Hasan shines as Pakistan crush Sri Lanka

Medium pacer Hasan Ali grabbed three wickets to celebrate his rise to the top of the one-day ranking as Pakistan downed Sri Lanka by seven wickets in the fourth day-night international in Sharjah on Friday. Hasan took 3-37 while spinners Shadab Khan (2-29) and Imad Wasim (2-13) also chipped in with useful wickets as Sri Lanka were skittled out for 173 in 43.4 overs. Only Lahiru Thirimanne resisted with a 94-ball 62 on a flat pitch at Sharjah Stadium on which Babar Azam scored a stroke filled 69 not out and Shoaib Malik matched him, also with an unbeaten 69, to help Pakistan overhaul the low target in 39 overs.

He's the top ODI wicket-taker of 2017 - @RealHa55an has risen 6 places to go top of the @MRFWorldwide ODI bowling rankings for the 1st time! pic.twitter.com/qfREnYLx7P

— ICC (@ICC) October 20, 2017

Despite Pakistan losing three early wickets, the target was never out of reach as Babar and Malik shared an unbroken 119-run fourth-wicket stand. Malik smashed Milinda Siriwardana for a boundary and a six to seal the victory. He hit three sixes in all and two boundaries in his 81-ball knock while Babar, who had scored successive hundreds in the first two matches, had five boundaries off 101 balls.

Breaking news: Hasan Ali becomes number one bowler in the ICC ODI Rankings. #PakvSL

— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) October 20, 2017

Pakistan lost Imam-ul-Haq for two after his debut hundred in the last match while Fakhar Zaman fell for 17 and Mohammad Hafeez made nine. This was Pakistan's eighth consecutive win which also included their 2017 Champions Trophy triumph in England and Wales in June while Sri Lanka succumbed to their 11th consecutive ODI defeat. The fifth and final match is also in Sharjah on Monday.

I love you Pakistan! Onwards upwards loads more records to achieve loads more records to break loads more records to set!! #NO1 #ICC #2017?? pic.twitter.com/yfUO0eIkDc

— Hasan Ali (@RealHa55an) October 20, 2017

Earlier, Sri Lanka got off to a disastrous start when their in-form skipper Upul Tharanga was bowled by debutant left-arm pacer Usman Shinwari for nought off his second delivery. Shinwari was one of two changes Pakistan made from the third one-dayer which they won by seven wickets in Abu Dhabi. Also brought back was Wasim. They replaced Fahim Ashraf and Rumman Raees. Sri Lanka had made three changes, with Sadeera Samarawickrama making his debut.

Congrats @RealHa55an to become no1 Bowler in Odi rankings, proud of you my boy. we need to even work harder to mentain no1 ranking iA.

— Azhar Mahmood (@AzharMahmood11) October 20, 2017

Another left-armer Junaid Khan ended Niroshan Dickwella's enterprising 16-ball 22, studded with three boundaries and a six, while Dinesh Chandimal was run out for 16. Samarawickrama lasted just two balls without scoring before Thirimanne and Siriwardana (13) added 32 for the sixth wicket. Shadab then removed Seekuge Prasanna (five) and Thisara Perera off successive deliveries before Hasan came into his wicket-taking acts.

Wow congratulations to @RealHa55an for becoming no 1 odi bowler @MHafeez22 for becoming no 1 all rounder. ???MashA Allah

— Azhar Ali (@AzharAli_) October 20, 2017

Hasan broke a resolute eighth-wicket stand of 43 between Thirimanne and Akila Dananjaya (18) before Wasim ended Thirmianne's resistance in the 41st over.BRIEF SCOREPakistan 177/3 in 39 overs (Malik 69*, Babar 69*) beat Sri Lanka 173 in 43.4 overs (Thirimanne 62, Hasan 3/37) by seven wickets