Inzamam Ul Haq, Naveed Latif Take Pakistan to Victory against Sri Lanka at Sharjah

And it was exactly that department that Sri Lanka looked to have well in hand during the first 15 overs of Pakistan's batting effort. Although it was Chaminda Vaas who banished the dangerous Shahid Afridi back to the pavilion, it was the secondary bowling in the form of Charitha Buddika that really tightened the screws on the free-stroking Pakistani batsmen. Not only did he dismiss the reliable Yousuf Youhana, but he kept a tenacious rein on line and length, posing sticky problems to a nervous Naveed Latif. The scenario changed only after the 20th over, specifically with the advent of skipper Jayasuriya into the bowling attack. Latif seemed to have a great fondness for the Sri Lankan skipper's fast left-arm spin, punching him for fours and a six in quick time. With the burly batsman at the other end also starting to score freely, the balloon of pressure , so painstakingly built up, was suddenly punctured. It was never re-inflated. Inzamam, keeping a cool head and transmitting his quietude to his younger partner, drove and cut delectably, seeming to plan the chase to meticulous perfection in his mind. Vaas was brought back, to no avail; Buddika was brought back, to no avail. Latif, in only his second match, notched up his first one-day international century in the 43rd over. His partner, not to be left behind, tramped majestically to his own hundred. Pakistan's inexorable progress towards the target had the inevitable end. Although, along the way, Latif fell, Inzamam saw his side safely past the total; Latif, predictably enough, bagged the Man of the Match award, but, as could be gauged from his acceptance speech, Inzamam played more than a small role in Latif's own innings. #Pakistan #SriLanka #InzamamulHaq #NaveedLatif #CricketHighlights #ODI #PakistanCricket #ClassicCricket #CricketHistory #Cricket