Colombo: Shahid Afridi took four wickets and Misbah-ul-Haq notched the second consecutive half century as Pakistan upstaged by Sri Lanka in a highly charged World Cup group match by 11 runs on Saturday.
Afridi, who became the 11 th player to take 300 wickets in ODIs, finished with 4-34 to help Pakistan protect the 278-Run purpose, as they restrict Sri Lanka 266-9 in 50 overs for the second victory in the tournament.
Captain Afridi, who recorded Pakistan's best bowling figures 5-16 in all World Cup matches in the 205-Run victory over Kenya, reached his 300-wicket milestone in his career of three hundred and fourteenth match dismissals Kumar Sangakkara for 49.
Chamara Silva who made 78-ball 57, gave Pakistan a scare 40-Run stand Angelo Mathews (18) before the 1992 champions held their nerve to win.
The win gave Pakistan four points from two matches and first place in the table.
"It was a great game and the boys knew how big it was, but I think that the way Misbah-ul-Haq (83) and Younis Khan (72) played a beautiful innings, it was a very mature cricketer of those guys "the captain said Afridi.
"I think we played an example for other teams that we will come harder and harder to play the game."
Sri Lanka skipper Sangakkara admitted that they lost wickets at crucial times.
"Any loss hard, but there are many positive take. I think we bowled pretty well on the flat deck. Unfortunately, we lost wickets at the wrong time," he said.
On land that has traditionally been for the team batting first, Sri Lanka simply could not perform better than higher pursuits are registered in India, when they chased 270 against England in 2002 Champions Trophy.
It was a 30-year-old Afridi who held the Pakistani bowling on the trail of dangerous knife Tillakaratne Dilshan (41) and Sangakkara before, Thilan Samaraweera (one) and Matthew caught a deadlock in depth.
Pakistan could have finished the match was once the gate-Keeper Kamran Akmal missed to mark Sangakkara in two cases from the counter Abdur Rehman while Rahman, also dropped just a coincidence of Silva.
Sri Lanka raced to 76 without loss to 15 th to lost four wickets in the space of 20 runs.
Pakistan had previously been installed on course for a large sum on a form Misbah-ul-Haq, who finished with unbeaten 83 and Younis Khan (72), who added 108 for the fourth wicket stand of 108.
Since Pakistan is looking for a set of 300-plus total, the Sri Lankan bowlers, especially Muttiah Muralitharan, kept tight line and length, allowing only 36 runs in Pakistan over five batting power play.
Sly is the counter, who finished with 1-35 from his 10 overs, conceded just five runs in his two overs, only three fielders outside the circle.
Misbah hit six boundaries during his 91-ball knock.
Pakistan, who won the toss and batted, lost Ahmed Shahzad (13) in the sixth over, before Mohammad Hafeez (32) and Kamran Akmal (39) stabilized innings during his second wicket stand of 48.
Hafiz opened, hitting paceman Nuwan Kulasekara for a well-swept six, but crazy out of work accounted for his downfall, when he swept Muralitharan on the back of the square foot, not noticing Kamran ran to its end.
Wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara lodge went over the head of bowler, but Hafiz, leaving it too late to increase, there was no time to recover.
Hafeez hit four boundaries and six during his 31-ball knock.
Kamran, who hit five boundaries in his 48 balls, was stumped by Rangana Herath who finished with 2-46.
Younis top edges of Herat in the 41 th over, and deftly caught Jayawardene after hitting four boundaries during his sedate 76-ball innings.
Pakistan now play Canada on March 3, while Sri Lanka, who now have two points in as many games, meet in Kenya on Tuesday. (AFP)
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