Sri Lanka levels ODI series

Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan by 129 runs in the second limited-overs international Wednesday and leveled the three-match series 1-1.

Sri Lanka, which lost the first game by eight wickets, posted a challenging 290-8 off its 50 overs and then shot out Pakistan for 161 with 15.1 overs to spare.

Tillakaratne Dilshan (76) and Thilina Kandamby (59) were the architects of the strong Sri Lankan total as Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik won the toss and elected to field first.

Salman Butt (62) and Malik (54) revived Pakistan’s hopes with a 108-run third wicket stand off 121 balls after paceman Nuwan Kulasekera’s double strike had left the home team reeling at 17-3.

Experienced off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan (3-19) broke the threatening partnership and along with fast improving unorthodox spinner Ajantha Mendis (3-29) ran through the lower order to finish Pakistan resistance in 34.5 overs.

The final match of the series will be played in Lahore on Saturday.

Dilshan hit 11 boundaries in his 76-run knock while Kandamby - replacing Jehan Mubarak in the starting eleven - scored 59 off 79 balls in Sri Lanka’s highest total since it retained the Asia Cup in July last year.

Chamara Kapugedera (44) led the charge in the end and struck two sixes and two fours as Sri Lanka scored 79 runs off the last 10 overs.

KARACHI, Pakistan, AP