rediff.com: Sri Lanka surprise Pakistan

Marvan Atapattu hit a sparkling ton as Sri Lanka surprised Pakistan in their first limited-overs cricket match at the Karachi National stadium on Sunday.

The Sri Lankans combined well to win by 29 runs and leave a packed crowd of 30,000 home fans disappointed.

The tourists outplayed the hosts in all departments. Once they put up a formidable total of 274 for 8 wickets, they bowled and fielded brilliantly to carry the day.

Aamir Sohail topscored with 47 while debutant Younis Khan made a refined 46 but no Pakistani batsmen carried the team to victory.

Off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan took 3wickets for 31 runs while Indika de Saram pulled off two brilliant run outs from the deep.

Pakistan, plagued in the opening in their recent Australian tour, were given a confident start of 71 by Saeed Anwar and Aamir Sohail. Saeed hit five well-timed boundaries in his 36 before falling leg before to first change Russel Arnold.

Pakistan lost Sohail and Yousuf Youhanna to poor running. Sohail made 47 off 66 balls and was left stranded by a throw from mid-on by Indika de Saram. Youhanna made only 6.

The Sri Lankan innings revolved around Atapattu. The 29-year-old from Kalutara played sensibly and took part in three useful stands. He hit seven fours and took 134 balls for his third one-day century.

"We put up a good total and were convinced that we will hold Pakistan," Sri Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya said.

Put in, Sri Lanka lost opener Romesh Kaluwitharana at 10 but Sanath Jayasuriya and Marvan Atapattu steadied the innings with a polished second wicket stand of 111. Jayasuriya reached his 34th limited-over fifty off 68 balls before mistiming a lofted drive and was caught at long-off by Wasim Akram off debutant Arafat. His 54 included five fours and consumed 73 balls. Pakistan gave international debuts to Younis Khan, Imran Abbas and Yasir Arafat. Sri Lanka played with two spinners leaving out pacer Nuwan Zoysa.

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