Shahid Afridi's superb spell scuppers Sri Lanka's chances of successful chase

Shahid Afridi picked up four wickets as Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka by 11 runs in their World Cup Group A match against Sri Lanka in Colombo yesterday.

The skipper's magical spell of three for 34 came on the back of fine batting efforts by Misbah-ul-Haq (83 not out off 81 balls) and Younus Khan (72 off 76 balls), who helped Pakistan to 277 for seven in 50 overs. Chamara Silva (57 off 79 balls) and Kumar Sangakkara (49 off 61 balls) raised hopes of a successful chase, but were undone by four wickets midway through the innings as Sri Lanka ended on 266 for nine.

Batting first after winning the toss, Pakistan were off to a solid start with Mohammed Hafeez and Kamran Akmal adding 48 in 7.2 overs. after losing Ahmed Shehzad (13) early on. Hafeez (32) was run out after a bizarre mix-up with Kamran, who was out for 39 few overs later - stumped off Rangana Herath - to leave Pakistan on 105 for three. Younus and Misbah then stabilised the innings with their mature batting, as both cruised to their second straight half-centuries.

Herath broke the fourth-wicket stand at 108 by having Younus caught at short fine-leg after Pakistan went past 200. Misbah accelerated towards the end and added quick runs with Umar Akmal and Afridi to take Pakistan to 277.

In reply, Sri Lanka started positively reaching 76 for no loss in 14.2 overs, but four quick wickets left the home team reeling at 96 for four. Spinner Hafeez triggered the collapse by dismissing Upul Tharanga (33 off 43 balls), before Afridi clean bowled Tillakaratne Dilshan (41 off 55 balls).

Shoaib Akhtar then knocked over the middle stump of Mahela Jayawardene and the new batsman, Thilan Samaraweera, lasted four balls as he became Afridi's second victim. Sangakkara and Silva attempted to put Sri Lanka back on track, but the asking rate shot up above eight.

The fifth-wicket pair added 53 off 84 balls but the scoreboard pressure forced Sangakkara to opt for the batting powerplay in the 33rd over.

Sangakkara finally went for 49 after holing out in the deep, handing Afridi his 300th ODI wicket. With 89 required off the last eight overs, Silva hit back-to-back boundaries off Rehman as Sri Lanka passed 200.

Nuwan Kulasekara (24 off 14 balls) hit a six off Hafeez to bring the equation down to 18 runs off the last over but his dismissal with two balls remaining finished things off for Pakistan.