Pallekele: Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan by two wickets in the second one-day international in Pallekele on Wednesday to level the five-match series at 1-1. Chasing Pakistan’s challenging 287-8, the hosts recovered from 159-5 to post 288-8 with 11 balls to spare in the day-night match. Earlier, Mohammad Rizwan smashed 52 off 38 balls towards the end to lift Pakistan to 287-8 in the second one-day international against Sri Lanka in Pallekele on Wednesday.
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.
Brief scores
Pakistan 287/8 in 50 overs (A. Ali 79, A. Shehzad 30, S. Malik 51, M. Rizwan 52, A. Ali n.o. 29, Malinga 2/64, Pathirana 2/70, Siriwardana) lost to Sri Lanka 288/8 in 48.1 overs (MDKJ Perera 68, T. Dilshan 47, W.U. Tharanga 28, L. Chandimal n.o. 48 T.A.M. Siriwardana 26, S. Pathirana 33, R. Ali 3/73, M. 2/61.
