Outplay Pakistan by 57 runs: Sri Lanka lift U-17 Asia Cup

Karachi, July 25: Sri Lanka, displaying brilliant all-round performance, outplayed Pakistan by 57 runs to clinch the inaugural Under-17 Asia Cup Cricket Tournament at the National Stadium here on Tuesday.

The islanders, after winning the toss and electing to bat first on a placid pitch, rattled up 230 in 44.3 overs.

The hosts, in reply, were bowled out for a disappointing 173 in 40 overs.

Sri Lankan captain Jehan Jayasuriya received the glittering winners trophy from the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Lt Gen Tauqir Zia, who was the chief guest at the final. The visiting team were also awarded a cash award of Rs25,000, put up by Habib Oil Mills, who were part sponsors of the 11-day tournament.

Pakistan skipper Salman Butt had to be content with the runners-up trophy and received a cash prize of Rs15,000.

Openers Haresh Ratnayake and wicket-keeper Ishan Mutalip laid the foundation with a magnificent partnership of 149 in 29 overs.

Both batsmen capitalized on shoddy Pakistan fielding. The left-handed Ratnayake was given two `lives' on 36 and 51 as Suleman Qadir (caught and bowled) and substitute Mian Adnan (at square-leg) floored simple catches.

Mutalip, the right-hander, was let off when he had made just eight in the fourth over of the innings. Munir Ansari was the culprit at square-leg as Mutalip spooned the ball high while attempting to pull left-arm pacer Najaf Shah.

To add to the woes, Pakistani fielders missed several run out opportunities as time and again they either fumbled or over ran the ball.

However, despite their shortcomings in the field, Pakistan staged a dramatic but belated fight back with all Sri Lankan wickets going down for 81 runs once the opening stand was broken at the start of the 30th over.

Mutalip was the first to go for a 97-ball 72 which was studded with six fours and a six when he charged at part-time off-spinner Faisal Khan and was stumped by Adnan Akmal.

Ratnayake followed shortly afterwards for making 80 off 102 deliveries. His sparkling knock was laced with six fours and a six.

Off-spinner Munir Ansari, who has modelled his action on Sri Lankan spin maestro Muttiah Muralitharan, claimed four wickets for 54 runs to take his tally to 19 in the tournament - a feat which earned him the best bowler award.

But the pick of the bowlers were Faisal Khan, who took three for 33 in 8.3 overs and off-spinner Suleman Qadir, son of former leg-spin Test great Abdul Qadir. Suleman, though failed to take a wicket, conceded only 27 runs in his quota of nine overs.

Pakistan emulated the Sri Lankan openers as Salman Butt and Khalid Latif played some lovely drives and cuts during their partnership of 86 in 17 overs.

Ratnayake took a fine, well-judged catch on the deep square-leg fence when Khalid mistimed a pull off off-spinner Jayasuriya. The opener scored 39 off 48 balls with four fours and a six.

Wickets then fell at regular intervals as the Sri Lankan spinners bowled to a tight line and length. Slow left-armer Ishara Dilshan, who was later adjudged Man-of-the-Match, claimed three for 25.

Salman Butt played a lone hand for a gallant 73 off 101 balls before he was run out by a superb direct hit by a a diving Jeewan Mendis, racing in from short cover.

Salman, who was fifth out, stroked nine boundaries.

Jayasuriya, leading with example, took two excellent catches but he was upstaged by Eashan Abeysinghe's stunning effort at mid-wicket to get rid of Adnan Akmal.

Jeewan Mendis was declared the Player-of-the-Tournament while Bangladesh's Mohammad Ashraful was named the best batsman for scoring the competition's only century.