Shinwari destroys Lanka, Pakistan sweep the series

Sharjah, October 23

Left-arm paceman Usman Shinwari destroyed Sri Lanka with a five-wicket burst to help Pakistan achieve a convincing nine-wicket win in the fifth and final ODI for a 5-0 clean sweep of the series here today. Shinwari’s 5/34 in seven overs helped his side skittle out Sri Lanka for just 103 in 26.2 overs, and them openers Fakhar Zaman (48) and Imam-ul-Haq (45*) knocked off the paltry target in 20.2 overs.

This is Pakistan’s sixth whitewash in a five-match ODI series. They have blanked Zimbabwe (2002 and 2008), Bangladesh (2003 and 2008) and New Zealand (2003) in the past. The result was never in doubt once Shinwari, assisted by Hasan Ali (2/19) and Shadab Khan (2/24), destroyed Sri Lanka. The win is Pakistan’s ninth in a row since winning the Champions Trophy in June this year, while Sri Lanka plummeted to their 12th defeat in a row. Zaman hit seven boundaries in his 47-ball knock before he fell with the team needing just 20 runs more. Imam hit the winning runs, smashing four boundaries and a six in his knock.

But it was Pakistan’s new find Shinwari who rocked the Sri Lankans. The 23-year-old bowled Sadeera Samarawickrama with the fifth ball of the match for nought, and then had Dinesh Chandimal caught behind on his next ball. In his next over, Shinwari rattled the stumps of skipper Upul Tharanga with a nippy delivery, and trapped Niroshan Dickwella leg-before to leave Sri Lanka tottering at 8/4. Shinwari completed his maiden five-wicket haul when he had Milinda Siriwardana (six) caught by Fakhar Zaman. His five-wicket haul came off just 21 balls — third fastest in an ODI.

Only Thisara Perera (25), Lahiru Thirimanne (19), Seekuge Prasanna (16) and Dushmantha Chameera (11) reached double figures in an abysmal batting performance by Sri Lanka, their second lowest total in an ODI against Pakistan. Their lowest total of 78 against Pakistan had also come at Sharjah in 2002. — AFP

Brief scores: Sri Lanka 103 (Usman 5/34); Pakistan 105 /1 (Fakhar 48, Imam 45*)