Shoaib eases Pakistan nerves

Shoaib Malik's measured unbeaten 42 carried Pakistan to a tense three-wicket win in King City

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Captain Shoaib Malik was the hero as Pakistan scraped home by three wickets against Sri Lanka in the Twenty20 quadrangular series in Canada.

The game in King City was in the balance with Pakistan needing 13 from the final over, but Malik held his nerve to guide his side home with a four off the penultimate ball.

Sri Lanka will rue not making more than 137 for nine, wasting a promising start by losing a rash of wickets in the closing overs.

Jehan Mubarak top-scored with 39 while Chamara Kapugedera (27) and Kaushalya Weeraratne (20 not out) also made useful contributions.

Malik, who finished 42 not out, led the pursuit, and his eighth-wicket partnership with Fawad Alam, who hit a six in the final over en route to an unbeaten 23, proved decisive.