Sri Lanka see off Pakistan..(Cricket)

An unbeaten
eighth-wicket stand between Thisara Perera and Nuwan Kulasekara proved
decisive as Sri Lanka claimed victory by 37 runs in the opening Twenty20
international against Pakistan in Hambantota.



The hosts were rocking on 89-7 in the 17th over when the tail-end
duo were paired at the crease, but Perera's 16-ball 32 helped Sri Lanka to 132 from their 20 overs.

Pakistan then lost Mohammad Hafeez and
Shakeel Ansar with the first two balls of their reply and Angelo
Mathews claimed two wickets for the loss of just eight runs as the
visitors limped to 95 all out inside 18 overs.

Pakistan's day started well enough with Sohail Tanvir (3-12) removing openers Mahela
Jayawardene (two) and Tillakaratne Dilshan (five) inside three overs.
Tanvir then dispatched third man Kumar Sangakkara after the wicketkeeper-batsman had reached 19 from 12 deliveries.
Perera smashed two sixes and two fours in a lively cameo to take Sri Lanka well into three figures, while
Kulasekara (6no) stayed alive long enough to help his partner build a match-winning score.

Pakistan's reply got off to a dismal start
when Hafeez was removed by Kulasekara (2-13) with his first delivery,
while the swing bowler then sent Ansar packing with his very next ball.
The economical Mathews removed Khalid Latif (three) and Shoaib Malik
(nine), while Ahmed Shehzad (36) and Umar Akmal (12) were the only
players to reach double figures for the tourists.