COLOMBO: Aggressive batting by debutant Shehan Jayasuriya and Chamara Kapugedera lifted Sri Lanka to 172-7 in the second and final Twenty20 international against Pakistan in Colombo on Saturday.
Jayasuriya, a 23-year-old left-hander unrelated to Sri Lanka's former captain Sanath Jayasuriya, smashed three fours and two sixes in his 32-ball 40 before he was fifth out.
But it was Kapugedera who boosted the total with an unbeaten 48 off 25 balls that contained four sixes and two boundaries.
Kapugedera put on 55 for the sixth wicket with Milinda Siriwardana (23) as the hosts plundered 59 runs in the final five overs.
Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena was among a packed crowd of 35,000 at the Premadasa stadium to watch the action after home team captain Lasith Malinga won the toss and elected to bat.
Openers Kusal Perera and Tillakaratne Dilshan were removed by the fourth over with the score at 32 before Jayasuriya and Dhananjaya de Silva (14) carried the total to 61 without further loss.
Pakistan, who won the first T20 match on Thursday, are hoping to complete a hat-trick of series wins on the current tour, having clinched the Tests 2-1 and the one-dayers 3-2.
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