Pakistan v Sri Lanka, 2nd T20, Dubai
SL retain top ranking with 24-run victory
Kusal Perera got Sri Lanka's innings off to a brisk start after they were put in to the bat. The opener smacked a six and a four off Usman Khan in the first over of the match•AFP
Together, the pair added 100 runs in 12 overs to set the base for a strong total•AFP
Ajmal was the only Pakistan bowler to enjoy any success, however, as a 78-run stand off 37 balls between Perera and Kumar Sangakkara propelled Sri Lanka to 211 for 3•AFP
Sharjeel Khan began to open up in the face of an escalating required rate. He managed to slam 50 off 24 balls, hitting five fours and three sixes, as Pakistan looked on course•Getty Images
Sohail Tanvir proved an able partner as the pair slowly built after the wicket-spree•AFP
Tillakaratne Dilshan soon joined the party, hitting Bilawal Bhatti for four fours in the fifth over•AFP
Seekkuge Prasanna, making his Twenty20 debut, came in at the fall of Dilshan's wicket and played a lively knock of 21 off 8 balls with two fours and two sixes•Getty Images
Facing a daunting chase, Pakistan's openers were a tad fidgety as they looked to build a strong platform. But Sachithra Senanayake had other ideas, removing Ahmed Shehzad in the third over with Pakistan on 18•AFP
After hitting two sixes, Sharjeel wanted more, but after improvising a shuffle to the off side, he left his leg stump exposed, which was enough for Prasanna to castle him. Pakistan would go on to lose four wickets in the space of seven balls giving Sri Lanka a firm advantage•Getty Images
Thisara Perera returned and managed to prise out Afridi for 28, with Sangakkara taking an excellent one-handed catch off a top-edge •AFP
Prasanna eventually fell to Ajmal, becoming the spinner's 100th international wicket in 2013. •AFP
Mohammad Hafeez didn't last too long either as Pakistan were reduced to 27 for 2 after four overs•AFP
Shahid Afridi, fresh off a match-winning 39 in the first T20, was once again the wicket to get for Sri Lanka as he played another controlled innings early on•AFP
Ajmal and Tanvir ended up posting a record ninth-wicket stand of 63, but once Tanvir fell on 41 the chase went awry, and Pakistan were all out for 187. The series was drawn 1-1, and Sri Lanka held on to their No. 1 ranking in T20s•AFP