Sri Lanka beat top-ranked Pakistan to clinch T20 series

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Sri Lanka beat top-ranked Pakistan to clinch T20 series
POWERFUL: Sri Lanka's Bhanuka Rajapaksa plays a shot as Pakistan's captain and wicketkeeper Sarfaraz Ahmed looks on. (AFP)

Lahore - Imad Wasim top scored with 47 off 29 balls but his partnership of 75 with Asif Ali (29) was not enough to stop Sri Lanka from registering another convincing win

By AP/AFP

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Published: Mon 7 Oct 2019, 9:56 PM

Last updated: Tue 8 Oct 2019, 12:02 AM

Sri Lanka's inexperienced team earned another emphatic 35-run victory over top-ranked Pakistan in the second Twenty20 on Monday for an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. 
Bhanuka Rajapaksa, playing in only his second Twenty20, smashed 77 off 48 balls in Sri Lanka's strong total of 182-6 after captain Dasun Shanaka won the toss and opted to bat. 
Leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga (3-38) then took three wickets in four balls and Isuru Udana provided the perfect finish by grabbing 4-25 as Pakistan was bowled out for 147 in 19 overs. 
Imad Wasim top scored with 47 off 29 balls but his partnership of 75 with Asif Ali (29) was not enough to stop Sri Lanka from registering another convincing win. 
The recalled Umar Akmal fell for golden duck for the second successive match while Ahmed Shehzad could score only 13. 
Earlier, left-handed Rajapaksa hit six sixes and four boundaries and dominated a 94-run fourth-wicket stand with Shehan Jayasuriya, who made 34. Shanaka propelled Sri Lanka's total beyond Pakistan's reach by smashing 31 off 15 balls. hanuka Rajapaksa smacked an aggressive maiden half-century as Sri Lanka made 182-6 against Pakistan in the second Twenty20 international in Lahore on Monday.
The 27-year-old left-hander, playing only his second T20 international, blasted 77 off 48 balls in an innings featuring six sixes and four boundaries after Sri Lanka won the toss and batted.
Rajapaksa added 94 for the third wicket with Shehan Jayauriya, who made a 28-ball 34 with four boundaries.
Earlier, Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat.
Pakistan made two changes to their team, keeping faith in batsmen Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Akmal despite both scoring 4 and 0, respectively, in their comeback match.
All-rounder Faheem Ashraf made way for left-arm fast bowler Wahab Riaz, while opening batsman Fakhar Zaman came at the expense of Iftikhar Ahmed.
Sri Lanka, led by Dasun Shanaka, kept the same winning combination from the first match.
Sri Lanka's regular Twenty20 captain Lasith Malinga was among the 10 players who pulled out of the tour to Pakistan due to security concerns. The final match takes place at the same venue on Wednesday.


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