UMAR Akmal’s unbeaten 36 off 48 balls helped Pakistan claim a six-wicket victory in the rain-affected first one-day international against Sri Lanka. Pakistan reached their Duckworth/Lewis target of 135 with 47 balls to spare, thanks in large part to Akmal’s swift scoring, coming after Mohammad Hafeez had made a more sedate 37 off 57 deliveries and Misbah-ul-Haq 30 off 79.
After they had restricted Sri Lanka to 135 for eight in 42 overs, Pakistan got off to a worrying start as the early losses of Azhar Ali (three) and Younus Khan (five) had them on 27 for two.
But Hafeez and Misbah restored order and, once the runs began to flow, there was little doubt that they would reach their target as long as the weather held off.
The honour of scoring the winning run fell to Shahid Afridi, who was two not out in a short cameo.
Sri Lanka were always facing a tough time after a top-order collapse at the start of the day.
The top four all went for single figures, with Mahela Jayewardene (3), Tillakaratne Dilshan (5), Kumar Sangakkara (9) and Dinesh Chandimal (0), all failing to make an impact and leaving their side tottering on 56 for six.
Lahiru Thirimanne made 42 to stem the tide, but support was in short supply, as Mohammad Sami took three for 19 and Umar Gul three for 24 for Pakistan.

SCORECARD

SRI LANKA innings
M..Jayawardene lbw b Gul 3
T..Dilshan c Ajmal b Gul 5
K..Sangakkara lbw b Sami 9
D..Chandimal b Gul 0
U..Tharanga b Hafeez 10
A.. Mathews c Misbah b Sami 0
L..Thirimanne not out 42
T..Perera lbw b Hafeez 17
N..Kulasekara c Tanvir b Sami 18
R..Herath not out 0
Extras: (lb-7, nb-1, w-23) 31
Total: (for eight wickets off 42 overs) 135
Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-12, 3-25, 4-40, 5-41, 6-56, 7-81, 8-131.
Bowling: Gul 9-2-24-3 (w-12), Tanvir 8-0-30-0 (w-4 nb-11), Sami 6-2-19-3 (w-2), Hafeez 10-3-20-2, Ajmal 5-0-23-0, Afridi 4-2-12-0 (w-5).

PAKISTAN innings
M. Hafeez stp. Sangakkara b Herath 37
A. Ali c Sangakkara b Malinga 3
Y. Khan b Kulasekara 5
Misbah-ul-Haq run out 30
U. Akmal not out 36
S. Afridi not out 2
Extras: (b-2, lb-1,3 w-7) 22
Total; (for four wickets, 34.1 overs) 135
Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-27, 3-78, 4-133.
Bowling: Malinga 7-2-24-1 (w-1), Kulasekara 9-3-29-1 (w-3), Mathews 6-1-18-0 (w-1), Perera 6.1-0-31-0 (w-2), Herath 6-0-18-1.