Top 5 run chases by visiting teams in Sri Lanka

#3 Pakistan tour of Sri Lanka, 1st ODI: Sri Lanka v Pakistan at Hambantota, Aug 23, 2014

Fawad Alam and Sohail Maqsood led Pakistan to a great victory

This rain hit match seemed to be over as a contest 3/4ths into it, but Pakistan – led by the heroics of Fawad Alam and Sohail Maqsood turned the match on its head and staged an incredible revival which saw them through at the end. This was the 2nd highest ODI run chase by a visiting team in Sri Lanka, and the fact that the result was achieved in 45 overs made it even more special.

After the match was reduced to 45 overs per side due to rain, Misbah ul Haq decided to field first after winning the toss. Sri Lanka were looking in trouble having been 75-4 in 18 overs thanks to Mohammed Irfan and Wahab Riaz’s bowling spells.

However, the Lankans staged a spirited comeback riding on the powerful batting performances by Mahela Jayawardene and Angelo Mathews, who scored 63 and 86 respectively. Thanks to an unbeaten 15-ball 39 from Ashan Priyanjan, Sri Lanka reached a total of 275 in their allotted overs.

During the 2nd innings – Apart from a bright innings by Ahmed Shahzad, all the big guns failed to impress for Pakistan. Halfway through the chase, the men ing green had lost their momentum and were on the brink of loss.

The required run rate was over 7 when Sohaib Maqsood and Fawad Alam were at the crease and it kept creeping up with Alam struggling. After a failed run out attempt to dismiss Alam, the boundaries started coming for Pakistan, and they did not look back since then.

After a few big overs and sensible batting by the duo, Pakistan clinched a nail-biter with just one ball to spare.

Result: Pakistan 277 for 6 (Maqsood 89, Fawad 62) beat Sri Lanka 275 for 7 (Mathews 89, Jayawardene 63, Wahab 3-50) by four wickets (D/L method)