Perera hits 59-ball 84 as Lanka down Pak

AFP/Dubai

Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by 24 runs in an exciting finish to the second Twenty20 international in Dubai yesterday to level the two-match series at 1-1.

The win also preserved Sri Lanka’s number one Twenty20 ranking.

Openers Kusal Perera hit a career best 59-ball 84 while Tillakaratne Dilshan made a 33-ball 48 to guide Sri Lanka to 211-3 in their allotted 20 overs after they were sent into bat at Dubai stadium.

Kumar Sangakkara hit a rapid 21-ball 44 as Sri Lanka managed the highest total against Pakistan in all Twenty20 cricket.

Pakistan tried valiantly and despite Sharjeel Khan’s 50 they slumped from 83-3 to 85-7 in the space of just seven balls and were dismissed for 187 in 19.2 overs.

Sohail Tanvir made a 26-ball 41 and added a world record 63 runs for the ninth wicket with Saeed Ajmal (20) but the target proved beyond Pakistan’s reach. 

Sachitra Senanayake chipped in with 3-27.

Perera, who hit five fours and four sixes, put on a rapid 100 with fellow opener Dilshan who made a 33-ball 48 as Sri Lanka, sent into bat, posted the highest ever total against Pakistan in all Twenty20 cricket.

Perera added another 77 for the third wicket with Kumar who made a 21-ball 44 not out with four boundaries and two sixes. Dilshan hit eight boundaries before debutant Seekkuge Prasanna lifted the tempo with a blistering eight-ball 21 with the help of two boundaries and two sixes.

Despite the run-feast, Saeed Ajmal finished with 2-25.

The previous highest T20 total against Pakistan was 191, made twice by Australia.