Malinga's pace too hot for Pakistan

Sanath Jayasuriya, who was a silent spectator, was the first wicket to fall, dismissed by Shahid Afridi. The left-hander, who scored 26 from 24 deliveries, tried a wild sweep-slog against the leg-spinner but got a top edge which was taken at square leg.

Pakistan found Lasith Malinga's pace and swing too hot to handle as they went down to Sri Lanka by 19 runs in the Super Eights match of the ICC World Twenty20 at Lord's on Friday.

Sri Lanka got off to a flying start, Jayasuriya (26 from 24 deliveries) and Tillakaratne Dilshan (46 from 39 deliveries) put on 81 runs for the opening wicket in just 64 deliveries.

But leg-spinner Afridi pulled things back for Pakistan by taking two for 23 in four overs, including the wickets of both the openers.

Dilshan was unlucky to miss out on his half-century as he was bowled off an inside edge by Afridi. The right-hander, who hit fifties in his last two matches, stroked his way to 46 from 39 deliveries, including eight boundaries.

Pakistani fans enjoy their time at the match.

Afridi had helped Pakistan pull back Sri Lanka slightly after that rampaging start, as he claimed two wickets for three runs in the space of six deliveries.

With the Pakistan spinners keep things tight, Sri Lanka went for around four overs without a single boundary to reach 91 for two after 12 overs.

Defending a modest score, the Sri Lankan bowlers needed to strike early; and that is what pacer Angelo Matthews did. He struck in the first over of the innings, bowling Salman Butt through the gate for a three-ball duck.

At the halfway stage, Pakistan were 59 for three and faced a stiff task of scoring 92 from the last ten overs.

Captain Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq looked to play it safe for the early part of their innings. Younis tried to get things moving with boundaries in consecutive overs off Ajantha Mendis and Muttiah Muralitharan.

Pakistan's last big hope Afridi lasted just one delivery before holing out to Dilshan at the square leg boundary off Muttiah Muralitharan's bowling.

Lasith Malinga's magic was in full show once again as he registered magnificent figures of three for 17 in four overs.

With three convincing victories in a row against three big teams, Sri Lanka must now fancy their chances of making it to the last four. Pakistan, meanwhile, have a big task on hand to make it to the semi-finals.