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Untitled Document
 Sangakkara, Mendis star in Sri Lankan win against Pakistan
30th Jun 2008 09:00 IST
Agencies
Kumar Sangakkara notched his ninth one-day international century and Ajantha Mendis claimed four wickets to lead Sri Lanka to a 64-run win against Pakistan in a Super Four match of the Asia Cup at the National Stadium in Karachi Sunday night.
Misbah-ul-Haq made a career-best 76 off 70 balls before Pakistan was restricted to 238/9 off its allotted 50 overs.
Pakistan's middle-order batsmen failed to read the 23-year-old Mendis' variety of spinning deliveries and slumped to 175/6 by the end of 40th over as Mendis foxed the home batsmen, who were facing him for the first time, with his neat variation.
Misbah narrowed the margin of victory, hitting three fours and four sixes before he was bowled out by Mendis, who finished with figures of 4/47.
Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik made 52 off 79 balls before he was stumped off Mendis in the 32nd over.
Malik, who opened the innings, batted patiently for 79 balls as Pakistan struggled to force the pace, losing three key wickets in the space of 4.5 overs to suffer a middle order slump that left them on 153/6.
Pakistan had a disastrous start to its run-chase when Chaminda Vaas knocked back Salman Butt's off stump of the first delivery. Younis Khan and Malik added 72 runs for the second wicket off 100 balls to keep the home team in the run.
Muttiah Muralitharan took a well judged catch while running backward off Younis' mistimed pull shot.
Mendis was introduced into the attack in the 24th over and it was clear the batsmen were not picking him even on the flat pitch as he bowled a mixture of off-spinners, leg spinners and sliders.
Mendis trapped Mohammad Yousuf (19) with a top-spinner and then got Mansoor Amjad's wicket in similar fashion before hard-hitting Shahid Afridi holed out in the deep off his first delivery off Sanath Jayasuriya.
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