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Lanka win second match and series

Sanath Jayasuriya led from the front and inspired his young team to an impressive one-day series win as Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by 34 runs in the second one-day international cricket match at Gujranwala on Wednesday.

Sri Lanka stuck to their all-round game plan to outsmart Pakistan and maintained their performance in limited-over games after a poor World Cup last year but a productive home season.

Captain Jayasuriya and Marvan Atapattu made fine half-centuries in Sri Lanka's 263-6 in their allotted 50 overs.

Jayasuriya then celebrated his 200th one-day international by chipping in with two wickets to wrap up Pakistan's innings at 229 in 45.1 overs - and the series.

For the home team, Yousuf Youhana made a fighting 68 in the losing cause and Wasim Akram took 34 off just 29 balls with four sixes - but the charge was not enough to avert the imminent defeat.

"We sure are on the rise and I am thankful to the team and the officials for lending their support,'' said Sri Lankan captain Jayasuriya, later named man of the match.

Sri Lanka won the first match in Karachi by 29 runs.

Pakistan lost three early wickets in their target pursuit. Captain Saeed Anwar (17), Imran Abbas (1) and Aamir Sohail (23) were gone by the 11th over with 50 on the board.

Yousuf Youhana and Younis Khan did the repair work by adding 68 for the fourth wicket.

Khan, who made a swift 46 in his debut match in Karachi, missed a low one from off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan and was bowled for 28.

Youhana reached his fifty off 59 balls, hitting two boundaries, but holed out in the final overs when the target reached nine runs an over. His 68 came off 87 balls with two fours.

"I think the Sri Lankans were a better side and I hope the boys will learn from their mistakes,'' Pakistan captain Anwar said.

Wasim hit two sixes off one Muralitharan over but was bowled by the off-spinner in the 46th over.

Pakistan lost their last six wickets for 86 runs.

Put in to bat, Sri Lanka made a rousing start of 83 with both Romesh Kaluwitharana and Jayasuriya taking full advantage of perfect batting strip.

Kaluwitharana hit three boundaries off Shoaib Akhtar's fifth over. Akhtar conceded 34 in his five overs before he went off due to a groin problem and did not bowl again.

Pakistan muffed a couple of run-out chances as Sri Lanka accumulated 55 in the first 10 overs.

Kaluwitharana went in the 16th over when he edged an outgoing delivery from Abdur Razzak to wicketkeeper Moin Khan. Kaluwitharana's 46-ball 32 featured six scorching boundaries.

Jayasuriya, playing his 200th one-day international, reached fifty off 55 balls with eight fours.

Only Arjuna Ranatunga (269), Aravinda de Siva (264) and Roshan Mahanama (213) have played more limited-overs games for Sri Lanka.

At 121, Jayasuriya miscued a sweep off Saqlain Mushtaq and was caught by keeper Moin. His 65 came off 78 balls spiced with nine hits to the ropes.

Atapattu followed up his 119 not out in the first match with a subtle 57 off 82 balls with three fours.

Left-handers Chaminda Vaas and Russel Arnold paced the innings well in the final overs. Vaas hit a career best 34 off 33 balls with two sixes while Arnold hit a swift 36 not out off just 29 balls, with six fours to help Sri Lanka add 74 in the last ten overs.

The final match is in Lahore on February 19.