Pakistan’s win against a depleted Lankan team came on the back of a stellar ton by their batting mainstay Babar Azam and a five-wicket haul from Usman Shinwari.
After Pakistan skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed won the toss and elected to bat first, Babar Azam top scored for Pakistan by notching up his 11th ODI ton and opener Fakhar Zaman (54) chipped in with a breezy half ton to help the hosts set a daunting 306-run target. There were handy contributions with the willow from Harris Sohail (40) and Iftikhar Ahmed (32). During his 115-run knock, Babar also became the quickest to 1000 ODI runs in a calender year for Pakistan
Defending a mammoth target of 306, Pakistan bowled Sri Lanka out for 238 in 46.5 overs. Shinwari, who made a comeback in the ODI side after playing his last match in March this year, produced a match winning spell of 5 for 51 from his 10 overs. This was his second five-wicket haul in 50-over international cricket, both coming against the Lankans. Shadab Khan got two while Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim managed to bag a wicket each.
Sri Lanka were in dire straits at 28 for 5, before Jayasuriya and Shanaka came together to stitch a 177 runs partnership of for the sixth wicket, which is the highest for Sri Lanka in ODI cricket and also the highest at the National Stadium in Karachi.
However, Shinwari came back strongly in the final powerplay to break the dangerous partnership by dismissing Jayasuriya for 96 in the 41st over. Shadab then sent back Shanaka for 68 in the very next over to derail the run chase for Sri Lanka.
The third and final match of the series will be played at the same venue on October 2. The first match was washed out without even a ball being bowled.
Brief Scores
Pakistan 305 for 7 in 50 overs
Babar Azam - 115, Fakhar Zaman - 54, Harris Sohail - 40
Wanindu Hasaranga 2-63
Sri Lanka 238 All-Out in 46.5 Overs
Shehan Jayasuriya - 96, Dasun Shanaka - 68, Wanindu Hasaranga - 30
Usman Shinwari 5-51
Man of the Match - Usman Shinwari