Sri Lanka keep hold of T20 top spot with win over Pakistan

SRI Lanka retained their status as the world’s top Twenty20 team by beating Pakistan by 24 runs in a thrilling finish to the second game in Dubai.

The win also levelled the twomatch series at 1-1 after Pakistan won the first match by three wickets on Wednesday.

Kusal Perera hit a career best 59- ball 84 and spinner Sachitra Senanayake took three wickets in a match with full of runs and records.

The series draw kept Sri Lanka at No.1 in the Twenty20 rankings, shattering Pakistan’s hopes of claiming the top spot in any form of the game for the first time.

Chasing a daunting 212-run target, Pakistan finished at 187 in 19.2 overs with Sharjeel Khan scoring 50 and Sohail Tanvir making 41.

Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal was excited at holding on to the No.1 ranking.

‘‘We are over the moon,’’ said Chandimal. ‘‘We keep our number one ranking. Kusal and Dilshan (Tillakaratne, wo made 48) batted really well. After that Seekkuge (Prasanna) and (Kumar) Sangakkara batted well at the end so it was a good total.’’

Perera had been ably supported by Dilshan (48) and Kumar Sangakkara (44 not out) as Sri Lanka posted an imperious 211-3 in 20 overs.

Pakistan fought valiantly despite Sharjeel’s 25-ball 50 but they slumped from 3-83 to 7-85 in the space of just seven balls.

They looked well set when Sharjeel brought up his 50 off just 24 balls with two towering sixes off Seekkuge Prasanna but was bowled by the leg-spinner in the same over.

Senanayake, who finished with 3- 27, then chipped in with the wickets of Umar Amin and Bilawal Bhatti for nought in the same over.

Sohail Tanvir added 63 for the ninth wicket with Saeed Ajmal (20) — the highest stand for this wicket in all T20 cricket — but the target proved beyond Pakistan’s reach.