Pakistan have won the Toss and Chose to bat
Pakistan 322 for 5 (Hafeez 122, Maqsood 73, Sharjeel 61)
Sri Lanka 311 (Kusal 64, Junaid 3-44)
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Opting to bat first, Pakistan rode on Mohammad Hafeez's hundred to post a very good total on a good batting surface. A good effort in the end by Pakistan as they end up on 322, which looks like a gettable total on this batting paradise. Opting to bat they got off to a poor start losing Shehzad, but debutant Sharjeel and Hafeez stitched an important stand of 83 for the 2nd wicket and revived them. After taking a lot of criticism for his place in the side, Hafeez proved his detractors wrong by nothching up his 7th ODI ton. Maqsood also supported him well with a well made fifty and Afridi provided some late fireworks to help them cross the 300-run mark.
Sri Lanka started off well with Kusal Perera getting to a fifty but wickets at regular intervals saw them being reduced to 141/4. Useful contributions from Dinesh Chandimal and Angelo Mathews kept the chase alive but Pakistan again found ways to claw back. In the end they managed to handle pressure and pull off a thrilling win despite a great effort from the tailenders. Junaid Khan was expensive but bagged three wickets while Shahid Afridi picked up two.
So, Pakistan go 1-0 up in this 5-match ODI series with a thrilling win. One thought they had the game in their bag when Thisara Perera was dismissed in the 42nd over with Sri Lanka needing over 100 runs, but a stunning 87-run partnership between Senanayake and Prasanna spiced up things. It looked like the duo were going to pull off an unlikely win with a record 8th wicket stand for Sri Lanka against Pakistan but they couldn't quite hold their nerves in the end.
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