Dilshan master-class sees of Pakistan

Date released: 12 June 2009

The Super-8 stage of the ICC World T20 reaches Lord's as Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by 19 runs at The Home of Cricket. Re-live every ball from our live coverage.

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Live coverage

Pakistan: 131-9
Sri Lanka: 150-7

Batsmen (runs): Umar Gul (9) & Mohammad Aamir (0)
Bowlers: Pavilion End: Nuwan Kulasekara
Nursery End: Lasith Malinga

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4:51pm Hope you enjoyed that. You've got about 40 minutes before the India v West Indies match starts. Go and grab some provisions and come back to Lords.org as soon as possible.

Our coverage will barely pause for thought - we'll be straight into the team news, toss news and all the action live from Lord's in a few minutes time:

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Sri Lanka win by 19 runs

4:45pm 20th over: Last over of the match - just the 29 runs needed to win!

Fawad's gone now too - another attempted slog and just shied in the air.

Pakistan 123-8 - Fawad Alam c. Sangakkara b. Kulasekara - 12

It looks like Pakistan just want this over with. Crazy running from Aamir, going for a second that was never there.

Pakistan 124-9 - Aamir run out - 0

Still - something for the Pakistan fans to enjoy in this last over - Umar throwing everything at that and clearing the rope - six!

4:39pm 19th over: Penultimate over of the match and, for what it's worth, Pakistan need 16.5 runs per over. If they manage that they'll more than deserve victory!

Biggest cheer of the day almost, as the India team are sighted on the balcony.

And a bit of theatre from Malinga - Sohail fishes that one into the air and Malinga steadies himself under the catch himself... his first attempt bats it back into the air and then he catches it.

Pakistan 121-7 - Tanveer - c&b Malinga - 3

4:35pm 18th over: Pakistan going through the motions really - there's a mathematical chance but it would take something extraordinary for them to win from this position.

Nuwan Kulasekara comes on to bowl at the Pavilion End. Despite a brave attempt on the boundary, Mathews cannot stop that one going for four to Fawad.

4:28pm 17th over: Great over for Sri Lanka that last one - two wickets down and just four runs conceded. You'd have to say that probably kills off any chance Pakistan had of winning this match.

Lasith Malinga back to bowl.

A pair of well-run twos bring up a half century for Younus from 36 balls - he'd swap it all for a few more for the team...

And next ball he's gone... trying for a big hit he got into the stroke too quickly and just lofts it high, high in the air. Sangakkara almost flattened a team-mate as they both went for the catch but the man with the gloves took it.

Pakistan 108-6 - Younus Khan c. Sangakkara b. Malinga - 50

4:22pm 16th over: A single from the first ball of this Murali over brings up 100 for Pakistan from 92 delieveries.

Pakistan have to go for their shots and Misbah tries it... but he's not got enough on that one. Silva takes the catch.

Pakistan 101-4 - Misbah-Ul-Haq c. Silva b. Muralitharan - 20

Oh dear, Afridi's gone for a golden duck... the hero with the ball will not star with the bat.

Pakistan 101-5 Afridi c. Dilshan b. Muralitharan - 0

4:18pm 15th over: A mini-conference by the Sri Lanka team, held at mid-wicket. They'll want to tighten the screw. 10-an-over needed by Pakistan now.

Ajantha Mendis is brought back at the Nursery End. First ball of the over and Younus drills it away for four runs, the captain leading by example.

4:14pm 14th over: Great shot from Younus for four more runs, bringing up the 50 partnership. Seven overs including this one - Pakistan need to up the run-rate with more of the same.

A decent over for Murali, in that fewer than the 9.6 runs per over required were scored. Ever over like that pushes the total to win further from Pakistan's reach.

4:13pm Chris Gayle and his West Indies team shown on the big screen - they're in their dressing room, ready for their match against India. Does Gayle ever look anything bar extremely relaxed?

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4:09pm 13th over: Malinga's back again - bowling from the Nursery End this time - number 99 on his back.

Murali having to gesticulate wildly at the crowd sitting in the Compton Stand - they're clearly distracting Younus who's on strike, who doesn't want to carry on until they sit down. Murali's not best pleased with the delay...

4:04pm 12th over: A quick towel down for Younus and a drink for Misbah between overs. It is a warm and close day at Lord's today - lovely cricket weather really. Muttiah Muralitharan's back again as he and Jayasuriya seem to share duties at the Pavilion End.

Must be Younus' lucky towel - first ball of the over he swipes away for four more runs.

4:01pm 11th over: It was at around this point that the Sri Lanka scoring rate slowed amid a flurry of wickets. If Pakistan can keep scoring consistently they'll run this total of 150 very close.

That will help! Younus swoops down on that one, lifting it over the ring of fielders for four - good shot.

3:58pm 10th over: Murali's first spell lasts just one over - Sanath Jayasuriya replaces him at the Pavilion End - just ones and twos from it.

3:57pm Your emails - Bazza is back on the emails (the rest of you are very quiet again). Sounds like he's making the tip-top athlete's preparations for the LIVE: India v West Indies match, straight after this one. Beer and Chinese food the order of the day... you're making me very jealous Bazza.

3:53pm 9th over: 107 more runs needed by Pakistan from 12 overs. Here comes another dangerous bowler, Ajantha Mendis. He tied the Australians in knots in Sri Lanka's first game.

50 up for Pakistan at the end of the over - from 54 deliviers.

3:50pm 8th over: It never lets up against Sri Lanka. Just as you see off one world-class bowler, here comes another: Muralitharan on at the Pavilion End.

3:46pm 7th over: TV umpire time again as a direct hit has Ul-Haq's innings hanging by a thread... but this time the batsman is safe.

Another good over from Mathews' who has bowled out his four overs now. His future contributions will be restricted to his superlative fielding now!

3:46pm Writing in The Times Shane Warne said any team that loses three wickets in the first six overs is as good as lost. Warne argued that this made T20 far more a bowlers' game than people assume. He could be proved right - again.

What do you think? Send us your emails - who has the upper hand in T20? Batsmen or bowlers? Which batsman and which bowler have impressed you the most so far in the tournament?

3:44pm That was a great over for Sri Lanka - two wickets down. It could be a bit of a master-class all round. Good bowling so far, great batting earlier and smart fielding for that run-out.

Sidebottom: The English Malinga? 3:27pm 6th over: Here comes Malinga. This chap bowls at super-high speed. If you've never seen him, hair flying at full-pelt picture a shorter, Sri Lankan version of Ryan Sidebottom... with highlights.

Malinga's got the dangerman, Malik, with his second ball!

Pakistan 34-2 - Malik c. Kulasekara b. Malinga - 28

Oh, messy runnings from Pakistan - Sri Lanka think they have Akmal run out... we're going to the TV umpire...

Yup, he's gone. Careless from Pakistan.

Pakistan 35-3 - Akmal run out (Silva) - 5

3:27pm 5th over: Still Mathews at the Nursery End. Pakistan are 29 runs behind where Sri Lanka were at the same point in their innings - it just shows the staggeringly quick-fire start Sri Lanka made in their innings.

Malik picks up the pace for Pakistan with that four a powerful cut shot - the fielders didn't even bother to run for that one.

Next ball, almost the same shot almost the same place - definitely the same result, four more for Malik.

Third ball and he's got a third consecutive four! Mathews drifts a fraction wide again and Malik gratefully accepts the chance.

3:27pm 4th over: In case you missed it earlier, check out our special "thank you" for all our readers of Live@Lord's - free delivery from our online shop - just for reading Lords.org... not bad eh?

Meanwhile - Akmal nudges another single. Followed by a thumping four from Malik.

3:23pm 3rd over: Murali shows a good turn of pace there, chasing down that one to prevent a four.

Malik gets right under the last ball of the over and it goes skywards... but drops safely between fielders.

3:18pm 2nd over: Breathless stuff this T20... I barely had time to draw breath between innings and the first wicket is down.

Nuwan Kulasekara to bowl from the Pavilion End.

First four of the innings and Malik launches Kulasekara back over his head for four runs, down to the Pavilion.

3:14pm 1st over: What a start for Sri Lanka! superman fielder Angelo Mathews opening the bowling and he's got Butt in with the third ball!

Pakistan 0-1 - Butt b. Mathews - 0

Finally, runs on the board for Pakistan, just a single for Malik but more wickets than runs doesn't look good at any point in an innings.

3:05pm Your emails - our old friend Bazza is back on the email to Live@Lords.org. As an India fan I had a feeling we'd be hearing from him today!

• LIVE: India v West Indies - coming up later don't forget.

Anyway, Bazza says: "YYYYYYoooooooooohhhhooooooooooooooooo!!!!! Finally Super 8s cause some excitement. I can't wait for India vs WI later on... God... my hand are shaking with excitement as I am wriing this..why can't I feel like this everyday..."

He also tips Sri Lanka to beat Pakistan - we'll see Bazza, we'll see!

3:01pm Well, that was breathless stuff. Dilshan gave another batting masterclass as Sri Lanka, helped by some extra-laden bowling, raced to 81 for no wicket.

However, Afridi and Ajmal turned things Pakistan's way in the middle of the innings. Closing on 150 gives Pakistan a reachable target - but against Sri Lanka's all-star attack it should make for a thrilling second innings.

Sri Lanka close on 150-7

2:54pm 20th over: Last over of the innings and credit to Pakistan - at one point Sri Lanka looked odds on for a record score. Now, they'll do well to edge over 150.

Umar Gul to bowl the last over. Second ball and Mathews gets underneath it to dink it away for four into the leg side.

Sri Lanka are trying to force the issue and looking to run a risky two... Mubarak is well short of his ground.

Sri Lanka 148-6 - Mubarak run out (Malik) - 5

Next ball and Kulasekera is in and out again... Gul trapping him LBW for a golden duck!

Sri Lanka 148-7 - Kulasekera LBW b. Gul - 0

2:50pm 19th over: Mohammad Aamir on to bowl at the Nursery End. Two overs left of the innings. Aamir showing good pace, just singles from it so far.

2:45pm 18th over: Jayawardene took his time to size up the field there and then, very carefully from the first ball of the over plopped a simple catch into Afridi's hands at mid on.

Sri Lanka 132-5 - Jayawardene c. Afridi c. Ajmal - 19

Ajmal edges ahead of Afridi again, thanks to his team-mate's help. Seven wickets in the tournament for him now. New man at the crease, the superman fielder himself, Angelo Mathews.

2:41pm 17th over: It's Umar who's got the next wicket! Pace and bounce and Silva offers an edge which Akmal glady catches behind the stumps.

Sri Lanka 128-4 - Silva c. Akmal b. Gul - 8

Curse you Silva - that won't do my Fantasy Cricket score much good at all!

2:36pm 16th over: Ajmal was Pakistan's leading wicket-taker in the tournament before this match. With his two wickets today Afridi is tied with him on six - can he push ahead again?

Not like that he won't... he offers Jayawardene width and the batsman just rocks back and clips that one fine, for four more runs.

2:32pm 15th over: Afridi's bowled his four alloted overs, so Umar Gul returns to the Pakistan attack at the Nursery End this time.

Silva picks his spot beautifully with that one, just a well-timed push really and despite Khan's long chase it beats him to the rope - four.

2:28pm 14th over: Saeed Ajmal returns at the Pavilion End - things looking far, far more healthy for Pakistan now after that express train start from Sri Lanka.

Jayawardene's determined to keep the pace up for Sri Lanka though and does so with that four, drilled through the covers.

At the other end, Sangakkara's gone! Ajmal flipped that one past him as he advanced down the wicket and Akmal whips off the bails.

Sri Lanka 110-3 - Sangakkara st. Akmal b. Ajmal - 15

Chamara Silva the new batsman. Between you and me, he's in my Fantasy Cricket team, so I'm hoping for a big score!

2:24pm 13th over: Sangakkara hits the first boundary for 27 balls... but it was worth waiting for a great pick between two fielders on the rope.

A pair of twos from Sangakkara bring up 100 for Sri Lanka from 87 deliveries. Eleven 4s and one 6 in the total.

2:21pm 12th over: It's a far more cautious looking Sri Lanka now, without destructor-in-chief Dilshan at the crease. Two wickets in six balls for Afridi who'll bowl again, next over.

2:17pm 11th over: Two overs without a boundary now for Sri Lanka and Dilshan must feel like he's being starved by his boundary-hungry standards.

Afridi's done it again! Dilshan tried to give himself some room to swipe that one away and was deceived by the bounce - bowled!

Sri Lanka 89-2 - Dilshan b. Afridi - 46

2:13pm 10th over: Pakistan try to maintain their momentum - Shoaib Malik comes on to bowl at the Pavilion End.

That's done the trick for Pakistan. Two frugal overs and the run-rate comes crashing down, from 10-an-over to 8.6 now.

2:10pm 9th over: At last! Pakistan have the breakthrough. Afridi applies the pressure with a one-run over. Jayasuriyra tries to force the pace but just lifts a high, high catch to Younus Khan.

Sri Lanka 81-1 - Jayasuriya c. Khan b. Afridi - 26

2:06pm 8th over: At this rate, Sri Lanka are on course for a score in the top ten highest T20 international scores of all time.

Another bowling change as Pakistan seek to alter the course of the match - Saeed Ajmal comes on to bowl.

For a moment there I thought Pakistan had found the answer - but Dilshan was just taking a few balls to size up the new bowler... before he blats him away for four, just like the rest.

2:01pm 7th over: Sri Lanka are flying. At over 10-an-over Pakistan have to do something and quick.

The answer is, Shahid Afridi. He took four wickets last time out - but that was against the Netherlands.

Afridi cannot stem the tide though - Dilshan gives himself room and flat bats that one to the boundary too - four.

1:58pm 6th over: No-one is spared - Dilshan is taking no prisoners as he hoists Aamir to the square-leg boundary for four more runs.

1:52pm 5th over: That's it Sohail's had enough, Umar Gul is brought on to replace him from the Nursery End.

That should at least stem the flow of "extras" in the runs column - now if they could just stop those 4s and 6s...

50 up for Sri Lanka and guess what... a wide from Gul moved them from 49 to 50. Symbolic of the innings so far.

Oh this is almost too much now, Dilshan's just toying with them - he drops to one knee to lob that boundary over the fielder and backward point - he's showing off now.

1:49pm 4th over: Jayasuria lands the match's first six - carving Amir into the leg side.

Four more and Sri Lanka are racing away to an impressive total already.

1:43pm 3rd over: Captain Khan persevers with Tanveer who'll bowl the first over too.

He may be regretting it already as Dilshan flicks him away for an effortless four from the second ball of the over.

Oh, I almost can't watch. Another no ball is followed by two wides... Tanveer is having a nightmare and the India fans in the Ground are loving every second of it!

His team-mates are all rallying round with pats on the back and words of encouragement but it doesn't seem to be making much difference.

5 wides, 3 no balls and four 4s in Sohail's first two overs - which were 18 deliveries long too. That's three overs worth!

1:39pm 2nd over: Nearly ten minutes after the first over and Amir will bowl from the Pavilion End.

Better from Amir (could it have been worse than Tanveer's opening over?). Touching 90mph+ he keeps the batsmen to three runs. Still, they average 10.5 an over still after the opening over shocker.

1:30pm 1st over: Jayasuria and Dilshan open the batting and it's Sohail Tanveer with the ball in hand... and he bowls a no-ball first delivery, over-stepping slightly.

Followed by another no ball, oh dear. A slightly over-eager start from the Pakistan quick. A wide and another no ball makes the score extras four; batsmen nil.

Here comes the free hit given the treatment by Dilshan, four runs.

Goodness me, will this over ever end? Yet another wide makes that six runs Sohail has added to Sri Lanka's score in one over!

And when he does make it a legal delivery, the batsmen are leaping on them - Jayasuria drilling that one to the on side this time for four more.

That's the end of the over - at last. Eleven deliveries in it and 18 runs. Ouch.

1:28pm Anthems played and smartly observed (each national flag appearing on the digital ad-boards at either end - a nice touch) Pakistan have a team-huddle on the field as Sri Lanka head to the dug-out. Here we go...

1:23pm The players are on the field, trooping past the ICC World T20 trophy, set on a pedestal on the pitch. There's every possibility one of these two teams will be back here on Sunday 21 June competing to lift that very trophy.

Here come the national anthems.

1:21pm The players are massing in the famous Lord's Pavilion, waiting to take to the field. We're moments away from the first ball. Stick with Lords.org - technical problems now sorted, you'll get the news as it happens here at Lord's.

1:17pm For Pakistan it's a case of "as you were" with no team changes. Sri Lanka make just one change, Udana Thilakeratne drops to 12th man with Kulasekera coming in.

1:15pm Toss news It's Sangakkara that makes the right call at the toss and he choses to bat first. Sri Lanka will be setting the total for Pakistan to chase.

1:08pm Sorry about that folks, slight technical difficulties (I couldn't turn on my wi-fi!) meant a brief delay there.

Team news is in: Sri Lanka: Sangakkara; Jaysuriya; Dilshan; Jayawardene; Mubarak; Silva; Mathews; Malinga; Muralitharan; Kulaskeera and Mendis.

Pakistan: Butt; Akmal; Malik; Khan; Ul-Haq; Afridi; Alam; Tanveer; Gul; Ajmal and Aamir.

12:35pm Tick-tock... 55 minutes left until the first ball. We'll have team news and news of the toss as it happens here at Lord's.

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12:28pm Just over an hour to go now.

Pakistan fans: Are you nervous? Which of your "two teams" will show up today? The one that lost tamely to England? Or the one that did a ruthless demolition job on the Netherlands? Would you ever live it down if you're humbled today, with so many India fans watching on?

Sri Lanka fans: Many people are tipping you as an outside bet the title - but shouldn't you be amongst the favourites? After convincing wins over Australia and West Indies in arguably the toughest qualifying group your side look in good form.

What do you think? - send us your emails at Live@Lords.org.

12:19pm Lots of India fans in the Ground already, getting set for their match against West Indies later (which we'll also cover live, of course).

The rivalry between Pakistan and India makes England v Australia look like a love-in. Should be good fun today when these two sides start the banter!

12:01pm An hour and a half until the first ball of the match - we'll have all the latest news from Lord's as it happens.

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11:17am If you're here this early you must be a peachy-keen cricket fan - our favourite kind!

We'd love to hear your views on the tournament so far. Australia out; South Africa looking impressive; India barely breaking sweat yet and these two dark-horses Pakistan and Sri Lanka slipping under the radar... en-route to the Final?

What do you think? - send us your emails at Live@Lords.org.

And how about that astonishing bit of fielding by Angelo Mathews? If you haven't seen it, you should (click the link). What do you think? Would you have given a six?

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