A measured Ahmed Shehzad, a spry Shoaib Malik and a belligerent Umar Akmal hit 46 runs each to carry Pakistan to 175 for 5, a total Sri Lanka's chase never had the measure of. Milinda Siriwardana and Chamara Kapugedera played sprightly innings from the lower middle order, but Pakistan were always favourites to defend their score, having had the hosts at 19 for 3 in the fourth over. Sohail Tanvir was prime destroyer with the new ball, and finished with figures of 3 for 29 from his four overs. The hosts fell short by 29 runs.

Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat.

Sri Lanka's XI featured four debutants, including three uncapped players. Batsman and part-time offspinner Dhananjaya de Silva has been picked. Legspinner Jeffrey Vandersay and 20-year-old left-arm seamer Binura Fernando, who have created some buzz on the island in recent months, were also selected. Milinda Siriwardana was also handed a T20 international debut.

Batsman Chamara Kapugedera was picked for his first T20 international since June 2012. He could bat in the middle order, which also features Kithuruwan Vithanage.

Pakistan omitted Yasir Shah's legspin, with Shahid Afridi in the side. Sarfraz Ahmed was also left out, and Umar Akmal was picked. Mohammad Rizwan will keep wicket in Sarfaraz's absence. Opener Mukhtar Ahmed was drafted in for his first match on the tour.

The weather is expected to remain fine for the encounter.

Sri Lanka: 1 Kusal Perera (wk), 2 Tillakaratne Dilshan, 3 Dhananjaya de Silva, 4 Chamara Kapugedera, 5 Angelo Mathews, 5 Kithuruwan Vithanage, 6 Milinda Siriwardana, 8 Thisara Perera, 9 Jeffrey Vandersay, 10 Lasith Malinga (capt), 11 Binura Fernando

Pakistan: 1 Mukhtar Ahmed, 2 Ahmed Shehzad, 3 Mohammad Hafeez, 4 Shoaib Malik, 5 Umar Akmal, 6 Shahid Afridi (capt), 7 Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 8 Anwar Ali, 9 Imad Wasim, 10 Sohail Tanvir, 11 Mohammad Irfan

Courtesy: ESPN