Sri Lanka ease to T20 win over Pakistan

HAMBANTOTA, Sri Lanka (AFP) –

Sri Lankan cricketer Lahiru Thirimanne plays a shot. Sri Lanka put on a brilliant bowling and fielding performance to post a comfortable 37-run victory over Pakistan in their opening Twenty20 international.

Sri Lanka put on a brilliant bowling and fielding performance to post a comfortable 37-run victory over Pakistan in their opening Twenty20 international on Friday.

Pakistan were bowled out for 95, their lowest T20 total against Sri Lanka, after restricting the hosts to 132-7 in Hambantota.

Sri Lankan pacemen Nuwan Kulasekera, Angelo Mathews and Lasith Malinga and debutant off-spinner Sachithra Senanayake took two wickets apiece after man-of-the-match Thisara Perera scored a crucial 32 not out.

Opener Ahmed Shehzad top-scored for Pakistan with 36 while the extras contributed 19 runs, the second-highest of the innings. Umar Akmal (12) was the other batsman to reach double-figures.

Pakistan never recovered after losing two wickets off the first two balls of the innings, with Kulasekera removing skipper Mohammad Hafeez and debutant Shakeel Ansar.

Sri Lankan cricketer Nuwan Kulasekera (R) celebrates with his teammate Angelo Mathews after he dismissed Pakistan Twenty20 cricket captain Mohammad Hafeez. Sri Lanka put on a brilliant bowling and fielding performance to post a comfortable 37-run victory over Pakistan in their opening Twenty20 international.

The Sri Lankan bowlers were backed by their fielders, with Perera and Kulasekera each taking a superb catch.

“The fielding was brilliant and all the bowlers did well. It was a challenging wicket and we did not assess it well when we batted,” said Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene.

Left-arm paceman Sohail Tanvir earlier grabbed three big wickets as Pakistan restricted Sri Lanka.

He jolted the top order when he dismissed Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara in his opening three overs to reduce the hosts to 31-3.

Tanvir finished with 3-12 off four tight overs, his best performance in Twenty20 internationals, while off-spinner Saeed Ajmal bagged two wickets for 20 runs.

“Perera made the difference,” said Pakistan captain Hafeez.

“We had our moments but couldn’t capitalise on them. Tanvir was brilliant and the spinners did the job. I feel we have to work and come hard in the next game.”

Perera smashed two sixes and as many fours in his 16-ball knock to help his team make 43 runs off the last 22 balls.

Sri Lankan batsman Dinesh Chandimal dives during the first Twenty20 match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan at the Suriyawewa Mahinda Rajapakse stadium in the southern district of Hambantota. Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan by 37 runs in the opening Twenty20 international in Hambantota.

Lahiru Thirimanne, making his T20 debut, was the other main scorer with a 25-ball 30.

Sri Lanka made a poor start after electing to bat, losing four wickets in the opening eight overs with just 39 on the board.

Tanvir struck with his third delivery when he had Jayawardene caught by Shoaib Malik in the covers and then had Dilshan caught by Umar Gul at fine-leg in his next over.

Sangakkara (19) hit three successive fours off paceman Mohammad Sami before he inside-edged a Tanvir delivery onto his stumps.

The second and final Twenty20 match will be played on Sunday.