Sri Lanka defeat Pakistan in convincing style

Sri Lanka overcame their first major hurdle of the Super Eights stage of the World Twenty20 tournament by claiming a convincing victory over Pakistan at Lord's today.

Having set a target of 150 for seven, Sri Lanka restricted their opponents to 131 for nine in reply to seal a 19-run victory after fast bowler Lasith Malinga claimed three for 17 to frustrate their chase.

Opener Tillekeratne Dilshan was the architect of Sri Lanka's competitive total after hitting 46 off 39 balls but wrist spinner Shahid Afridi halted their impressive start by dismissing both openers to claim two for 23.

Pakistan only had themselves to blame for facing such a total by conceding 10 wides and three no-balls including an opening over from left-arm seamer Sohail Tanvir which took 11 deliveries to complete.

They remained on track to overhaul Sri Lanka's total while captain Younus Khan was at the crease, but once he edged strike bowler Malinga behind for a battling 50 off 37 balls his side collapsed and lost their last six wickets for 30 runs.