Fawad Alam’s maiden ODI century guided defending champion Pakistan to score a challenging total of 260 for 5 in the stipulated 50 overs in the final of the five-nation Asia Cup Cricket against Sri Lanka at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Monday.
When Pakistan were in deep trouble losing top three wickets of Sharjeel Khan, Ahmed Shehzad and Mohammad Hafeez cheaply for 18 runs in just 4.3 overs, Fawad Alam pairing with captain Misbah-Ul-Haq salvage the team from awkward situation scoring 122 runs in 32.1 over in the 4th wicket stand.
The 28 year old left handed middle order batsman from Karachi, Fawad again partnering with Umar Akmal contributed 115 runs in 13 overs in the 5th wicket stand to make a fighting of 255 for 5 in 49.4 overs.
Number five batsman Fawad Alam hammered an unconquered 114 runs in 134 balls featuring eight fours and three sixes. Fawad completed his first ODI century hitting a six over the mid-wicket, off the first ball of 48th over by Thisara Perera. His 126-ball century featured six fours and three sixes.
Skipper Misbah-Ul-Haq scored 65 runs off 98 balls with three fours and two sixes before he was caught by Kusal Perera off a Lasith Malinga delivery while number six Umar Akmal quick-fired another useful 59 runs off 42 balls including seven boundaries
Earlier, Pakistan opened the inning first after winning the toss to bat first and faced an initial batting collapse losing three wickets for 18 runs in 4.3 overs against devastating pace attack Lasith Malinga.
Malinga made the early breakthrough removing opener Sharjeel Khan (8) in the last ball of first over, then he took another opener Ahmed Shehzad (5) in the last ball of his 2nd overs and dismissed one down Mohammad Hafeez (3) in the 3rd ball of his 3rd overs to make a good figure of 3-0-12-3.
Source: UNBConnect