- Urdu version of release is attached here
Lahore, 5 October 2019: Sri Lanka marked their return to Lahore with a comprehensive win as they beat hosts Pakistan by 64 runs in the first of the three T20Is at the Gaddafi Stadium.
Danushka Gunathilaka continued to impress in his side’s ongoing tour of Pakistan by cracking a belligerent 38-ball 57 after Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed put the tourists into bat factoring in the dew.
An 84-run partnership for the first-wicket, which lasted 9.4 overs, effectively snatched the game from Pakistan as Danushka and Avishka Fernando, who scored 33 off 34, inducing consistent bowling changes from the Pakistan captain.
Pakistan bowlers controlled the flow of runs after Shadab Khan removed Danushka. Young pacer Mohammad Hasnain celebrated his first international match at home soil with a hattrick, split across 16th and 19th over, by removing Bhanuka Rajapaksa (32 off 22), Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka (17 off 10) and Shehan Jayasuria (2 off 6).
Pakistan found themselves on the backfoot from the onset of their chase as Babar Azam (13 off 10) fell to Nuwan Pradeep on the penultimate ball of the second over.
Umar Akmal and Ahmed Shehzad, marking their returns to the T20I side after three years, had forgettable outings as the former followed Babar back to the pavilion the very next ball before Ahmed chopped on an Isuru Udana delivery.
A 46-run stand for the fourth-wicket between Sarfaraz Ahmed (24 off 30) and Iftikhar Ahmed (25 off 24) was the only respite for the hosts as it put a brief halt on a batting collapse.
But, once Iftikhar lost his wicket, courtesy a comical mix-up which saw both Pakistan batsmen compete to cross the same popping crease, Pakistan started to lose wickets regularly.
They were all out for a mere 101 in 17.4 overs as the lost their last six wickets for 25 runs.
This was Sri Lanka’s first T20I win over Pakistan in six years.
The second match of the series will be played at the same venue on Monday.
Scores in brief:
Sri Lanka 165-5, 20 overs (Danushka Gunathilaka 57, Avishka Fernando 33, Bhanuka Rajapaksa 32; Mohammad Hasnain 3-37)
Pakistan 101 all-out, 17.4 overs (Iftikhar Ahmed 25, Sarfaraz Ahmed 24; Isuru Udana 3-11, Nuwan Pradeep 3-21)
