Opener Kusal Perera equaled the second fastest one-day international half-century in 17 deliveries but it needed Dinesh Chandimal’s patience to see Sri lanka through to a two-wicket victory over Pakistan in the second one-day international on Wednesday.
Batting first after winning the toss, Pakistan made 287 for eight in 50 overs. Sri lanka reached the target in with 11 deliveries to spare.
Perera smashed two sixes and 13 boundaries for a 25-ball 68. His half-century matched fellow Sri lankan Sanath Jayasuriya for speed, with the record held by AB de Villiers of South Africa with 16 deliveries.
Sri lanka lost four wickets for 41 runs and was struggling at 196-6. Chandimal hit an unbeaten 48 off 63 deliveries to seal victory. Rahat Ali took three wickets for Pakistan.
Earlier, Mohammad Rizwan smashed 52 off 38 balls towards the end to lift Pak to 287-8.
Azhar Ali played a captain’s innings of 79 and senior pro Shoaib Malik made a run-a-ball 51, the pair adding 83 for the fourth wicket after the tourists won the toss and elected to bat in the day-night match.
But Rizwan stole the show with five boundaries and a six as the tourists plundered 88 runs in the last 10 overs. Anwar Ali, who put on 56 for the seventh wicket with Rizwan, returned unbeaten on 29.
Pakistan had won the first match in Dambulla by six wickets last Saturday to take the lead in the five-match series. Ninth-ranked Pakistan need a series win to stay in contention for a place in the eight-nation Champions Trophy in England in 2017.
Sri lanka, currently ranked fifth, are assured of taking part in the tournament. Ahmed Shehzad put on 59 for the first wicket with Azhar when he was bowled by debutant left-arm spinner Sachith Pathirana for 30 in the 14th over.
It soon became 96-3 in the 24th over when Babar Azam was bowled by Milinda Siriwardana for 12, but Malik joined Azhar to steer the tourists out of trouble. Pathirana and sling-arm fast bowler Malinga claimed two wickets each.
Brief Scores Pakistan: 287/8 (Azhar Ali 79, Mohammad Rizwan 52, Shoaib Malik 51) against Sri lanka: 288/8 in 48.1 overs (Kusal Perera 68, Dinesh Chandimal 48 not out, Tillakaratne Dilshan 47; Rahat Ali 3/73).