Akmal and Anjum power Pakistan to huge win

COLOMBO, (Reuters) – Pakistan ended their losing run  against Sri Lanka with a comprehensive 146-run victory in the  fourth one-day international yesterday.

The tourists, who lost the test series 2-0 and trailed the  one-day series 3-0, won their first game of a difficult tour  after teenager Umar Akmal scored a brilliant maiden century,  powering Pakistan to a formidable 321 for five.

Akmal, the 19-year-old brother of wicket-keeper Kamran,  smashed an unbeaten 102 off just 72 balls with five fours and  four sixes.

Sri Lanka made a confident start with opener Upul Tharanga  stroking 80 off 89 deliveries and skipper Kumar Sangakkara  cracking 39 from 33 balls, but then struggled when the ball grew  softer on a slow spinning pitch.

The hosts eventually collapsed in the middle overs with  medium pacer Iftikhar Anjum claiming five for 30.

Off spinner Saeed Ajmal claimed two for 24 from seven overs  and leg spinner Shahid Afridi took two for 40.

Sri Lanka were bowled out for 175 in 36.1 overs.

Earlier, Pakistan made the most out of a good batting pitch  having won the toss with Kamran Akmal (57) and Imran Nazir (23)  adding 61 for the first wicket.

Sri Lanka’s slow bowlers fought back, reducing Pakistan from  106-1 to 130-4, but Umar Akmal then took centre stage with a  magnificent display of hitting.

Captain Younus Khan provided support with a 89 from 111  balls, a more measured innings that included just four  boundaries.

The fifth-wicket pair shared a match-winning 176-run  partnership, plundering runs at a frenetic rate during the final  overs of the innings.

Leg spinner Malinga Bandara was Sri Lanka’s most economical  and effective bowler, claiming two for 44 from his 10 overs.

Sri Lanka did not help their own cause by giving away 29  wides, 26 of which were delivered by Lasith Malinga.

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