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Pakistan won their first major cricket title in 17 years when they stunned Sri Lanka by eight wickets in the World Twenty20 final at a sell-out Lord’s ground on Sunday.
Seamer Abdur Razzaq claimed three wickets as Pakistan bowled and fielded aggressively to restrict Sri Lanka to 6-138, then coasted home with eight deliveries to spare.
Shahid Afridi hit an unbeaten 54 off 40 balls, his second consecutive half-century, and former captain Shoaib Malik made 24 not out during a match-winning partnership of 76 for the unbeaten third wicket.
Pakistan, runners-up to India in the final of the inaugural World Twenty20 in South Africa two years ago, ended Sri Lanka’s unbeaten run in the tournament.
Pakistan last won an offical multi-nation tournament in 1992 when Imran Khan’s team lifted the World Cup by beating England in the final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Australia.
Captain Younus Khan dedicated the win to their troubled homeland.
“We were underdogs and had less pressure, but we came good in the big
games. It’s a credit to the country and to the team,” said Younus.
“We hadn’t won anything since Imran Khan’s team at the World Cup in 1992.
This is a our gift to our nation. Hopefully, it will help cheer them up.
“Afridi knows he’s a great cricketer. He’s a match winner and he’s been
fantastic for us.”
Shoaib said when he walked out to the wicket he was thinking he would have to stay until the 20th over.
“Shahid was awesome today and all credit to him. I told him to stay at the wicket and I will get some runs, that we can finish the game. He’s a great
cricketer,” said Shoaib.
Afridi paid tribute to skipper Younus Khan.
“I asked the captain to send me up the order and that’s what he did,” said Afridi.
“He just said don’t worry about anything, just go out and play your natural game. The guys were really motivated. The captain and coaches tell us to enjoy our cricket and entertain. That’s great motivation.”
It was Sri Lanka’s first defeat of the tournament, but skipper Kumar
Sangakkara insisted his team will recover and become a better side.
“I’m proud of the way we competed. We enjoy our cricket and I believe we
can go forward from here,” said Sangakkara.
“We’ll take this and come back stronger in next year’s tournament. We have the best bowling unit in the world.
“We’ll get better, we’ll learn. We look forward to getting tougher mentally and physically.”
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