Sri Lanka v Pakistan, 2015
Wisden's review of the first Twenty20 International, Sri Lanka v Pakistan, 2015
15-Apr-2016
At Colombo (RPS), July 30, 2015 (floodlit). Pakistan won by 29 runs. Toss: Pakistan. Twenty20 international debuts: D. M. de Silva, B. Fernando, T. A. M. Siriwardene, J. D. F. Vandersay.
Ahmed Shehzad set the platform before his ramp flew straight to fine leg, then Shoaib Malik and Umar Akmal blasted 81 from 45 balls, taking Malinga for 37 from three overs. These three, who all scored 46, lifted Pakistan to a total which the inexperienced Sri Lankan line-up never looked like reaching. They slipped to 19 for three in the fourth over, and could not recover, despite sprightly knocks from Siriwardene, who made a promising 35 from 18 deliveries, and Kapugedera. Sohail Tanvir was the prime destroyer with the new ball, finishing with three for 29. One of Sri Lanka's four debutants, leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay, went for just 25 from his four overs.
Man of the Match: Sohail Tanvir.
Ahmed Shehzad set the platform before his ramp flew straight to fine leg, then Shoaib Malik and Umar Akmal blasted 81 from 45 balls, taking Malinga for 37 from three overs. These three, who all scored 46, lifted Pakistan to a total which the inexperienced Sri Lankan line-up never looked like reaching. They slipped to 19 for three in the fourth over, and could not recover, despite sprightly knocks from Siriwardene, who made a promising 35 from 18 deliveries, and Kapugedera. Sohail Tanvir was the prime destroyer with the new ball, finishing with three for 29. One of Sri Lanka's four debutants, leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay, went for just 25 from his four overs.
Man of the Match: Sohail Tanvir.