Danushka, Nuwan Pradeep star as SL defeat Pak in first T20I

Lahore: Danushka Gunathilaka’s knock of 57 runs and Nuwan Pradeep’s three-wicket haul helped Sri Lanka defeat Pakistan by 64 runs in the first T20I of the three-match series.
Chasing 166, Pakistan got off to a bad start as the side lost its opening two wickets in successive balls as Pradeep dismissed Babar Azam (13) and Umar Akmal (0) in the second over of the innings.
Ahmed Shehzad (4) was sent back to the pavilion in the fifth over, reducing Pakistan to 22/3. Pakistan skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed and Iftikhar Ahmed then retrieved the innings for the side.
The duo put on a partnership of 46 runs, but their stint at the crease was cut short via a run-out as Ahmed (25) was dismissed in the 12th over, reducing Pakistan to 68/4.
Sarfaraz’s (24) dismissal in the 14th over proved as the final nail in the coffin. Sri Lanka chipped away at the wickets in the final overs and the team registered a win by 64 runs.
Earlier, Gunathilaka’s knock of 57 runs helped Sri Lanka post a score of 165/5 in the allotted twenty overs after being asked to bat first.