Abu Dhabi, October 27: Hasan Ali took a career-best haul of three for 23 to fashion Pakistan's seven-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the first Twenty20 in Abu Dhabi.
Pakistan who sent Sri Lanka to bat folded out the opposition for a paltry 102 in 18.3 overs.
The wickets were shared around by the Pakistan bowlers over in Abu Dhabi, as Sri Lanka were bowled out for just 102 #PAKvSL pic.twitter.com/MD8WZklQLR
— ICC (@ICC) October 26, 2017
Only Seekkuge Prasanna (23 not out) and debutant Sadeera Samarawickrama (23) offered a semblance of some resistance.
Pakistan did lose Fakhar Zaman (six), Babar Azam (one) and Ahmed Shehzad (22) but were seen through to the target by Shoaib Malik 42 not out and Mohammad Hafeez 25 not out with 16 balls to spare.
Pakistan win the 1st T20I in Abu Dhabi by 7 wickets, to take a 1-0 lead in the series #PAKvSL pic.twitter.com/WCSTZAJwRb
— ICC (@ICC) October 26, 2017
That gave Pakistan a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
The second match is also in Abu Dhabi on Friday (October 27) before the teams fly to Lahore for the last match on Sunday (October 29).
Pakistan skipper Sarfraz Ahmed praised his bowlers.
"The basic aim is to get wickets and that we are doing," said Ahmed, whose team has now bowled the oppositions all out for the 23rd time -- the most by any team in all Twenty20 cricket.
"It was a complete team effort and we are doing everything well," said Ahmed, who now has ten wins in 12 Twenty20 internationals as captain.
Pakistan captain @SarfarazA_54 was happy with the performance of his young players as they took a 1-0 lead in the series #PAKvSL pic.twitter.com/jLyvqZAFl7
— ICC (@ICC) October 26, 2017
His opposite number Thisara Perera admitted his team was undone by Pakistan's superior bowling.
"If we look back we didn't score runs so we have to put a good total on the board to win, full marks to Pakistan's bowling which is one of the best in the world at the moment," said Perera.