MIRPUR: Pakistan's batsmen chose a dead rubber to wake up from slumber as the Shahid Afridi-led side cruised to a six-wicket win over Sri Lanka at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium here on Friday night. Chasing 151, Pakistan rode on handy contributions from Sharjeel Khan, Sarfaraz Ahmed and hero of the day Umar Akmal (48 off 37 balls; 4x4, 2x6) to cross the line with four balls to spare.
Sharjeel's opening salvo meant Pakistan reached 50 in six overs as the left-hander tore into Dushmantha Chameera, striking four successive fours. Once Tillakaratne Dilshan (1-2) dismissed Sharjeel, Sarfaraz took over. In the company of Akmal, Sarfaraz added 35 for the third wicket before he was trapped leg-before by Milinda Siriwardana to leave Pakistan 57 away from the target. Siriwardana bled 19 runs in the 15th over, giving Pakistan control of the proceedings. Thisara Perera took a splendid catch at longoff to end Akmal's innings but it was too little too late as Pakistan at that point were just one run away from a win.
Earlier, Dilshan (75*, 56b; 10x4, 1x6) and Dinesh Chandimal (58 off 49; 7x4, 1x6) laid the foundation with a 110-run opening stand that helped Sri Lanka end at 150 for 4 after being asked to bat first. Pakistan were guilty of dropping Dilshan on two occasions, once in the fifth over and again in the 19th, Mohammad Irfan being the culprit on both occasions.
Dilshan began flexing his muscles once left-arm spinner and debutant Mohammad Nawaz was introduced in the sixth over, smashing him for 18 runs. Chandimal, who was leading the side in place of Angelo Mathews, who is nursing a niggle, too looked at ease.