Afridi fires Pakistan to win

Shahid Afridi © Getty Images

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Pakistan took a 1-0 lead in their one-day international series against Sri Lanka after a belligerent innings from Shahid Afridi helped them to a five-wicket victory on Friday.

Afridi made Sri Lanka pay for twice dropping him by hitting 73 off just 34 balls as Pakistan scored 239 for five to pass their target of 236 with eight overs to spare.

He was ably supported by wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal, who scored a run-a-ball 51, as the pair gave Shoaib Malik the perfect start in his first match as captain following Inzamam-ul-Haq’s retirement from the limited-overs game.

Inzamam gave up the captaincy following Pakistan’s disappointing World Cup campaign, which saw them crash out of the competition in the first round.

The Pakistan innings started promisingly with Imran Nazir hitting a quickfire 38 before being run out by Sanath Jayasuriya, but Yasir Hameed quickly followed him back to the pavilion, lbw to Malinga Bandara for 10.

Salman Butt scored a pedestrian 34 before he was run out by Chamara Kapugedera and the wickets of Mohammad Yousuf, for 12, and Malik, for 11, also fell as Pakistan looked to be in trouble on 137 for five.

But Afridi smacked four sixes and eight fours and Akmal chipped in with eight fours of his own to steer Pakistan to victory.

Farveez Maharoof top-scored for Sri Lanka with 69 not out

Earlier, Farveez Maharoof hit an unbeaten 69 off 54 balls to help steer the Sri Lankans to 235 for nine.

Umar Gul had done the most damage with the ball for Pakistan, taking three wickets for 61.

He removed Kapugedera for 28, Mahela Jayawardene for 18 and Bandara for three, meaning Sri Lanka had to rely on Maharoof to help them recover from a poor start.

Maharoof’s knock included nine fours and one six to continue a fightback started by Chamara Silva, who hit 47.

The Sri Lankan top order all failed to post a score above 30, with Jayasuriya going for just one, Upul Tharanga for 17 and Mahela Jayawardene for 18.