Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by 2 Wickets…………..

Opener Kusal Janith Perera made mockery of Pakistan bowling, hitting to every corner of the ground in his flashy 25-ball 68, while Dinesh Chandimal (48.n.o) guided the late order, as Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by 2 Wickets in their second ODI concluded at Pallekele yesterday.
Chasing 288 to win, Sri Lanka scored 50 in 3.5 overs and 100 in 10.2 overs before they switched on their self destructive mode, but Chandimal kept his head cool for a well-composed unbeaten 48, as he made use of handy partnerships with late order batsmen, Milinda Siriwardene (26), Sachith Pathirana (33) and Thisara Perera (15) to chase down the target for the loss of 8 wickets in 48.1 overs.
Kusal Perera who is often compared to former Sri Lanka opener Sanath Jayasuriya equaled Jayasuriya’s fastest ODI half century as he smashed a half century off 17 deliveries striking 11 fours and a six overall in his knock.
Thilakaratne Dilshan made a sedate 47 while one drop batsman Upul Tharanga added 28 guiding Sri Lanka to 140 in 18.3 overs before Rahat Ali bowled both of them in quick succession.
Angelo Mathews was unfortunately run-out after Lahiru Thirimanne at the non strikers end said “no ” but by that time Mathews was half way down the pitch . Thirimanne continued his poor form as he got out soon after playing a foolish upper cut to Anwar Ali at third man who took a stunner. Dinesh Chandimal and Milinda Siriwardene looked promising in their 37-run stand, but Mohommad Hafeez removed Siriwardene leaving it all on Chandimal who delivered with his third consecutive half century.
Home town debutant Pathirana had a dream debut early on as he claimed the first two wickets of the day.
Earlier half centuries by skipper Azhar Ali (79), Sohaib Malik (51) and a late assault by Mohammad Rizwan (52) together with poor fielding of Sri Lanka guided Pakistan to 280-8.
Sohaib Malik scored his second consecutive half century as skipper Azhar Ali and Malik added 83 runs from 79 balls as the pair rebuilt the Pakistani innings after they were 3 down for 96 in the 23rd over. Malik took only 49 balls for his 50 as he added three sixes and two fours in it before skipper Angelo Mathews cleaned him up.
Ali played a calm hand while wickets fell from the other end scoring 79 off 104 as he added 59 for the opening stand with Ahmed Shezad before being joined by Malik.
Rizwan who came to the wicket when Pakistan were 4-179 scored a 38 ball 52 leading a late assault where he and Anwar Ali (29) added 56 in 39 balls for the seventh wicket as Pakistan scored 88 runs in the last 10 overs.
The start of the match was delayed due to rain even though there was no overs reduction.