Ajmal, Gul destroy Sri Lanka in third ODI

Mahela Jayawardene [ Images ] became the ninth batsman to pass 10,000 runs in one-day internationals but could not prevent Sri Lanka [ Images ] losing to Pakistan in the third game of the series at the Dubai [ Images ] International Stadium on Friday.

Pakistan won by 21 runs to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series after compiling 257 for eight and bowling out Sri Lanka for 236 in 48.5 overs.

The 34-year-old Jayawardene, batting at number five, scored 17 as off-spinner Saeed Ajmal [ Images ] and seamer Umar Gul ran through the Sri Lanka card with three wickets apiece.

Earlier, Mohammad Hafeez [ Images ] (83) and Imran Farhat [ Images ] (70) put on 151 for the first wicket before Pakistan were pegged back by paceman Lasith Malinga [ Images ] (2-57) and leg-spinner Seekkuge Prasanna (2-39).

Hafeez and Farhat vindicated skipper Misbah-ul-Haq's decision to bat first and were helped by some sloppy fielding.

Thisara Perera dropped Hafeez on seven off his own bowling and the opener also survived a leg before appeal by Prasanna.

The right-hander grew in confidence and hit Dilhara Fernando for four boundaries in an over, including three in a row, before bringing up his 12th ODI half-century.

Hafeez got another reprieve when Prasanna dropped him at cover off captain Tillakaratne Dilshan [ Images ] but the spinner made amends by clean bowling him in the 30th over.

Farhat notched his 10th ODI half-century before falling to Dilshan as Pakistan slumped to 193 for five.

Sri Lanka wobbled early in their chase when Gul flattened Upul Tharanga's off-stump.

Dilshan (64) and Kumar Sangakkara [ Images ] (45) put Sri Lanka back on track with a 106-run stand for the second wicket before Shahid Afridi [ Images ] (2-42) turned the match on its head.

Afridi beat Sangakkara with a direct throw and then sent down a ball that hit Dilshan's gloves before dislodging the bail to complete a freak dismissal.

Dinesh Chandimal (31) and Angelo Mathews [ Images ] (32 not out) tried to recover the situation but Ajmal (3-42) and Gul (3-48) made sure of victory for Pakistan.

Sharjah hosts the fourth match on Sunday.

Scorecard

 Pakistan
 Mohammad Hafeez b Prasanna 83 
 Imran Farhat c Jayawardene b Dilshan 70 
 Abdul Razzaq [ Images ] c Perera b Prasanna 6 
 Younus Khan run out 42 
 Umar Akmal [ Images ] b Malinga 7 
 Misbah-ul-Haq run out 7 
 Shahid Afridi c Mathews b Perera 15 
 Sarfraz Ahmed b Malinga 3 
 Sohail Tanvir [ Images ] not out 10 
 Umar Gul not out 0 
 Extras: (lb-4, w-9, nb-1) 14 
 Total: (eight wickets; 50 overs) 257

 Fall of wickets: 1-151, 2-161, 3-167, 4-177, 5-193, 6-226, 7-234, 8-256.

 Did not bat: Saeed Ajmal

 Bowling: Malinga 10-0-57-2 (1nb, 1w) Perera 10-1-45-1 (1w), Fernando 10-1-59-0 (3w), Dilshan 8-0-38-1, Prasanna 9-0-39-2, Mendis 3-0-15-0.

 Sri Lanka
 U. Tharanga b Umar Gul 4 
 T. Dilshan b Shahid Afridi 64 
 K. Sangakkara run out 45 
 L. Chandimal c sub b Ajmal 31 
 M. Jayawardene st Ahmed b Ajmal 17 
 A. Mathews not out 32 
 L. Malinga lbw b Afridi 0 
 J. Mendis lbw Hafeez 19 
 T. Perera b Ajmal 4 
 S. Prasanna c Afridi b Gul 5 
 D. Fernando b Gul 0 
 Extras: (lb-5, w-10) 15 
 Total: (All out; 48.5 overs) 236

 Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-111, 3-133, 4-168, 5-186, 6-186, 7-218, 8-224, 9-235.

 Bowling: Umar Gul 8.5-0-48-3 (4w), Tanvir 9-0-52-0(2w), Razzaq 4-0-18-0, Hafeez 7-0-29-1, Afridi 10-0-42-2, Ajmal 10-0-42-3(4w).

 Pakistan lead the five-match series 2-1