Chandimal, Perera help Sri Lanka to level series against Pakistan

Pallekele: Kusal Perera's flamboyant 68 and Dinesh Chandimal's unbeaten 48 led Sri Lanka to a series-leveling two-wicket win against Pakistan in the second one-day international, here on Wednesday.

Chasing Pakistan's challenging 287-8, opener Perera hammered joint fastest fifty (17 balls) in ODIs before the hosts made a fuss of the run chase losing five wickets for 67 runs as they were reduced from a comfortable 92-1 to 159-5.

However, Chandimal helped his side to recover and led the fight back by adding 37 runs for the sixth wicket with Milinda Siriwardana (26), 52 for the seventh with debutant Sachith Pathirana (33) and 37 for the eighth with Thisara Perera.

Thisara fell just when three more runs were needed for victory, but Lasith Malinga kept his cool amid mounting tension before Chandimal hit the winning run and led a huge roar.

Earlier, winning the toss and electing to bat, Pakistan posted a challenging total, thanks to the three half-centuries, including a 52 off 38 balls by Mohammad Rizwan towards the end that boosted the total.

Azhar Ali played a captain's knock of 79 while Shoaib Malik made run-a-ball 51, with the pair adding 83 for the fourth wicket.

Pakistan had won the first match by six wickets to take the lead in the five-match series.