Pakistan (289/2) defeat Sri Lanka (288/8) comfortably by 8 wickets to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in 3-match ODI series

[Deewana Mastana]

No ball and a warning

Free hit coming up for Saim

 

[Deewana Mastana]

6! Saim smashed that out of the park

 

[Nasty Naz]

What a difference in their PP bowling from the first game. Very ugly for SL right now.

 

[BreadPakoda]

Horrible bowling by Sri Lanka

 

[Deewana Mastana]

4! Lovely shot by Saim

Thus far the biggest over of the innings for Pakistan

 

[Deewana Mastana]

Another ball another boundary

Smashed that behind point and skids to the fence

 

[Deewana Mastana]

Pakistan 49-0 after 5 overs

 

[Ball Blazer]

Pakistan 49-0 after 5 overs

Good start though

 

[Ball Blazer]

Where do I bet?

We will talk after match

 

[Deewana Mastana]

Good start though

Smashing start considering Pakistan's standards

 

[Deewana Mastana]

50 up in 5.3 overs

 

[RizwanT20Champ]

Great start by us, Saim truly is the best batsman we have at the moment and the best after Babar in the post Yousuf,Inzi and YK era. Good to see Fakhar starting briskly for once but I am worried this will be a false dawn in a largely meaningless game and come the WC we will see 25(50) from FZ.

 

[Deewana Mastana]

Fakhar needs to try and move his feet a bit stuck at the crease too often

 

[RizwanT20Champ]

Why do we have to play FZ in these matches against SL?

 

[jnaveen1980]

13 extras in 6 overs. Clearly mind is elsewhere

 

[Deewana Mastana]

Unlucky for the bowler but lucky for Fakhar 4 runs just went past the stumps under edge

 

[Deewana Mastana]

Why do we have to play FZ in these matches against SL?

Would've preferred had they picked Farhan for the ODI's and try him out as he once averaged in the high 40's with a 90 SR in List A.

 

[Deewana Mastana]

4! Saim Ayub you beauty! Masha'Allah

 

[Deewana Mastana]

Raining boundaries here at Rawalpindi

Back to back 4s by Saim Ayub

 

[RizwanT20Champ]

Would've preferred had they picked Farhan for the ODI's and try him out as he once averaged in the high 40's with a 90 SR in List A.

Yes I dont understand what Fakhar offers anymore. He is old and becoming a tulla. He will be 40+ in real age by WC 2027. He will cost us games.

 

[Deewana Mastana]

Captain Asalanka bowling holding back Hasaranga and getting deposited for boundaries.

 

[GreenKhan]

Great start by us, Saim truly is the best batsman we have at the moment and the best after Babar in the post Yousuf,Inzi and YK era. Good to see Fakhar starting briskly for once but I am worried this will be a false dawn in a largely meaningless game and come the WC we will see 25(50) from FZ.

Fakhar very rarely does 25 of 50.

 

[Deewana Mastana]

Dropped! Fakhar gave a catch and they spilled it was an easy one too

 

[RizwanT20Champ]

Fakhar very rarely does 25 of 50.

Last match?

 

[TheSultan]

vot a start. Let’s hope no3 and 4 don’t get a bat or they’ll “take it deep”

 

[Deewana Mastana]

Bang 4 more! Fakhar this time slaps it away

 

[Deewana Mastana]

vot a start. Let’s hope no3 and 4 don’t get a bat or they’ll “take it deep”

That's what their job is

 

[GreenKhan]

Last match?

I said very rarely . He has been scratchy last few games , but he has a SR of 45 and average of 93. Are you sure your not confusing him with Imam

 

[TheSultan]

So refreshing to see this type of batting

 

[Rana]

Don’t think I’ve ever seen both Pakistan openers go hard like this

 

[TheSultan]

Fakhar is clearly out of form. I don’t think he’s middled one today, but he’s not hiding like a coward. Great stuff

 

[Rana]

It was my dream to see the Fakhar/Sharjeel combo

But it’s really delightful to see this Fakhar+Saim combo go hard!

 

[RizwanT20Champ]

I said very rarely . He has been scratchy last few games , but he has a SR of 45 and average of 93. Are you sure your not confusing him with Imam

Fakhar always tends to start slow but then he catches up...at least in his prime that is how it was. Problem is now he is not in his prime and rarely able to kick on.

 

[Rana]

vot a start. Let’s hope no3 and 4 don’t get a bat or they’ll “take it deep”

Yeah I am leaving the stadium when those two cowards come to the crease

 

[Sunny_majoka]

Fakhar that easy sixs to spinners were almost three years ago, now you're not even fully fit.

 

[Rana]

Fakhar insists on using his feet to spinners

It’s not working for him.

 

[Rana]

Amir Sohail hoping for Pakistan to slow down a bit.

 

[GreenKhan]

Fakhar always tends to start slow but then he catches up...at least in his prime that is how it was. Problem is now he is not in his prime and rarely able to kick on.

He is probably our best white ball bat in one days in the last 15 years and probably our best opener ever . Even if he’s not in his prime he will play till the 2027 World Cup .

 

[Nasty Naz]

Saim Ayub was going so well and just plays that silly shot for no reason.

 

[Energy]

Unlucky Saim. Fakhar took his luck.

Now Bobby is here.

 

[Rana]

Oh no. In comes the tail

 

[RizwanT20Champ]

He is probably our best white ball bat in one days in the last 15 years and probably our best opener ever . Even if he’s not in his prime he will play till the 2027 World Cup .

Not denying he is and I ike Fakhar. Just dont think he adds anything if he no longer has explosive power. He is an average fielder who doesn't bowl.

 

[Rana]

Gate opened for Hasaranga

 

[GreenKhan]

Not denying he is and I ike Fakhar. Just dont think he adds anything if he no longer has explosive power. He is an average fielder who doesn't bowl.

The power is still there . The timing and form not quiet. Fakhar and saim the way to go at the moment. We finally have two fearless openers .

 

[Rana]

Pakistan have slowed down since the 7th over

 

[Kianig89]

Babar needs to bat well here

 

[TheSultan]

Oh man I go away for 5 min and Zimbabar is at the crease. Time for a nap

 

[Rana]

Babar needs to bat well here

Otherwise you know where the Chittar are coming from for you

 

[RizwanT20Champ]

King joins the soldier. They have both been our pride in ODIs. Fond memories of them gunning down 400 in WC game vs NZ

 

[AZulfi]

Fakhar has had two lives already. Should make it count and go for a big one today, ideally a hundred

 

[saabir]

If pakistan win this match they should give chance to Faisal Akram, Hassebullah and Abdul Samad in place of Naseem, Rizwan and Fakhar .

 

[YousafTheBeast]

but I am worried this will be a false dawn in a largely meaningless game and come the WC we will see 25(50) from FZ.

This coming from a RizBar fan makes it even more hilarious

 

[TheSultan]

Zimbo should have been caught there

 

[batandballbattle]

bobzy still looking as clueless as ever against spin

 

[TheSultan]

Lovely 50 strike rate from Babar he loves “taking it deep”!

 

[BreadPakoda]

Babar succeeding against this low grade SL attack with butter fingers is a net negative for Pak

 

[badsha001]

Lovely 50 strike rate from Babar he loves “taking it deep”!

deep up his @**?

 

[AZulfi]

First confident shot by Babar, straight down the ground

 

[AZulfi]

deep up his @**?

Just kidding but I think you are watching too much p***

 

[YousafTheBeast]

Fakhar needs a double ton to keep Imam out.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

very good pitch to bat on in the second innings with the dew factor

 

[AZulfi]

Babar succeeding against this low grade SL attack with butter fingers is a net negative for Pak

even that is not guaranteed.

Babar of today is not fluent with the bat. Too hesitant and nervy at least initially

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Fakhar needs a double ton to keep Imam out.

Imam can probably make the squad as it is as the back-up opener

 

[Kianig89]

Hasaranga having the upper hand so far

 

[BreadPakoda]

even that is not guaranteed.

Babar of today is not fluent with the bat. Too hesitant and nervy at least initially

Yeah he’s regressed a lot.

 

[YousafTheBeast]

Imam can probably make the squad as it is as the back-up opener

Sahibzada Farhan?

 

[AZulfi]

Sahibzada Farhan?

Agree. Kamran Ghulam deserves another chance as well

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Sahibzada Farhan?

Forgot about him. Yeah, I'd definitely have him in the squad over Imam.

 

[AZulfi]

Second confident shot by Babar today

 

[BreadPakoda]

Second confident shot by Babar today

He’s looking ok. This can be a morale boosting innings for him, especially if he gets a big one. Which is still possible given its SL. But what happens when he faces top bowlers again in an ICC tournament?

 

[AZulfi]

Much needed fifty for Fakhar (out of form of late)

 

[ads101]

I think Farhan needs to be part of this team now.

Fakhar perhaps should move down the order and play Farhan as opener.

 

[jnaveen1980]

chase master Babar is on

 

[Adnan_Ilyas]

Why did they only run one? I get the six was stopped but could have atleast ran two or three.

 

[Fazzy321]

That was actually a 6. As he still had the ball over the boundary according to recent rule change

 

[Sunny_majoka]

Fakhar isn't 100%, doesn't look he will be fit to play till 2027

 

[GoUgandaCranes]

This team has serious skill issues.

1. Saim - no need to play that shot.
2. Fakhar - trying to get out at this moment.
3. Babar - tuktuk like there's no tomorrow.

These are the so-called top 3. Shambolic

 

[Adnan_Ilyas]

Dots Dots Dots......

 

[hafizexpress]

I don't agree with the notion that Fakhar is past it. Seems to be going through a mental rut and short on confidence. He's still managing some runs though and I'd much prefer him at the crease than Rizwan per se

 

[Rana]

Pressure building