Sri Lanka quell Pak challenge

Hosts take 1-0 lead

Left-armer Thushara finished with three for 29 and Kulasekera took two for 30 as Pakistan struggled against Sri Lanka’s 232 for nine and were bowled out for 196 in 44.4 overs at the Rangiri International stadium. The tourists, beaten 2-0 in the preceding Test series, slipped to 134 for eight before tailenders Umar Gul and Mohammad Aamer boosted the total with a rollicking ninth-wicket stand of 62.

Gul top-scored for Pakistan with 33 off 21 balls, including four boundaries in one over from fast bowler Lasith Malinga. Teenager Aamer made 23.

The pair took the total to 196 for eight when both batsmen fell in the space of two deliveries to hand Sri Lanka the lead in the five-match series. Aamer was run out by a direct throw from Mahela Jayawardene, before Gul was bowled by Malinga next ball.

Earlier, Sri Lanka recovered from their own top-order failure to post a competitive total. The hosts had collapsed to 131 for six by the 34th over after Pakistan captain Younis Khan won the toss and elected to field in overcast conditions.

Score Board

SRI LANKA

Tharanga c Akmal b Razzaq    17
Jayasuriya c Aamer b Gul    15
Sangakkara c Afridi b Ajmal    36
Jayawardene (run out)    33
Kapugedera c Akmal b Afridi    8
Samaraweera c Khan b Razzaq    10
Mathews c&b Aamer    43
Kulasekara c Razzaq b Aamer    16
Muralitharan b Aamer    32
Thushara (not out)    8
Malinga (not out)    4

Extras: (B-1, LB-4, W-4, NB-1)    10
Total: (for 9 wkts, 50 overs)    232
Fall of wickets: 1-31, 2-45, 3-93, 4-106, 5-125, 6-131, 7-173, 8-204, 9-223.
Bowling: Aamer 10-0-45-3, Razzaq 10-0-33-2, Gul 8-0-46-1, Ajmal 10-0-40-1, Khan 2-0-13-0, Shahid Afridi 10-1-50-1.

PAKISTAN

Akmal b Thushara    20
Malik b Kulasekara    9
Afridi c Sangakkara b Thushara    27
Yousuf c Sangakkara b Kulasekara    4
Younis c Mathews b Thushara    12
Misbah c&b Muralitharan    9
Alam c Sangakkara b Jayasuriya    31
Razzaq lbw Muralitharan    17
Gul b Malinga    33
Aamer (run out)    23
Ajmal (not out)    0
Extras: (LB-5, W-5, NB-1)    11
Total: (all out, 44.4 overs)    196
Fall of wickets: 1-29, 2-41, 3-48, 4-73, 5-78, 6-95, 7-134, 8-134, 9-196.
Bowling: Kulasekara 7-1-30-2, Malinga 8.4-0-50-1, Thushara 8-0-29-3, Muralitharan 10-0-46-2, Angelo Mathews 5-0-22-0, Sanath Jayasuriya 6-0-14-1.