Hasan again stars as Pakistan thrash SL

Paceman Hasan Ali finished with career-best figures to once again anchor Pakistan's convincing seven-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the first Twenty20 in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.

Hasan, who took 14 wickets in Pakistan's preceding 5-0 whitewash of the one-day series, took 3-23 in 3.3 overs as Pakistan skittled Sri Lanka for a paltry 102 in 18.3 overs.

Only Seekkuge Prasanna (23 not out) and debutant Sadeera Samarawickrama (23) showed much resistance against a varied Pakistan bowling attack.

Pakistan did lose Fakhar Zaman (six), Babar Azam (one) and Ahmed Shehzad (22) in reply but were seen through to the target by Shoaib Malik (42 not out) and Mohammad Hafeez (25 not out) with 16 balls to spare to earn a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Malik hit four boundaries in his 31-ball knock while Hafeez's 23-ball innings included three fours as the pair added 39 for the unbroken fourth wicket stand.

It was again Pakistan's bowling which led them to victory. Sri Lanka lost wickets at regular intervals after looking to build the innings at 2-51 in the ninth over. But they lost their last eight wickets for another 51 runs and were bowled out for their second-lowest Twenty20 total against Pakistan.

All six Pakistan bowlers took wickets with spinner Hafeez (2-10) and paceman Usman Shinwari (2-24) supplementing Hasan to the best effect.

"The basic aim is to get wickets and that we are doing," said captain Sarfraz Ahmed, whose team has now bowled the oppositions all out for the 23rd time – the most by any team in Twenty20 internationals.

"It was a complete team effort and we are doing everything well."

Sri Lankan skipper Thisara Perera admitted his team was undone by Pakistan's superior bowling.

"If we look back we didn't score runs so we have to put a good total on the board to win," said Perera, captaining Sri Lanka for the first time.

"Full marks to Pakistan's bowling which is one of the best in the world at the moment."

Sent into bat, Sri Lanka lost Dilshan Munaweera for nought off the third ball of the match while Dashun Gunathilaka made an 11-ball 18 with three boundaries.

Samarawickrama and Ashan Priyanjan (12) added 22 for the third wicket but wickets then fell in clusters and Sri Lanka could never recover.

Hasan was the star for the hosts, removing Sachith Pathirana (four), Isuru Udana (nought) and Vikum Sanjaya (four) to improve on his previous best of 3-49 against the West Indies in Dubai last year.

It was left to Prasanna to hit two sixes in his run-a-ball 23 to get Sri Lanka to three figures.

The second match is also in Abu Dhbai on Friday before the teams fly to Lahore for the last match on Sunday.