After winning the Test and ODi series, Pakistan comprehensively beat Sri Lanka by 29 runs to go 1-0 up in the T20I series.

By PakPassion Staff (30th July, 2015)

Result: Pakistan 175-5 (Shehzad 46, Umar Akmal 46) beat Sri Lanka 146-7 (Sohail Tanvir 3-29) by 29 runs.

Toss: Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first.

After winning the ODI and Test series, Pakistan were looking to shift the winning momentum to the shortest format. There was a surprise exclusion in the playing XI as Sarfraz Ahmed was dropped and Mohammad Rizwan and Umar Akmal were included.

Pakistan lost the hard hitting and in form Mukhtar Ahmed early who was caught at short third man off Mathews. Ahmed Shehzad and Hafeez consolidated after the loss of the early wicket to take the score past fifty when Hafeez was caught in the deep off Thisara Perera. Ahmed Shehzad was out for 46 from 38 balls as he hit one straight to short fine leg as Perera picked up his second wicket.

Umar Akmal hit Fernando for back to back sixes and Malinga for a few boundaries as he looked in exceptional form and made a quickfire 46 from 24 balls and was involved in a 81 run partnership with Shoaib Malik. Pakistan ended the innings on 175-5 where Shoaib Malik remained not out on 46. Pakistan fetched 59 runs off the last 5 overs.

Anwar Ali struck in the very first over as Kusal top edged one in the air. Sohail Tanvir also struck in his first over too as he got Dilshan caught behind to put Pakistan on top. Vithanage played one on to the stumps from Tanvir as Sri Lanka were 3 down for 19. Mathews tried to score quick runs but was tied up with the spin and was eventually bowled for 23 by Imad Wasim.

Shoaib Malik was brought on in the 13th over and struck with his third ball to get rid of debutant Dhananjaya de Silva for a well made 31. Siriwardana and Kapugedera batted superbly as Sri Lanka managed to get back in the game scoring 58 runs in 5 overs between overs 10-15. Sohail Tanvir came back on and got his third wicket by getting Siriwardana caught at long on for 35. The fast bowlers bolwed a few good overs in the end and as a result Pakistan comprehensively won by 29 runs to take 1-0 lead in the 2 match series.

Fall of wickets (Pakistan) :

Mukhtar 1-10 (1.6 overs)
Hafeez 2-52 (7.3 overs)
Shehzad 3-83 (11.3 overs)
Umar Akmal 4-164 (18.6 overs)
Afridi 5-175 (19.5 overs)

Fall of wickets (Sri Lanka)

Kusal 1-4 (0.3 overs)
Dilshan 2-13 (1.5 overs)
Vithanage 3-19 (3.1 overs)
Mathews 4-55 (9.6 overs)
De Silva 5-92 (13.3 overs)
Siriwardana 6-116 (15.3 overs)
Thisara 7-121 (16.3 overs)

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