farhan fetches it and towers it behind the bowler's head for a maximum. Lasith Malinga, the fast-bowling consultant, looks worried.

Fullish and on off, taking the pace off, Sahibzada Farhan brings his bat down and pushes it to mid on.

Keeps it very full and around leg, moving a bit into the batter, Ayub clips it to deep mid-wicket for a single. All looks very easy for Pakistan.

Wide! Another wrong line. Nuwan Thushara comes from over the wicket and bowls a length ball down the leg side. He is lucky as Saim fails to get any bat behind it.

FOUR! Stylish! This young man is a very attractive-looking stroke player. Nuwan steams in from 'round the wicket and serves a full ball on middle and leg. Saim Ayub leans forward and across, lifts it off his pads and puts it away to the fence at mid-wicket. Nuwan continues to struggle with his line.

Edgy! Maheesh Theekshana delivers it around leg and this one grips a bit. Sahibzada Farhan closes the face of his bat to work it on the leg side but gets a leading edge. It goes safely to covers. 9 from the second over!

Fullish and around middle, Saim drives it back and it races past the diving bowler to long off. They take a single.

SIX! Dismissed! This is how Saim Ayub is known to bat. Tossed up, full and outside off, there is enough room available for the batter who exercises his arms. Goes inside-out and hammers it over extra cover for a biggie.

Floated and full, on middle, it's knocked down to long on for one.

Quicker through the air, around off, at 101 kph, Ayub punches it from the crease, past the cover fielder, and a run is taken.

Loopy and full, on middle, from 'round the wicket, Saim drives off the front foot to covers.

FOUR! Consecutive boundaries to close the first over. Nuwan is struggling with his line. Delivers it full and around leg at 136 kph, easy pickings for Sahibzada Farhan. He once again picks it off his pads and flicks it with great timing, towards mid-wicket, for a boundary. 12 from the first over!

FOUR! Eased away! Nuwan Thushara once again loses his radar. Serves it full and down the leg side, Farhan picks it off his pads and neatly nudges it down to fine leg for a boundary.

Back of a length, outside off, Sahibzada Farhan shifts his weight on the back foot and punches it through the line. Finds the cover fielder who makes no mistake this time.

Nuwan Thushara changes his angle for the left-hander. Speeds in from 'round the wicket and spears in a yorker on middle. Saim Ayub does well to bring his bat down in time. He digs it out to mid-wicket and crosses.

Nuwan gets his line right and delivers a full ball outside off. A hint of movement. Farhan drives away from his body, towards covers, where the fielder fumbles and parries it towards mid off. They cross.

Nuwan Thushara begins with a delivery that's not on the mark. Full and on the pads, Sahibzada Farhan flicks it easily through mid-wicket and opens his account with a couple of runs.