Sri Lanka were better in all departments

It was 1-1 going into the deciding ODI at Lahore. And though Sri Lanka were the favourites after their comprehensive win in the second game no one would have expected Pakistan to crumple the way they did. After posting 309 on the board thanks mainly to a coming of age unbeaten ton by Tillakaratne Dilshan, Sri Lanka had little trouble sending the Pakistanis packing on their home soil.

Nuwan Kulasekara and Thilan Thushara exploited the bowler-friendly conditions to the hilt as Pakistan were six down ever before the first ten overs were completed. The last of the six victims, Shahid Afridi, was unimaginably clean bowled shouldering arms to Kulasekara typifying the home team’s horror. For the record, Pakistan were bundled out for 75, their lowest total at home.

Though the margin of victory was gigantic, it was achieved thanks to a sensible approach after Mahela Jayawardene’s risky decision to bat first. On a pitch that favoured the bowlers early on Sanath Jayasuriya and Dilshan adopted a very careful approach against the on target Umar Gul and Sohail Khan. It was only when Iftikhar Anjum was introduced that Jayasuriya broke loose. He murdered the hapless bowler with his trademark strokes and though Gul got him soon after plenty of damage had already been done and Sri Lanka were off to a great start.

After Jayasuriya’s departure, Dilshan in the company of Kumar Sangakkara ensured that Sri Lanka built further on the solid platform. The duo took minimal risks as there were plenty of gaps in the field. Unlike the first two games, the instinctive Dilshan was successful in curbing the gratuitous strokes. The two looked invincible and Pakistan had all but given up hope when a mix saw the Lankan wicket-keeper being run out for the second successive game immediately after getting to his half-century.

The blemish did not hamper Dilshan as he went on to score his second ODI ton and opened up after that. He carried his bat right through the innings and possibly played the knock that makes him realize what he is capable of. With Thilina Kandamby coming in, the slog overs too have been fruitful for Lanka and he made a worthy contribution again.

What did Sri Lanka did very well was where Pakistan failed. To be fair, it was the Sri Lankan bowlers who did not allow them to succeed. Kulasekara and Thushara were impeccable and were greatly aided by the seaming and swinging conditions under lights. The latter trapped Younis Khan and Kamran Akmal in front of the stumps and had Misbah-ul-Haq caught behind with an unplayable outswinger. Kulasekara, on the other hand, had the in-form Salman Butt caught behind and rattled Afridi’s off-stump while Khurram Manzoor was almost miraculously caught by Farveez Maharoof. At 22 for 6, Pakistan could easily have folded up for a total under 50. But Gul, who has been Pakistan’s best bowler on show, put up a spirited show which included some eye-catching cover drives. He and skipper Shoaib Malik put up a brief resistance before the spinners came on completed the formalities.

The final wicket of Sohail Khan was Muralitharan’s 500th – yet another feather in the great Lankan’s cap. And considering that he has been such a consistent match-winner for his side for so long, it was only apt that he achieved the feat in game where Lanka obliterated their opponents. But while Murali ensured Sri Lanka had an additional reason to celebrate, the man of the moment was indisputably Tillakaratne Dilshan who ended up winning both the Man of the match and the Man of the series awards.