Cricket News sort by Mohammad Hafeez

The opening ODI between Australia and Pakistan was a tightly contested clash without doubt, but one major factor separated the two teams – the lower-order batting.

Rangana Herath’s late blows brought Sri Lanka strongly back in the Pallakele Test as Pakistan ended Day 4 on a disappointing note with a lead of 188 runs with just two wickets in hand. This was despite a century from Azhar Ali and half centuries from Hafeez and Asad Shafiq.

It may have come on a dead pitch at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SCC) at Colombo, but Pakistan’s drawn effort would have done a world of good for them. Psychologically, they were down and out after the pasting they took at Galle.

Persistent rain at Colombo brought an abrupt end to Day 2 in the Second Test at SSC

Pakistan finished Day 1 of the Second Test at SSC, Colombo with a commanding total of 334 for 1! Opener Mohammad Hafeez carried his bat through in the day’s play with an unbeaten 172 (from 281 balls with 18 fours and a six).

But for excessive rain washing out a major portion of the last two days of the Galle Test, Sri Lanka should coast home to victory. Pakistan’s batting in the Test has been atrocious to say the least.

Pakistan are in disarray at 48 for 5 at stumps on Day 2 in reply to Sri Lanka's first innings score of 472. Nuwan Kulasekara and Suraj Randiv did irreparable damage to the visitors as both the bowlers picked up two wickets in two consecutive deliveries in their respective spells.

Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka by 6 wickets with 47 balls to spare in a rain-affected 1st ODI at Pallekele. The visitors needed to chase a paltry target of 135 from 42 overs which they did after facing minor hiccups early in their innings.

India Vs Pakistan, Match 5 at Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur, Micromax Asia Cup 2011 : Match Highlights