Pakistan moved into an unassailable 3-1 lead in the one-day series against Sri Lanka with a 26-run victory in Sharjah.
All-rounder hits 75 then takes five-wickets as Sri Lanka collapse
Pakistan moved into an unassailable 3-1 lead in the one-day series against Sri Lanka with a thrilling 26-run victory in the fourth match in Sharjah.
Shahid Afridi made 75 from just 65 deliveries to help Pakistan post exactly 200 - and then produced a magical spell of bowling to make sure Sri Lanka fell short in reply.
Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara looked to have their side firmly on course when they shared a 102-run stand for the fourth wicket.
The two former captains had come together with the score on 53-3, Aizaz Cheema having claimed two early wickets for Pakistan, to tilt the balance of a see-saw contest in Sri Lanka's favour.
Collapsed
However, from a seemingly comfortable 155-3 the World Cup finalists collapsed in a heap, losing their last seven wickets for 19 runs.
Their rapid demise started with the departure of Sangakkara, the left-hander bowled by Afridi, who finished with 5-35, after making a patient 58.
Saeed Ajmal dismissed Angelo Mathews for a duck before Adridi took centre stage, firstly trapping Jeevan Mendis lbw for two and then accounting for Jayawardene (55) and Seekkuge Presanna with successive balls.
It was Ajmal who finished the match, though, getting Lasith Malinga (four) leg before in the 46th over to end up with figures of 2-29.
Pakistan had found it tough going on a slow pitch earlier in the day too, at one stage slipping to 71-5 before Afridi got their innings back on track.
Aggressive
He struck four fours and two sixes in a typically aggressive knock, though he was dropped by Dilhara Fernando shortly after reaching his half-century.
Imran Farhat (10) had been the first wicket to go down, while Mohammad Hafeez (27) and Younis Khan (18) then perished after getting starts.
Shoaib Malik made a painful two from 22 balls before being trapped lbw by Mendis, with the same bowler also then dimissing Umar Akmal in the same fashion.
Pakistan's cause was not helped by the run out of skipper Misbah-ul-Haq but Afridi made up for his part in the dreadful mix-up, adding 61 for the eighth wicket with Ajmal (20) to post a total that proved to be more than enough.
The final game of the series takes place in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, with the teams then also playing a Twenty20 international on Friday.
