Sri Lankan speedster Lasith Malinga picked up from where he left off in the tournament opener, grabbing his second consecutive five-wicket haul against Pakistan in the Asia Cup final on Saturday.
The opening bowler ripped through the Pakistan batting line-up, claiming 5-56 and helping to restrict them to 260-5 on a good batting wicket.Malinga took 5-52 against Pakistan in Sri Lanka’s 12-run victory in the tournament’s opening game. He took all five of his wickets in his final spell in the opener just as Pakistan seemed poised to chase down 296, comfortably placed at 242-5 in 42.3 overs before the bowler took them apart.
‘Last couple of days we were training hard and we stuck to our basics in the big final,’ said Malinga, who came in after sitting out against Bangladesh.
Malinga acknowledged the rest during the Bangladesh game helped him regain his strength and provide Pakistan with another nightmare.
‘And the rest helped as well and I just tried to bowl good line and length and it worked for me and the team,’ said man-of-the-match Malinga during the presentation ceremony.
‘Last few games I’ve done well against Pakistan and I’m looking forward to picking more wickets in the future.’
Malinga, who looked to be quite ordinary after the opening game, seemed to have saved his best for the big occasion, dominating proceedings after Pakistan elected to bat.
He took three wickets in his opening spell to leave Pakistan struggling at 18-3 before some resistance from the middle-order steadied the ship.
Malinga also changed his tactics against the Pakistani top-order, concentrating on bowling fuller-length deliveries instead of the yorkers he is famous for.
Malinga started his demolition act by removing Sharjeel Khan with the sixth ball of the innings, a full and swinging delivery trained on middle and leg that the batsman flicked into the safe hands of Thisara Perera.
He looked to have discovered his rhythm and took the edge of Ahmed Shehzad blade, gifting a catch to wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara, before a good length ball with a bit of movement away caught the outside edge of Mohammed Hafeez to give Sangakkara his second catch.
In his second spell he also played his part, bringing the much-needed breakthrough by removing Pakistan skipper Misbah ul Haq for 65 to break his 122-run fourth-wicket partnership with Fawad Alam.
The bowler completed his five-for by removing Umar Akmal for 59 in the final over of the innings.
-With New Age input
