Pakistan crushed hosts Sri Lanka by 79 runs in the opening match of the triangular one-day series on Saturday.

Sri Lanka, who had earlier restricted Pakistan to 199 for eight, were bowled out for 120 in just 43.1 overs.

Pace bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami together with off-spinner Shoaib Malik claimed two wickets apiece as Sri Lanka lost their last seven wickets for 22 runs.

Sri Lanka had looked on course for victory during a 61-run partnership for the second wicket between skipper Marvan Atapattu and Kumar Sangakkara.

The pair came together after Sanath Jayasuriya sliced his first ball from Akhtar to second slip in the first over.

Run scoring was never easy against Pakistan's four-pronged pace attack on a sluggish pitch but the pair looked increasingly comfortable until Abdul Razzaq broke though in the 20th over, trapping Atapattu leg-before for 26 from 67 balls.

Three overs later, Akhtar returned to the attack to dismiss Sangakkara, who mistimed a back-foot drive and was caught at point for 29.

Mahela Jayawardene and Russel Arnold repaired some of the damage, adding 33 runs in 37 balls, but Sami beat Jayawardene with an inswinging yorker and Romesh Kaluwitharana chipped a catch to mid-wicket off spinner Malik.

Kaushal Lokuarachchi and Chaminda Vaas were then run out in quick succession and Arnold skied a catch off an attempted sweep as Sri Lanka's innings fell apart.

Sami wrapped up victory by bowling Muttiah Muralitharan.

Pakistan had also found batting tough and were indebted to opener Mohammad Hafeez who made a slow 53 from 114 balls.

After losing Taufeeq Umar for nine, the 22-year-old Hafeez added 48 with Faisal Iqbal for the third wicket.

The introduction of Muralitharan, fresh from taking his 450th Test wicket earlier in the week, swung the game back to Sri Lanka as Iqbal was deceived by the off-spinner's arm ball and Jayawardene held onto a sharp slip chance.

Six balls later Yousuf Youhana, Pakistan's leading batsman after the post World Cup sacking of senior players, gloved a leg break from Lokuarachchi to slip as Pakistan slid to 70 for three.

Hafeez and Younis Khan put on 45 in 75 balls before Muralitharan came back to take the second of his three wickets as Khan was caught at deep mid-wicket for 29.

Akhtar was promoted up the order to boost the scoring rate but was run out for five and Pakistan then lost Hafeez to an acrobatic catch by Sangakkara at deep mid-on.

The right-hander's 53 was his second half century in his five-match career.

Malik scored a quick 20, Rashid Latif nudged 14 before being stumped by Kaluwitharana off Muralitharan, and Razzaq smacked an unbeaten 24 as Pakistan's lower order helped them scramble to a target that proved too tough for Sri Lanka.

New Zealand are the third side competing in the tournament.

Scoreboard

Pakistan

Mohammad Hafeez c Sangakkarra b Jayasuriya 53

Taufeeq Umar c Kaluwitharana b Nissanka 9

Faisal Iqbal c Jayawardene b Muralitharan 21

Yousuf Youhana c Jayawardene b Lokuarachchi 1

Younis Khan c Lokuarachchi b Muralitharan 29

Shoaib Akhtar run out (Sangakarra/Lokuarachchi) 5

Shoaib Malik run out (Kaluwitharana/Muralitharan) 20

Abdul Razzaq not out 24

Rashid Latif st Kaluwitharana b Muralitharan 14

Mohammad Sami not out 8

Extras (b-2 lb-6 nb-2 w-5) 15

Total (for eight wickets, 50 overs) 199

Fall of wickets: 1-21, 2-69, 3-70, 4-115, 5-123, 6-146, 7-158, 8-181.

Did not bat: Umar Gul

Bowling: Vaas 8-1-22-0, Nissanka 9-0-26-1, Weeraratne 4-0-14-0, Lokuarachchi 10-0-40-1, Muralitharan 10-0-38-3, Jayasuriya 9-0-51-1

Sri Lanka

M.Atapattu lbw Abdul Razzaq 26

S.Jayasuriya c Younis Khan b Shoaib Akhtar 0

K.Sangakkara c Shoaib Malik b Shoaib Akhtar 29

M.Jayawardene lbw Mohammad Sami 22

R.Arnold c Faisal Iqbal b Mohammad Hafeez 13

R.Kaluwitharana c Younis Khan b Shoaib Malik 0

K.Lokuarachchi run out (Shoaib Akhtar/Shoaib Malik) 2

C.Vaas run out (Faisal Iqbal) 1

K.Weeraratne c Mohammad Hafeez b Shoaib Malik 1

P.Nissanka not out 5

M.Muralitharan b Mohammad Sami 1

Extras (lb-4 nb-4 w-12) 20

Total (all out, 43.1 overs) 120

Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-62, 3-75, 4-98, 5-99, 6-107, 7-110, 8-111, 9-118

Bowling: Shoaib Akhtar 8-2-19-2, Mohammad Sami 7.1-1-19-2, Umar Gul 8-1-28-0, Abdul Razzaq 7-0-22-1, Shoaib Malik 10-1-23-2, Mohammad Hafeez 3-1-5-1

Result: Pakistan won by 79 runs.

Next match: May 11, Dambulla -- Pakistan v New Zealand.

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What do you think about the story? Read what others have to say: Number of User Comments: 1 Sub: young jublilant guys this is fresh legs of firing young generation. they have learnt how to play cricket from us(indians) apart from the bowling they have they are ... Posted by ARNAB BHATTACHARYYA