Player of the Match
Player of the Match

5.35pm That was not a good game of cricket for everyone but Pakistan. Usman Khan started off very well, getting late, late movement to rip through Sri Lanka's clueless top order. When that happened, there weren't too many doubts about the result, just the manner. And Pakistan finished the match before the innings break, an indicator of the degree of defeat inflicted on Sri Lanka, who have slipped, stumbled, stuttered and slumped to their third 5-0 ODI whitewash of 2017. It was all decided far too early on this Monday evening.

Sarfraz is pleased, a rare smile beaming on his face as the Pakistan players walk around Sharjah. Imam and Fakhar did their jobs nicely to ensure this game didn't suffer any type of Pakistan batting collapse.

Sri Lanka need something, quickly. They now go to India after the T20 series here, of course, for some ODIs there against a really tough opponent, and if they can find some discipline or some talent or some skill or something, they stand a chance. But if they don't, this may not be their last whitewash in the coming months.

Presentation time.

Usman Khan is the Player of the Match: "Wasn't easy, but the team atmosphere is confident. Learning a lot from our bowling coach. Was focusing on what was working for me."

Hasan Ali is the Player of the Series: "Focusing on the basics: body language, attitude, plans against the batsmen. Conditions here are tough. If you bowl in one place, it's easy for batsmen to play, but I use the bouncer to push the batsmen back."

Sarfraz Ahmed: "Lots of happiness when you give an opportuinity to someone and they perform. Usman finished the match in the first five overs. We're going from strength to strength, we have lots of options. I want our batting to perform more, if we score 270-280, our bowling is strong."

Upul Tharanga: "We're not playing to our strengths, to our capability. We didn't mass 200 four times. Couldn't handle the pressure, has no answers to Usman's first spell. They were straight, always trying to get wickets (Pakistan's bowlers)."

Usman Fida: "26.2 & 20.2 overs bowled per side and the day & night match finished in a day. No need for night"

Kumar: "Before this match: Siriwardana - 4 matches, 18 runs, 0 wickets. Dhananjaya - 4 matches, 70 runs, 2 wickes. Guess which one they dropped"

20.2
4
Vandersay to Imam-ul-Haq, FOUR, there is the match and the series. Short and wide outside off, carved past point, past short third man for four. Pakistan sweep Sri Lanka 5-0 in the rout-iest rout of all possible routs.
20.1
1
Vandersay to Faheem Ashraf, 1 run, 82 kph, flight on leg, pushed to long-off

END OF OVER:
20 | 4 Runs | PAK: 100/1 (4 runs required from 30 overs, RR: 5.00, RRR: 0.13)

  • Faheem Ashraf4 (10b)
  • Imam-ul-Haq41 (63b)
  • Seekkuge Prasanna4-0-21-0
  • Jeffrey Vandersay6-0-25-1
19.6
1
Prasanna to Faheem Ashraf, 1 run, a shovelled heave to deep midwicket. Flight outside off, Ashraf wants to finish the game with a six over midwicket, but the ball trickles away off the inside half

ahamsha: "Whom would you drop from this bowling line up to accommodate Mohammed Amir & Junaid Khan? Must be a difficult but a pleasant problem for the Team"

19.5
0
Prasanna to Faheem Ashraf, no run, shortish around off, clipped to midwicket
19.4
1
Prasanna to Imam-ul-Haq, 1 run, another googly around off, Imam hurries back, picks the length and the variation and works the ball to square leg
19.3
1
Prasanna to Faheem Ashraf, 1 run, another googly outside off, defended towards cover for one. Nice soft hands, good response
19.2
0
Prasanna to Faheem Ashraf, no run, well bowled, flat outside off, the ball slides through to beat the bat. Pushed that through in the air
19.1
1
Prasanna to Imam-ul-Haq, 1 run, shortish down leg, worked away through to deep square leg for one

END OF OVER:
19 | 7 Runs | PAK: 96/1 (8 runs required from 31 overs, RR: 5.05, RRR: 0.25)

  • Faheem Ashraf2 (6b)
  • Imam-ul-Haq39 (61b)
  • Jeffrey Vandersay6-0-25-1
  • Seekkuge Prasanna3-0-17-0
18.6
0
Vandersay to Faheem Ashraf, no run, too full outside off, jammed out
18.5
1
Vandersay to Imam-ul-Haq, 1 run, quick outside off, shovelled away towards long-on for one more
18.4
0
Vandersay to Imam-ul-Haq, no run, overpitched on off, jammed back
18.3
1
Vandersay to Faheem Ashraf, 1 run, goes after it, lots of flight outside off, Faheem wants to go straight, the ball skews off the inside half towards long-on
18.2
1
Vandersay to Imam-ul-Haq, 1 run, short and wide outside off, carved to the sweeper cover
18.1
4
Vandersay to Imam-ul-Haq, FOUR, short and wide outside off, 54 mph, Imam races back and nails a late, late cut that goes past short third man's right

END OF OVER:
18 | 4 Runs | PAK: 89/1 (15 runs required from 32 overs, RR: 4.94, RRR: 0.46)

  • Faheem Ashraf1 (4b)
  • Imam-ul-Haq33 (57b)
  • Seekkuge Prasanna3-0-17-0
  • Jeffrey Vandersay5-0-18-1
17.6
0
Prasanna to Faheem Ashraf, no run, flight outside off, pushed through outside off, defended back
17.5
1
Prasanna to Imam-ul-Haq, 1 run, another nudge towards midwicket, tight run. Chandimal picks up and returns the throw to the batsman's end, but he has made it with time and matres to spare
17.4
0
Prasanna to Imam-ul-Haq, no run, drifts on the pads again, worked to midwicket
17.3
1
Prasanna to Faheem Ashraf, 1 run, flight around off, Ashraf gets forward, a thick inside edge towards square leg for one
17.3
1w
Prasanna to Faheem Ashraf, 1 wide, strays down leg again, another wide
17.2
1
Prasanna to Imam-ul-Haq, 1 run, runs down to the pitch, gets there and drives the ball to long-on for one
17.1
0
Prasanna to Imam-ul-Haq, no run, 81 kph, strays down leg, worked down to fine leg

END OF OVER:
17 | 3 Runs 1 Wkt | PAK: 85/1 (19 runs required from 33 overs, RR: 5.00, RRR: 0.57)

  • Faheem Ashraf0 (2b)
  • Imam-ul-Haq31 (53b)
  • Jeffrey Vandersay5-0-18-1
  • Seekkuge Prasanna2-0-13-0
16.6
0
Vandersay to Faheem Ashraf, no run, short and wide, filth, stays low, Ashraf misses a cut. That over just delayed this game a few minutes. All overs hereon will
16.5
0
Vandersay to Faheem Ashraf, no run, another googly outside off, 82 kph, pushed back to the bowler

ahamsha: "Suddenly you see great Pakistan bowling line up with great bench strength, Good opening pairs, settled middle order, great wicket keeper and a leader in sarfaraz and world class No 3 batsman, No wonder they are under safe hands of Mike Aurther, something which was missing since Bob woolmer.."

16.5
1w
Vandersay to Faheem Ashraf, 1 wide, strays down leg, wide

Faheem Ashraf gets a promotion to No. 3

16.4
W
Vandersay to Fakhar Zaman, OUT, and gone! No? No, says umpire Raza. Dickwella is absolutely sure so Sri Lanka review. I think he has edged that. A googly outside off, generates so much extra bounce, Zaman picks it and looks to dab a cut down to third man but all he can do is feather that through to the keeper. A big spike on UltraEdge as the ball takes the edge. Fine catch from Dickwella, he too picked the googly and got his hands in the right position

Fakhar Zaman c †Dickwella b Vandersay 48 (47b 7x4 0x6) SR: 102.12

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Usman on fire

21

No. of balls taken by Usman Khan to complete a five-for in this game, the third-quickest in ODIs since 2001. Vaas had taken it in 16 balls v Ban in 2003 WC and Van der Gugten in 20 balls v Can in 2013.

Another whitewash?

2

No. of whitewashes suffered by Sri Lanka in ODIs this year, to SA and Ind, before this series. If they don't win this game, they'll become the first ever team to lose three bilateral series by 5-0 margin in same year.