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Kandy: Kusal Perera threatened to finish the match extremely early, but his dismissal sparked a massive collapse though Sri Lanka managed to keep a spirited Pakistan at bay to win the second One-Day International at Pallekele on Wednesday by two wickets.
Rahat Ali went for 34 in his first two overs, but he came back brilliantly to take three wickets. The way Perera batted at the start of the innings, it looked like Sri Lanka would canter to a win.
The left-handed opener — who has been compared repeatedly with Sanath Jayasuriya — finally made good on his promise when he thrashed 13 fours and two sixes in an extravagant 25-ball 68. On the way he matched Jayasuriya’s record for the joint second-highest ODI half-century, off 17 balls.
However, once Perera pulling Mohammad Irfan to Yasir Shah, Sri Lanka lost their momentum at an alarming rate. Perera and Tillakaratne Dilshan put on 92 in less than nine overs, but they added only another 48 in the next nine, at which point Upul Tharanga was was bowled by Rahat for 28 off 36.
Sri Lanka then unravelled quickly -- from 140 for 1 they crashed to 159 for 5 and then 196 for 6. Rahat started the slide when he had Dilshan bowled for 47. Angelo Mathews was then run out for 8, and Lahiru Thirimanne proceeded to cut Rahat to Anwar Ali for 4.
Dinesh Chandimal and Milinda Siriwardana then restored some sanity to proceedings, adding 37 in good time. Mohammad Hafeez soon ended the stand when he had Siriwardana out LBW for a well-made 26 off 28 balls.
Earlier, Mohammad Rizwan smashed 52 off 38 balls towards the end to lift Pakistan to 287-8.
Azhar Ali played a captain's innings of 79 and senior pro Shoaib Malik made a run-a-ball 51, the pair adding 83 for the fourth wicket after the tourists won the toss and elected to bat in the day-night match.
But Rizwan stole the show with five boundaries and a six as the tourists plundered 88 runs in the last 10 overs.
Anwar Ali, who put on 56 for the seventh wicket with Rizwan, returned unbeaten on 29 off 20 balls.
Ahmed Shehzad put on 59 for the first wicket with Azhar when he was bowled by debutant left-arm spinner Sachith Pathirana for 30 in the 14th over.
Mohammad Hafeez, the hero of Pakistan's win in Dambulla with four wickets and a century, managed only nine this time when he became Pathirana's second victim to make it 75-2.
It soon became 96-3 in the 24th over when Babar Azam was bowled by Milinda Siriwardana for 12, but Malik joined Azhar to steer the tourists out of trouble.
Pathirana and sling-arm fast bowler Lasith Malinga claimed two wickets each.
Brief scores
Pakistan - 287/8 (Azhar Ali 79, Rizwan 52, Malik 51)
Sri Lanka - 288/8 (Kusal Perera 68, Chandimal 48*, Rahat Ali 3-73)
Result - Sri Lanka won by 2 wickets
MOM - Kusal Perera (Sri Lanka)
