1st T20I: Malik, bowlers help Pakistan down Sri Lanka
PHOTO: AFP
After opting to bowl first, hosts bowlers were on fire right from the word go.
‘Sri Lanka series one of Pakistan’s best-ever’
Left-arm spinner Imad Wasim removed Munaweera in the first over to set the tone for the Men in Green, who never let visitors get away, who were eventually bowled for just 102 in the 19th over of the innings.
The star of the show was once again fast-bowler Hasan Ali, who finished the innings with figures of three for 23 in 3.3 overs.
He was well supported by pacer Usman Khan Shinwari, who claimed two crucial wickets for the home side.
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Chasing just 103 to go 1-0 up in the series, the Green Caps were in a spot of bother after losing Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam inside the first six overs.
However, Malik once again showed his class to take Pakistan home with controlled unbeaten 44 off 31 balls with the help four boundaries.
Next match of the series will be played on Friday at the same venue.
So that's it from us today. It was a thumping win for the hosts, who go 1-0 up in the three-T20I series. We will join you again tomorrow for the second match. Till then, it's goodbye from Azeem Siddiqui here.
PAK 103-3 (17.2 overs)
That's it. Pakistan have won the first T20I by seven wickets.
Shanaka to start his first over.
PAK 100-3 (17 overs)
Just four off the over.
Udana to continue.
PAK 96-3 (16 overs)
Nine off the over.
Sanjaya to start his final over.
PAK 87-3 (15 overs)
Just four off the over.
Prasanna to start his new over.
PAK 83-3 (14 overs)
Seven off the over.
Perera to start his new over.
PAK 76-3 (13 overs)
Nine off the over.
FOUR! Another beautiful boundary from Shoaib Malik.
Pathirana to start his new over.
PAK 67-3 (12 overs)
Five runs and a wicket off the over.
Sanjaya to start his new over.
PAK 62-2 (11 overs)
Seven off the over.
Thisara Perera to start his first over.
PAK 55-2 (10 overs)
Eight off the over. Good one for Pakistan.
Udana to start his new over.
PAK 47-2 (9 overs)
Just four off the over.
Prasanna to start his new over.
PAK 43-2 (8 overs)
Twelve off the over. Another good one for Pakistan.
Pathirana to start his new over.
PAK 31-2 (7 overs)
Ten off the over. Good one for Pakistan.
Prasanna to start his first over.
PAK 21-2 (6 overs)
Just three runs and a wicket off the over.
Pathirana to start his new over.
PAK 18-1 (5 overs)
Six off the over.
Sanjaya to start his new over.
PAK 12-1 (4 overs)
Just one run off the over.
Pathirana to start his first over.
PAK 11-1 (3 overs)
Just two runs and a wicket off the over.
Sanjaya to continue.
PAK 9-0 (2 overs)
Just five off the over.
Munaweera to start his first over.
PAK 4-0 (1 over)
Just four off the over.
So it's Fakhar Zaman and Ahmad Shahzad to open for Pakistan, whereas pacer Vikum Sanjaya will begin for Sri Lanka.
So that's it from the first session. Will Pakistan able to chase this target or will Sri Lanka fight back? We will figure it out in the next session. Join us for the next session.
SL 102 (19 overs)
OUT! That's all. Sri Lanka set Pakistan 103-run target to win first T20I.
Hasan to continue.
SL 95-9 (18 overs)
Just four off the over.
Shinwari to continue.
SL 91-9 (17 overs)
Four runs and a wicket off the over.
Hasan to start his new over.
SL 87-8 (16 overs)
Four runs and a wicket off the over.
Shinwari to start his new over.
SL 83-7 (15 overs)
Just one off the over.
Shadab to continue.
SL 82-7 (14 overs)
Ten off the over. Great one for Sri Lanka.
Hafeez to continue.
SL 72-7 (13 overs)
Six runs and a wicket off the over.
Hasan to start his first over.
SL 66-6 (12 overs)
Double-wicket maiden. Great start from the veteran off-spinner.
Mohammad Hafeez to start his first over.
SL 66-4 (11 overs)
Eight runs and a wicket off the over.
Shadab Khan to continue.
SL 58-3 (10 overs)
Just five singles off the over.
Imad to start his final over.
SL 53-3 (9 overs)
Just three runs and a wicket off the over.
Fahim Ashraf to continue.
SL 50-2 (8 overs)
Six off the over.
Shadab Khan to start his first over.
SL 44-2 (7 overs)
Just four off the over.
Fahim Ashraf to start his first over.
SL 40-2 (6 overs)
Six off the over.
Hasan Ali to start his first over.
SL 34-2 (5 overs)
Just five off the over.
Imad to continue.
SL 29-2 (4 overs)
Just four runs and a wicket off the over.
Shinwari to continue.
SL 25-1 (3 overs)
Nine off the over.
FOUR! Another boundary for Sri Lanka.
Imad to continue.
SL 16-1 (2 overs)
Eight off the over.
Usman Khan Shinwari to start his first over.
SL 8-1 (1 over)
Eight runs and a wicket off the over.
So it's Munaweera and Samarawickrama to open for Sri Lanka, whereas Imad Wasim will start for Pakistan.
TOSS: News from the centre is Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed has won the toss and opt to bowl first.