Abu Dhabi: Pakistan, following their 5-0 sweep in the ODI series, continued to torment Sri Lanka as they took a 1-0 lead in the three-match T20I series with a crushing seven-wicket win at the Shaikh Zayed Cricket Stadium on Thursday.
Pacer Hassan Ali was as effective as in the ODIs and was the wrecker-in-chief with figures of 3 for 23, while Usman Khan and Mohammad Hafeez claimed two wickets apiece as the visitors were bundled out for a modest total of 102 in 18.3 overs.
Pakistan in their run chase lost Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam cheaply and were reduced to 18 for 2 after five overs.
With the experienced Shoaib Malek coming to the crease, the serenity was resorted immediately. In his company, opener Ahmad Shehzad, who was very tentative in the beginning, managed a scratchy 22 off 32 balls. Malek then with an unbeaten 42 and Hafeez with an unbeaten 25 saw Pakistan home in 17.2 overs. The second T20I will be played at the same venue on Friday.
Earlier, asked to bat first, Sri Lanka’s spineless display continued. Without six of their regular players, who pulled out of the series with security concerns over the last match scheduled in Lahore, the Islanders were never in the match. They surrendered meekly to Pakistan’s lethal bowling attack.
The trouble started in the first over. Opener Dilshan Munameera saw his stumps disturbed by left-arm spinner Imad Wasim on the second ball.
An ODI series suspension for disciplinary reasons has done no harm to Danushka Gunathilaka’s confidence. He started off on a high, cracking a couple of boundaries. However, his quick-fire 18 off 11 balls was ended by the star of the last ODI in Sharjah — Usman. He slashed hard, the ball finding a thick edge and stumper Sarfraz Ahmad held on to it gleefully.
With Saeera Samarawickrama going after the bowling and a couple of thick edges finding the ropes, the Sri Lankan 50 was on the board in the eighth over. However, just when it seemed Samarawickrama would build on his run-a-ball 23, Pakistan struck.
Fahim Ashraf got one to slip through Samarawickrama’s defences to send the leg stump cartwheeling. After the 10th over, the Sri Lankans were reduced to 58 for 4 once Ashan Priyanjan opted for a needless reverse hit only to find the hands of Malek off Shadab Khan.
Then Hafeez took charge as soon as the ball was tossed to him. He got rid of Mahela Udawatte leg before from his first delivery and then had Dasun Shanaka out stumped off the fourth, leaving Sri Lanka reeling at 66 for 6.
With Ali getting Sachith Pathirana out caught and bowled, it was certain Sri Lanka wouldn’t post a challenging total. One couldn’t understand the logic behind skipper Thisara Perera coming in at No 9. His stay at the crease lasted just six deliveries and had it not been for an unbeaten 23 off 23 balls from Seekkuge Prasanna, the Sri Lankans would have fallen short of three figures.
