Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by five wickets in the T20I Asia Cup Super Fours match in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday evening.
Chasing a modest 134-run target for victory, Sahibzada Farhan (24) and Fakhar Zaman (17) provided a solid start with a 45-run opening partnership.
After losing wickets in quick successions, Husain Talat (32 not out) and Mohammad Nawaz (38 not out) stitched an unbeaten 58-run partnership. It helped Green shirts win the match with five wickets in hand and 12 balls remaining.
Mohammad Haris contributed a valuable 13 off 11 balls.
Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana got two wickets each, while Dushmantha Chameera took one wicket.
Match committee named Hussain Talat as player of the match for his valuable contributions both with the ball and bat.
Sri Lanka Innings:
Playing first, Sri Lanka set a below-par 134-run target for Pakistan:
After being put into bat by Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha, Sri Lanka lost three key wickets inside the powerpaly with just 43 runs on the board.
Kamindu Mendis contributed a valuable 50 off 44 balls to help Sri Lanka cross the 100-run mark. He hit three fours and two huge sixes. Disciplined bowling helped the Green shirts restrict Sri Lanka to a modest 133/8 in the allocated 20 overs.
Skipper Charith Asalanka made 20 off 19 balls. Chamika Karunaratne 17 off 21, and Kusal Perera and Wanindu Hasaranga 15 runs each.
Shaheen Shah Afridi bagged three wickets and Haris Rauf and Hussain Talat two each. Abrar Ahmed: the pick of the bowlers with one wicket. He conceded just eight runs in four overs.
Earlier, Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha has won the toss and elected to bowl first against Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka Playing XI: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Kusal Perera, Charith Asalanka (capt). Dasun Shanaka, Kamindu Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne. Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Thushara.
Pakistan Playing XI: Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Hussain Talat. Mohammad Nawaz, Salman Agha (capt.), Faheem Ashraf. Mohammad Haris (wk), Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed.
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