<p>Dashing all-rounder Shahid Afridi starred in Pakistan’s exciting three-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the first Twenty20 international at Dubai stadium.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Afridi scored an unbeaten 20-ball 39 on Wednesday, hitting the winning six off the last ball of the final over by paceman Nuwan Kulasekara to give Pakistan a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.<br /><br />In all Afridi hit three sixes and two boundaries to help Pakistan overcome a tough challenge from world number one Sri Lanka who had taken the match to the final over with Pakistan needing six runs.<br /><br />Set a challenging 146 to get, Pakistan lost Ahmed Shehzad (four) in the third over but Mohammad Hafeez (32) and Sharjeel Khan (34) steadied the innings through their 57-run second wicket stand before they lost three wickets in the space of seven runs.<br /><br />Score board<br /><br />SRI LANKA<br />Dilshan c Shehzad b Tanvir 7<br />K Perera lbw Ajmal 15<br />Chandimal lbw Afridi 22<br />Sangakkara c Afridi b Ajmal 21<br />Mathews c Sharjeel b Tanvir 50<br />Thirimanne (not out) 23<br />T Perera (not out) 2<br />Extras (W-5) 5<br />Total (for 5 wkts, 20 overs) 145<br />Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-41, 3-59, 4-84, 5-142.<br />Bowling: Hafeez 4-0-24-0, Tanvir 4-0-34-2, Usman 1-0-9-0, Bilawal 3-0-23-0, Ajmal 4-0-35-2, Afridi 4-0-20-1.<br />PAKISTAN<br />Sharjeel c Dilshan b T Perera 34<br />Shehzad c T’manne b S’nayake 4<br />Hafeez lbw Mendis 32<br />U Akmal (run out) 5<br />Maqsood lbw Malinga 13<br />Amin c Chandimal b Malinga 8<br />Afridi (not out) 39<br />Bilawal c T Perera b Malinga 10<br />Tanvir (not out) 0<br />Extras (NB-1) 1<br />Total (for 7 wkts, 19.1 overs) 146<br />Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-69, 3-76, 4-76, 5-96, 6-117, 7-139.<br />Bowling: Malinga 4-0-26-3, Kulasekara 3.1-0-30-0, Senanayake 3-0-14-1, Mendis 4-0-29-1, Mathews 2-0-20-0, T Perera 3-0-27-1.</p>
<p>Dashing all-rounder Shahid Afridi starred in Pakistan’s exciting three-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the first Twenty20 international at Dubai stadium.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Afridi scored an unbeaten 20-ball 39 on Wednesday, hitting the winning six off the last ball of the final over by paceman Nuwan Kulasekara to give Pakistan a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.<br /><br />In all Afridi hit three sixes and two boundaries to help Pakistan overcome a tough challenge from world number one Sri Lanka who had taken the match to the final over with Pakistan needing six runs.<br /><br />Set a challenging 146 to get, Pakistan lost Ahmed Shehzad (four) in the third over but Mohammad Hafeez (32) and Sharjeel Khan (34) steadied the innings through their 57-run second wicket stand before they lost three wickets in the space of seven runs.<br /><br />Score board<br /><br />SRI LANKA<br />Dilshan c Shehzad b Tanvir 7<br />K Perera lbw Ajmal 15<br />Chandimal lbw Afridi 22<br />Sangakkara c Afridi b Ajmal 21<br />Mathews c Sharjeel b Tanvir 50<br />Thirimanne (not out) 23<br />T Perera (not out) 2<br />Extras (W-5) 5<br />Total (for 5 wkts, 20 overs) 145<br />Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-41, 3-59, 4-84, 5-142.<br />Bowling: Hafeez 4-0-24-0, Tanvir 4-0-34-2, Usman 1-0-9-0, Bilawal 3-0-23-0, Ajmal 4-0-35-2, Afridi 4-0-20-1.<br />PAKISTAN<br />Sharjeel c Dilshan b T Perera 34<br />Shehzad c T’manne b S’nayake 4<br />Hafeez lbw Mendis 32<br />U Akmal (run out) 5<br />Maqsood lbw Malinga 13<br />Amin c Chandimal b Malinga 8<br />Afridi (not out) 39<br />Bilawal c T Perera b Malinga 10<br />Tanvir (not out) 0<br />Extras (NB-1) 1<br />Total (for 7 wkts, 19.1 overs) 146<br />Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-69, 3-76, 4-76, 5-96, 6-117, 7-139.<br />Bowling: Malinga 4-0-26-3, Kulasekara 3.1-0-30-0, Senanayake 3-0-14-1, Mendis 4-0-29-1, Mathews 2-0-20-0, T Perera 3-0-27-1.</p>