Sri Lanka vs Pakistan, 1st ODI - Live Cricket Score, Commentary

The Test series between Sri Lanka and Pakistan was an exciting one. The visiting team did better to win the first and third Tests, giving tough fight to the hosts. Yasir Shah was the key for Pakistan. The dashing leg-spinner picked up 24 wickets in the series and was simply unplayable. Their batsmen, on the other hand, performed in patches. Each match had a different hero.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka did not look all that great. Apart from the second Test, in which they achieved a convincing victory, they struggled to maintain the upperhand in the other two Tests. This is the first ODI series they will be playing without Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara and as a young team would want to prove themselves.

Pakistan are eyeing the Champions Trophy spot and this series will be a crucial one for them. Read more in our preview here.

Oh dear! Not the kind of welcome Mohammad Irfan would have wanted. He had dismissed Tillakaratne Dilshan on 2 but that turned out to be no-ball. Dilshan did not have room to cut but he still went ahead with the shot and edged it to the keeper. However, replays showed that Irfan had overstepped. Since, it was a no-ball, Sri Lanka got a free hit and Dilshan holed out to mid-on on that one.

What a lucky man Dilshan! Got caught twice in two balls and yet is not out!

Pakistan skipper Azhar Ali won the toss and chose to bowl first. He said that Sarfraz Ahmed will bat in the lower middle-order. For Sri Lanka, Milinda Siriwardana debuted. Mohammad Irfan is back for the tourists.

Teams:

Pakistan (Playing XI): Azhar Ali(c), Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Rizwan, Sarfraz Ahmed(w), Anwar Ali, Yasir Shah, Rahat Ali, Mohammad Irfan

Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Kusal Perera, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Lahiru Thirimanne, Upul Tharanga, Dinesh Chandimal(w), Angelo Mathews(c), Milinda Siriwardana, Thisara Perera, Seekkuge Prasanna, Suranga Lakmal, Lasith Malinga

Kusal Perera perished after the SL openers put up a 44-run stand. He was looking in good touch but the Professor, Mohammad Hafeez got a breakthrough as soon as he came into the attack. Perera had gone on the back foot and looked to push the delivery awkwardly but got a thick edge and Rizwan held onto a good catch.

Anwar Ali struck to remove Lahiru Thirimanne on 23 breaking a promising stand between him and Dilshan. Thirimanne went for a loose drive and got the outside edge that was easily snaffled by the keeper.