Pakistan pull off a miracle to clinch the T20 series

Afridi made a 22-ball 45

Pakistan completed a remarkable turnaround to win the second T20 against Sri Lanka by one wicket at Colombo. 27-year-old Anwar Ali sent shockwaves across the cricketing world by taking the Lankan attack (including skipper Malinga) to the cleaners when the game looked dead and buried at 107 for 7 while chasing 173.

With this win, they have clinched the T20 series by a 2-0 margin after having won the Test series and the ODI series earlier. Earlier in the day, Sri Lanka were dealt a blow before the toss as Angelo Mathews was ruled out with an injury. Both sides made changes as they looked to get their combinations right ahead of the World T20 which is just a few months away. 

Dilshan began with trademark fashion by scoring a boundary in the very first over off a Dilscoop. But, he didn’t last long and was dismissed by Anwar Ali. Debutant Shehan Jayasuriya walked in at number 3 and held the innings together before unleashing himself against Afridi. 

He made a 32-ball 40 and Sri Lanka were looking at a moderate total. But, comeback man Chamara Kapugedera changed the complexion of the innings with some boundaries in the end to set Pakistan a target of 173 to win the series. 

But Pakistan made a disastrous start as they were reduced to 40 for 5 by the 8th over. At this point, nobody would have expected the men in green to pull off a heist. But skipper Shahid Afridi hit some trademark sixes in a 22-ball 45 before getting out. 

Anwar Ali then proved to the unlikely hero as he hit some lusty blows in the end. But the game had another twist in the offing when Anwar Ali and Sohail Tanvir were dismissed in the penultimate over. Pakistan then needed 6 from 6 deliveries with one wicket left and it was Imad Wasim who stuck a wonderful six to seal the game.