Afridi powers Pakistan win over Sri Lanka

New Delhi: The mercurial but dynamic Shahid Afridi lead from the front as Pakistan won their crucial Group A clash against Sri Lanka by 11 runs at Colombo on Saturday.

After the batsmen piled on the runs to take Pakistan to 277/7 in their 50 overs, Afridi starred with the ball to claim 4/34 which just about settled the issue in his team's favour.

The Lankan openers Tillakratne Dilshan and Upul Tharanga had taken the score to 76 in the 15th over, when Afridi took a sharp catch to dismiss Tharanga as off spinner Mohammad Hafeez picked up his first and only wicket of the night.

Afridi then came on to bowl and struck straightaway to send back a well settled Dilshan who chopped one on to his stumps for 41.

Thilan Samaraweera was beaten by a classical leg break from Afridi to be stumped by Kamran Akmal and Sri Lanka were tottering at 96/4 in the 22nd over.

Afridi brought himself back into the attack to get the wickets of his opposite number Kumar Sangakkara and followed it up by getting rid of Angelo Mathews which turned out to be the final nail in the coffin for Sri Lanka.