Sri Lanka fumbled in their chase of 201-run target against Pakistan in the fourth ODI here yesterday after losing wickets in quick succession.


Shahid Afridi

SL were 157 for five after 38 overs at the time of going to press. Earlier, dashing all-rounder Shahid Afridi smashed a fighting half-century to save Pakistan from total collapse against Sri Lanka at Sharjah stadium.

The 31-year-old scored a 65-ball 75 studded with four boundaries and three sixes to lift his team from a precarious 120-7 to 200 in 49.3 overs as Sri Lankan bowlers put Pakistan in trouble after they won the toss and batted.

Afridi played against his style of trying to hit every ball out of the ground and added an invaluable 61 runs for the eighth wicket with tail-ender Saeed Ajmal who finished with 20.