Pakistan crashed to their lowest-ever total against Sri Lanka before suffering a seven-wicket defeat in their opening Asia Cup super-league match here on Wednesday.
Defending champions Pakistan virtually lost the day-night game on a slow turning pitch after collapsing to 122 against a disciplined Sri Lankan pace-spin attack, backed by superb fielding.
All-rounder Abdul Razzaq top-scored with 43, but Pakistan still fell below their previous lowest of 131 against Sri Lanka at Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates in 1996.
The total was too small to put pressure on Sri Lanka who romped home with 18 overs to spare to post their third successive win the tournament, including two in the preliminary league.
Left-arm fast bowler Nuwan Zoysa (3-29) had begun the Pakistani slide with two early wickets. He was brilliantly supported by seamer Ferveez Maharoof (2-25) and star off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan (1-14).
"Our batsmen played poor shots in the first 15 overs," said Pakistani captain Inzamam-ul-Haq.
"Sri Lanka fielded very well and also bowled at right spots. I thought a total of 170-180 would be competitive on this pitch."
Sri Lanka got off to a solid start as Avishka Gunawardene (26) and Sanath Jayasuriya (20) put on 51 for the opening wicket in less than 12 overs to ensure a comfortable victory.
Skipper Marvan Atapattu contributed 19 before Mahela Jayawardene (19 not out) and Kumar Sangakkara (14 not out) completed the job.
Razzaq also gave a good account of himself as a seamer, bagging two of the three Sri Lankan wickets.
"I never thought we would be able to bowl them out for 122," said Atapattu.
"I thought this wicket had runs. We also fielded well. We have been working hard on our fielding and it has paid off today."
Pakistan could not even last their full quota of 50 overs after electing to bat as a combination of tight bowling and poor shot-selection saw them lose wickets at regular intervals.
Razzaq, Yasir Hameed (22) and Imran Nazir (14) were the only batsmen to reach double-figures in a dismal Pakistani batting performance.
Man-of-the-match Zoysa wrecked Pakistan's top order, dismissing opener Nazir and Shoaib Malik in his lively opening spell before removing veteran Moin Khan.
"The pitch was a bit slow, so I always tried to bowl straight. I really enjoyed bowling today," said Zoysa.
Muralitharan got the prize wicket of Inzamam (nine) in his opening over. The Pakistani captain tried to swing but missed the line, the ball rolling on to the stumps after hitting the pads.
The Sri Lankans fielded remarkably well, with Upul Chandana accounting for two of the three run-outs in the innings.
Maharoof also did not allow Pakistan to build a partnership, keeping a tidy line and length.
SCOREBOARD
PAKISTAN
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I. Nazir c Jayawardene b Zoysa 14
Y. Hameed run out 22
S. Malik c Dilshan b Zoysa 4
Inzamam-ul-Haq b Muralitharan 9
Y. Youhana run out 0
Y. Khan c Jayawardene b Maharoof 1
A. Razzaq c Dilshan b Maharoof 43
M. Khan c Sangakkara b Zoysa 3
M. Sami b Jayasuriya 9
S. Akhtar run out 1
S. Ahmed not out 0
Extras (lb7, nb1, w8) 16
Total 122
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Fall of wickets: 1-19, 2-25, 3-45, 4-46, 5-52, 6-72, 7-88, 8-120, 9-122.
Bowling: Vaas 7-3-14-0, Zoysa 10-3-29-3, Maharoof 6-0-25-2, Muralitharan 8-1-14-1, Chandana 7-0-28-0, Jayasuriya 1.5-0-5-1.
Overs: 39.5
SRI LANKA
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A. Gunawardene c Nazir b Razzaq 26
S. Jayasuriya c Younis b Sami 20
M. Atapattu c Malik b Razzaq 19
K. Sangakkara not out 14
M. Jayawardene not out 19
Extras (lb4, nb4, w17) 25
Total (for three wickets) 123
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Fall of wickets: 1-51, 2-84, 3-88.
Bowling: Akhtar 8-1-29-0, Sami 9-0-34-1, Ahmed 8-1-25-0, Razzaq 6-2-21-2, Malik 1-0-10-0.
Overs: 32
Result: Sri Lanka win by seven wickets
Man of the match: Nuwan Zoysa (SRI)
Toss: Pakistan
Umpires: Billy Bowden (NZL) and Peter Parker (AUS)
Match-referee: Mike Procter (RSA)
Friday's match: Sri Lanka v Bangladesh at Colombo (day-night).
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