Pallekele: Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan by 76 runs in the second One Day International played here at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Sri Lanka, levelling the five-match series 1-1.
Sri Lanka restricted Pakistan to 204 runs with the help of its powerful bowling, with Thisara Perera taking six wickets for 44.
Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bat. Tillakaratne Dilshan and Mahela Jayawardene showed some spellbinding performances, making 119 (139) and 53 (45) runs, respectively.
Sri Lanka made 280 runs for 4 in full 50 overs.
As for Pakistan bowling, Umar Gul and Rahat Ali remained wicket-less, while Sohail Tanvir, Shahid Afridi, Saeed Ajmal and Mohammad Hafeez took one wicket each.
Ajmal and Hafeez proved to be the two most economical bowlers, with the former giving 49 runs in 10 overs and the latter giving 30 in eight overs.
Pakistan batting collapsed as Sri Lankan bowlers restricted their four batsmen to enter the double figure: Younis Khan 4 (13), Umar Akmal 3 (11), Sohail Tanvir 3 (10) and Saeed Ajmal 4 (5).
Young Azhar Ali was the only batsman from the losing Pakistan side who tried his best to support the ramshackle batting order, but to no avail. He made 96 runs off 156, sending ball 12 times out of the boundary.
Sri Lankan bowlers booked Pakistan on 204 runs in 46.2 over. Kulasekara and Malinga took two wickets each, and player of the match, Perera, crushed Pakistan, taking six wickets for 44.
The third match will be played at Colombo on June 13 (Wednesday).
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