DAMBULLA // Sri Lanka cruised to a 2-0 series lead with a comfortable six-wicket victory against Pakistan in the second one-day international in Dambulla. Left arm pace bowler Thilan Thushara claimed three wickets as Sri Lanka bowled out Pakistan for a below-par 168 in 47 overs. Sri Lanka made a shaky start, collapsing to 44 for three after the loss of Upul Tharanga (10), Sanath Jayasuriya (30) and Kumar Sangakkara (two), but eventually made the chase with 6.2 overs to spare.
The hosts were guided home by middle order batsman Chamara Kapugedera, who top-scored with a stylish 67 not out from 97 balls with eight fours and one six. Thilan Samaraweera gave him solid support with 38 from 69 balls. The duo added 95 runs in an unbroken fifth wicket partnership to guide Sri Lanka out of danger and towards an easy win in the five-match series. Sri Lanka fully capitalised on winning the toss with all their bowlers troubling Pakistan's batsmen on a pitch offering lateral movement.
Thushara followed a three-wicket haul in the first ODI with three for 33 from nine overs, claiming the wickets of Kamran Akmal (13), Shoaib Malik (nought) and Fawad Alam (10). Off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan also excelled with two for 41 from his allotted 10 overs. Captain Younus Khan was the only top order batsman to offer substantial resistance with a painstaking 23, an innings that consumed 73 deliveries and spanned 113 minutes.
Tail-ender Mohammad Aamer was the innings top-scorer with an unbeaten 24. Pakistan position would have been even more woeful were it not for a 38-run stand for the eighth wicket between Abdul Razzaq (17) and Umer Gul (14) and a 40-run stand for the last wicket between Aamer and Saeed Ajmal (16). * Reuters
