PAK vs SL, 2nd ODI: Azam's Ton, Shinwari's Fifer Power Pakistan To Thumping 67-run Win At Karachi

Pakistan’s win against a depleted Lankan team in the 2nd ODI came on the back of a stellar ton by their batting mainstay Babar Azam and a five-wicket haul from Usman Shinwari.

Pakistan trounced Sri Lanka by 67 runs to win the second one day international played at the National Stadium in Karachi on Monday and take a 1-0 lead in the 5-match ODI series. The thumping win by the hosts brought big smiles on the faces of thousands of their die-hard fans who witnessed a limited overs international being hosted in their nation after a decade. Pakistan’s win against a depleted Lankan team came on the back of a stellar ton by their batting mainstay Babar Azam and a five-wicket haul from Usman Shinwari.

Pakistan mark ODI cricket's return to Karachi with a win 🙌#PAKvSL SCORE ➡️ https://t.co/eD0ONn9xh0 pic.twitter.com/ATerDYFRts

— ICC (@ICC) September 30, 2019

After Pakistan skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed won the toss and elected to bat first, Babar Azam top scored for Pakistan by notching up his 11th ODI ton and opener Fakhar Zaman (54)  chipped in with a breezy half ton to help the hosts set a daunting 306-run target. There were handy contributions with the willow from Harris Sohail (40) and Iftikhar Ahmed (32). During his 115-run  knock, Babar also became the quickest to 1000 ODI runs in a calender year for Pakistan Defending a mammoth target of 306, Pakistan bowled Sri Lanka out for 238 in 46.5 overs. Shinwari, who made a comeback in the ODI side after playing his last match in March this year, produced a match winning spell of 5 for 51 from his 10 overs. This was his second five-wicket haul in 50-over international cricket, both coming against the Lankans. Shadab Khan got two while Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim managed to bag a wicket each. Sri Lanka were in dire straits at 28 for 5, before Jayasuriya and Shanaka came together to stitch a 177 runs partnership of for the sixth wicket, which is the highest for Sri Lanka in ODI cricket and also the highest at the National Stadium in Karachi. However, Shinwari came back strongly  in the final powerplay to break the dangerous partnership by dismissing Jayasuriya for 96 in the 41st over. Shadab then sent back Shanaka for 68 in the very next over to derail the run chase for Sri Lanka. The third and final match of the series will be played at the same venue on October 2. The first match was washed out without even a ball being bowled. Brief Scores Pakistan 305 for 7 in 50 overs Babar Azam - 115, Fakhar Zaman - 54, Harris Sohail - 40 Wanindu Hasaranga 2-63 Sri Lanka 238 All-Out in 46.5 Overs  Shehan Jayasuriya - 96, Dasun Shanaka - 68, Wanindu Hasaranga - 30 Usman Shinwari 5-51 Man of the Match - Usman Shinwari