SL vs PAK, 1st T20: Pakistan wins by 29 runs and takes 1-0 lead in the series

Akmal played a quick-fire innings

Pakistan won the first-off two-match Twenty20 series against Sri Lanka convincingly by 29 runs at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. A powerful display by Pakistan with the bat helped them post a good target of 176 runs which they eventually defended successfully.

Shahid Afridi won the toss and decided to bat first. Pakistan lost their first wicket as Mukhtar Ahmed got out in the second over itself of Angelo Mathews ball. But soon, Ahmed Shehzad and Mohammad Hafeez started building the innings. They shared a 42-run stand between them.

Thisara Perera picked both the batsmen in the span of four overs and then came Shoaib Malik and Umar Akmal. Malik played a not out innings of 46 runs off 31 balls. Akmal wasn't behind as he scored 46 too but off just 24 deliveries which included 3 sixes and 3 fours.

BOOM BOOM Afridi came and went after smashing 1 six as Pakistan posted 175 runs on the board. Perera was the pick of the bowler as he picked 2 wickets by giving away just 30 runs in 4 overs. Mathews, Lasith Malinga and debutant Binura Fernando picked 1 wicket each.

Sri Lankan innings started off on the weak side as they lost both their openers in first two overs. Anwar Ali and Sohail Tanvir bowled some brilliant line to get openers out. The home team kept losing wickets in intervals.

Milinda Siriwardana continued his good form and looked lone warrior today in Lanka's innings. He was the highest scorer of Sri Lanka with 35 runs off 18 balls. For Pakistan, Tanvir scalped 3 wickets by giving away just 29 runs and was awarded Man-of-the-Match for the same.