Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, 5th ODI - Live Cricket Score, Commentary

Series: Pakistan v Sri Lanka in UAE, 2017 Venue: Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah Date & Time: Oct 23, 02:00 PM LOCAL

Pakistan achieved a 5-0 whitewash in ODIs for the first time since 2008. © AFP

Pakistan complete whitewash

That's that then! Pakistan have completed a 5-0 whitewash. A thoroughly dominant win to cap off the achievement in the ODI series. Sri Lanka were supposed to turn up and sully Pakistan's series scoreline but they never did. The last thing that went their way on an immensely forgettable day was the toss, which the Sri Lankan captain won and opted to bat. Even on a 'flat' surface, Usman Khan Shinwari managed to extract as much as he could early to complete a superb five-wicket haul that was completed in the seventh over of the game. There was surely no coming back from that. Pakistan lost the wicket of Fakhar Zaman but that didn't hurt them at all, as they walked to a nine-wicket victory.

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Two down in one over

Oh oh oh! Not what Upul Tharanga had in mind when he won the toss. By the end of the first over from Usman Khan Shinwari, two batsmen are back in the hut. It's a second duck in a row for Samarawickrama (If there's any solace both Sachin Tendulkar and Kane WIlliamson too began their ODI carers with twin ducks )

Samarawickrama pushes away from the body to the one that comes back in. The inside edge ricochets on to the stumps.

Usman Khan then pushes one across new man Dinesh Chandimal, who is lured into a drive by the fuller length. The edge is snaffled by Sarfraz. Two in Two for Pakistan! What a start

Toss and teams:

Sri Lanka have won the toss and opted to bat first in the final ODI. Three changes for Sri Lanka as they bring in Vishwa Fernando, Dushmantha Chameera and Jeffrey Vandersay while Akila Dananjaya, Lahiru Gamage and Suranga Lakmal have been left out. Pakistan have made one change, bringing in Faheem Ashraf in place of Junaid Khan.

Prelude

Forget the Lahore T20I and all the associated shenanigans just for a moment. Sri Lanka stand on the cusp of becoming the first team to suffer three 5-0 ODI whitewashes in a calendar year (South Africa and India have beaten them ) . That I'm sure you'll acknowledge, even if you've been living under the "contextual" rock, is bad. Wait let's capitalise that. BAD.

Sri Lanka must understand that they don't necessarily have to endure this sorry fate and it's potentially ramifications. As weird as it sounds, despite being 0-4 down , it's still in their hands.

The batsmen will and should be better than they have been. The fielding has to go up a notch and should these two units click in unison, there's a chance.

But will Pakistan oblige? Sarfraz and his boys have gone from strength to strength in the 50-over format since that famous London evening in June. Now they want more, especially against Sri Lanka who so emphatically yet surprisingly swept them away in the two Tests.

Welcome to the final ODI from Sharjah. Here's a little more detailed preview to get you started as we wait for the toss!