Depleted Sri Lanka seal shock series win over Pakistan

Second T20I: Sri Lanka defeat Pakistan by 35 runs, seal three-match series.

Sri Lanka registered a 35-run victory over Pakistan in the second T20I at the Gaddafi Stadium, in Lahore, on Monday.

With the victory, Sri Lanka sealed the three-match T20I series with one match left to play.

Chasing a target of 183 runs, Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman opened Pakistan's innings but failed to form a good partnership as the latter was dismissed after scoring six runs in the third over, bowled by Kasun Rajitha.

In the next over, Azam (3) too was sent back to the pavilion as Nuwan Pradeep bowled him. Sarfaraz Ahmed and Ahmed Shehzad then put up a 40-run partnership before Wanindu Hasaranga took three wickets in the eighth over. First, he bowled Shehzad (13), then Umar Akmal was given LBW and off the last ball of the over he bowled Ahmed (26).

With Ahmed's dismissal, half the Pakistani side was back in the pavilion with just 52 runs on the board.

In an attempt to save the sinking side, Asif Ali and Imad Wasim played cautiously. Both players kept the scoreboard ticking and formed a 75-run partnership. Isuru Udana broke the stand as he ended Wasim's 47-run knock in the 16th over.

Wahab Riaz was the next batsman in but he failed to leave a mark as he was caught behind the wicket after scoring just seven.

Udana struck again and sent Shadab Khan back to the pavilion on a duck, putting pressure on the hosts.

Nuwan Pradeep bowled the 19th over and took two wickets, Asif Ali (29) and Mohammad Hasnain (1), to end Pakistan's innings.

Earlier, after opting to bat first, Sri Lanka suffered an early blow as Danushka Gunathilaka was dismissed in the third over, bowled by Imad Wasim. Opener Avishka Fernando was then joined by Bhanuka Rajapaksa. The two added 25 runs quickly before Fernando was run-out in the fifth over as Shadab Khan managed a direct hit.

Shehan Jayasuriya then played brilliantly along with Rajapaksa, who completed his half-century off 31 balls. However, when they were just six runs shy of their 100-run partnership, Jayasuriya (34) too was run-out in the 16th over, bringing Dasun Shanaka to the crease.

In the next over, Shadab Khan provided his team a much-needed wicket as he got hold of Rajapaksa, who scored 77.

Minod Bhanuka failed to open his account, being run-out in the same over.

Bhanuka's dismissal brought Isuru Udana in but he only added 10 runs with Shanaka before Wahab Riaz bowled Udana.

Shanaka batted furiously in the last two overs of the innings, smashing three boundaries and a six to help Sri Lanka reach a decent total of 182 runs.

The third T20I between both teams is on October 9.

Brief Scores: Sri Lanka 182/6 (Bhanuka Rajapaksa 77, Shehan Jayasuriya 34, Imad Wasim 1-27) defeated Pakistan 147 (Imad Wasim 47, Asif Ali 29, Nuwan Pradeep 4-25) by 35 runs