Opener Kusal Perera blasted the joint-second fastest half-century in one-day international history to set Sri Lanka on the road to a two-wicket victory over Pakistan in Pallekele.
Kusal took just 17 balls to reach his fifty, which included 11 fours and a six, matching compatriot Sanath Jayasuriya’s effort against the same opposition in 1996, but falling one short of the record owned by South African AB de Villiers.
He was eventually dismissed by Mohammad Irfan for 68 and although Sri Lanka wobbled alarmingly in the wake of his departure, wicketkeeper Dinesh Chandimal steadied the innings with an unbeaten 48 to guide the home side to their 288-run target with 11 balls to spare and in the process, level the five-match series at 1-1.
This is definitely one of the best fielding units Pakistan has had for many years #SLvPak #Cricket pic.twitter.com/5VzviXFyqz
— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) July 15, 2015
Pakistan won the toss and opted to bat, and they made steady progress with openers Azhar Ali and Ahmed Shehzad putting on 59 for the first wicket before Shehzad was bowled by Sachith Pathirana for 30.
Azhar provided the innings’ foundation with 79 from 104 balls as he and Shoaib Malik produced a fourth-wicket stand of 83 which ended when Malik was dismissed by Angelo Matthews for 51 with the score on 179 for four, and Azhar followed him 19 balls later with 18 runs having been added.
It was left to Mohammad Rizwan to steer the tourists to a relatively modest total of 287 for eight with a quick-fire 52 from 38 balls in tandem with Anwar Ali, who made 29 not out, with the last 10 overs yielding 88 runs.
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Sri Lanka launched their chase in confident mood with Perera and Tillakaratne Dilshan plundering 92 runs between them before the former was caught for 68 off just 25 balls – a knock which included 15 boundaries – by Yasir Shah at deep backward square leg as he attempted to pull Irfan for six.
But the reply rather slowed from that point as Rahat Ali sent Upul Tharanga, Dilshan – three short of a half-century – and Lahiru Thirimanne back to the pavilion in quick succession either side of skipper Matthews’ run out to leave Sri Lanka on 159 for five in the 25th over.
However, Chandimal’s patient innings, which amounted to 63 balls, aided by 26 from Milinda Siriwardana and Pathirana’s 33 from 28 balls as the tail wagged determinedly, helped to see them home despite the best efforts of Rahat, who finished with figures of three for 73.
