Bruised Pakistan look to turn things around in second T20I

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Pakistan would look to turn things around in the second Twenty20 International (T20I) of the three-match series against Sri Lanka, after an embarrassing performance in the first encounter.

The Men in Green were humbled in the opening T20I of the series by 64 runs as a depleted Sri Lanka achieved their biggest T20 win over world number one Pakistan on the back of some brilliant batting and bowling.

The Sarfaraz Ahmed-led unit were found wanting in all departments of the game, much to the disappointment of a vociferous home crowd.

Opener Danushka Gunathilaka scored a career best 57 and despite a hat-trick by teenage Pakistan paceman Mohammad Hasnain Sri Lanka posted a challenging 165-5 in their 20 overs.

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Fast-bowlers Isuru Udana (3-11) and Nuwan Pradeep (3-21) then dismantled Pakistan for 101 in 17.4 overs to hand Sri Lanka a convincing win. Comeback stars Umar Akmal fell for a first ball duck while Ahmed Shehzad managed just four.

Despite the defeat, Pakistan captain Sarfaraz was confident that his team can win the remaining two matches of the series.

“We did not play well today but I’m confident that we can win the remaining two matches of the series,” said Sarfaraz after the conclusion of the first T20I.

The visitors, on the other hand, are likely to retain the winning combination as they look to seal a memorable series win. The win would be significant for an inexperienced Sri Lanka team — ranked eighth in T20Is — who are missing ten top players, including regular skipper Lasith Malinga, who all refused to tour over security fears.

Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka, who was leading the team for the first time in his career, was also happy after securing the win the first T20I despite the odds.

“This is a memorable victory over the world’s number one side bearing in the mind the fact that we were missing our top guns,” said Shanaka.

The remaining two matches will be played on Monday and Wednesday — also in Lahore.

Expected lineups

Sri Lanka

Danushka Gunathilaka, Avishka Fernando, Shehan Jayasuriya, Bhanuka Rajapaksha, Minod Bhanuka (wk), Dasun Shanaka (c), Lakshan Sandakan, Isuru Udana, Wanindu Hasaranga, Kasun Rajitha, Nuwan Pradeep

Pakistan

Ahmed Shehzad, Babar Azam, Umar Akmal, Sarfraz Ahmed (c/wk), Asif Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Faheem Ashraf, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Hasnain.