Kusal, Kaushal seal series for Sri Lanka A
A three-wicket haul from Tharindu Kaushal and a run-a-ball 110 from Kusal Perera helped Sri Lanka A beat Pakistan A by seven runs in a truncated game in Hambantota. It gives them an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
After being put in, Shehan Jayasuriya and Kusal put on 57 for the f
rst wicket, which ended when Tabish Khan dismissed Jayasuriya for 21 in the 13th over. Kusal was then involved in two 50-plus partnerships – 77-runs for the second wicket with Danushka Gunathilaka which took Sri Lanka past 100, and a 55-run stand with Ashan Priyanjan which took Sri Lanka past 200. But seamers Zia-ul-Haq and Tabish picked up three wickets apiece and kept Sri Lanka to 265 for 9.
Pakistan were set a revised target of 220 in 40 overs and the openers Mukhtar Ahmed and Israrullah put on 49 in 5.5 overs to kick the chase off. However, Sri Lanka hit back with Dushantha Chameera dismissing both in the space of 10 balls which left Pakistan at 54 for 2.
Fawad Alam and Khurram Manzoor rescued them with a 135-run third-wicket stand. But again Sri Lanka found timely wickets with Kaushal dismissing Manzoor (69), Fawad (65) and Saad Nasim as Pakistan slipped to 212 for 6 in the 39th over and finally fell seven runs short.
Sri Lanka A 265 for 7 (Kusal 110, Tabish Khan 3-55) beat Pakistan A 213 (Khurram 69, Alam 65, Kaushal 3-44) by seven runs (D/L method)
