Seamers Sohail Tanvir and Anwar Ali shared five wickets backing up a solid batting display as Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka by 29 runs in the first Twenty20 on Thursday.
Electing to bat first after winning the toss, Pakistan made 175-5 in 20 overs, with Shoaib Malik scoring an unbeaten 46, and Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Akmal adding 46 each, too.
Sri Lanka could manage only 146-7 in 20 overs in its reply.
Sri Lanka lost aggressive opener Kusal Perera on 4, caught by Shahid Afridi off Ali, and soon slumped to 19-3. The hole was too deep for the middle order to overcome.
Milinda Siriwardana, playing his first T20 for Sri Lanka, top—scored with 35 runs off 18 deliveries, including two sixes and three boundaries. Chamara Kapugedara playing for Sri Lanka for the first time in three years, scored an unbeaten 31 off 16 deliveries, including three sixes and a boundary.
Dhanajaya de Silva, one of the three international debutants in the game, added 31.
Tanvir returned Pakistan’s best bowling figures of 3-29, while Ali had 2-27.
Malik and Akmal shared 81 runs in 45 balls for the fourth wicket, after Pakistan was 83—3 in the 12th over. Pakistan scored 59 runs in the last five overs.
Malik’s 46 came off 21 deliveries, while Akmal walloped three sixes and three boundaries for a 24—ball 46. Shehzad’s innings was more measured, with his runs coming off 38 balls, including four boundaries.
Sri Lanka seam bowler Thisara Perera took 2-30.
The second and final match on Saturday will also be in Colombo.
