Dambulla: A disciplined bowling display by Pakistan helped the visitors maintain a tight leash over Sri Lanka in the first One-Day International here at Dambulla.  Put into bat, the hosts struggled for momentum, and in an attempt to break the shackles, kept losing wickets at regular intervals.  Having lost their fifth wicket with just 125 runs on the board in the 31st over, it was left to former captain Mahela Jayawardene to salvage the situation.

Earlier, veteran batsman Sanath Jayasuriya was the first man to depart, inducing a top edge to Mohammad Aamer, the third man, off Umar Gul. He made just 15 runs as Sri Lanka suffered their first jolt in the 9th over. Next to fall was his fellow opener Upal Tharanga. Tharanga, who was hardly comfortable during his 44 ball stay, managed just 17 runs before Abdul Razzaq brought an end to his misery. Playing and missing on many occasions, he finally edged one well-pitched delivery to wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal. Captain Kumara Sangakkara, along with Jayawardene, then tried to revive the Lankan innings with former indulging in some particularly sublime stroke-play. However, just as the duo seemed to have revived his team’s flagging fortunes, Sangakkara fell for 36 runs. Saeed Ajmal provided the vital breakthrough in the 22nd over, with the score at a paltry 93.  Kapugedera and Samarveera failed to create much impact as Pakistan bowlers further tightened the noose.

Pakistan vs Sri Lanka

Pakistan: Younis Khan (capt), Mohammad Yousuf, Misbah-ul Haq, Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal, Shahid Afridi, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Aamer, Abdul Razzaq, Fawad Alam.

Sri Lanka: Kumar Sangakkara (capt), Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Mahela Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera, Chamara Kapugedera, Angelo Mathews, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Muttiah Muralitharan, Thilan Thushara.

Umpires: Steve Davis (AUS) and Asoka de Silva (SRI)

TV umpire: Kumar Dharmasena (SRI)

Match referee: Alan Hurst (AUS).