HAMBANTOTA, Sri Lanka, (Reuters) – Sri Lanka produced an exceptional bowling and fielding display to beat Pakistan by 37 runs yesterday in the first of two Twenty20 internationals.
The home team elected to bat after winning the toss but struggled to a total of 132 for seven.
Left-arm seamer Sohail Tanvir was the chief destroyer as he removed captain Mahela Jayawardene (two), Tillakaratne Dilshan (five) and Kumar Sangakkara (19) to pick up three for 12.However, the man of the match award went to Sri Lanka’s Thisara Perera for hitting two sixes and two fours in an unbeaten 32 off 16 balls. Perera was also outstanding in the field, claiming a remarkable full-length catch at third man to dismiss Shoaib Malik for nine and finishing off the Pakistan innings by having Saeed Ajmal caught behind for five.
