COLOMBO (Web Desk) – Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 29 runs in the first T20 of the two-match series in Colombo on Thursday.
After bagging the Test and ODI series, Shahid Afridi was under pressure to deliver in the T20s for the Pakistan but he took the responsibility equally well.
While batting first on a batting-friendly wicket, Pakistan posted a sizeable total of 175 runs on the board despite losing opener Mukhtar on 14 in third over.
Incoming batsman M Hafeez and Shehzad paced up the inning and running along nicely, they both put 42 runs partnership on 33 balls after Hafeez tried to pull a slower leg-cutter by Perera but hit it straight to the man at deep midwicket. He scored 17 of 14 balls.
Pakistan were 83/3 when well-set Shehzad dragged a well-outside off stump pitched ball and ramped it straight to short fine leg to Malinga. He added valuable 46 in just 38 balls.
Sri Lanka were shaky in reply as they lost their first 3 wickets for just 19 in 4th over. Islanders extracted 35 runs in first power-play.
Sri Lankan kept knitting small partnerships but failed to convert into a match winning stand; losing wickets at regular interval caused them the match.
Sohail Tanveer took 3 for 29 in his four overs.
Sri Lanka could manage to score 146/7 runs and lost the match by 29 runs.
