Sri Lanka pull off thrilling consolation win over Pakistan

Abu Dhabi: Dinesh Chandimal kept his nerve to pull off a sensational two-wicket win for Sri Lanka in the fifth and final one-dayer in Abu Dhabi today, but Pakistan took the five-match series 3-2.

Chandimal finished with 64 not out off 70 balls and added a match-turning 40 runs for the ninth wicket with Ajantha Mandis (19 not out) to see Sri Lanka through with two balls to spare.

Mendis hit the winning boundary and smashed one of the two sixes in Umar Gul's penultimate over which cost Pakistan 15 runs and the match. Chandimal hit his only boundary to reach fifty before hitting a six off Gul to clinch an unlikely win after Sri Lanka had wobbled at 195-8, derailed by Junaid Khan (3-31) and Saeed Ajmal (2-43).

Sri Lanka, who chased down a 285-run target in their second one-day win in Dubai, were cruising along at 113-1 after Kusal Perera (47) and Tillakaratne Dilshan (45) gave them a brisk start of 75.

Perera was aggressive right from the word go, hitting four sixes and three boundaries in his 40-ball knock, but was trapped leg-before by Mohammad Hafeez after he attempted a reverse sweep.

When on 31, Dilshan completed 8,000 one-day runs, becoming the sixth Sri Lankan to achieve the milestone.

But Sri Lanka then lost three quick wickets in the space of just 24 runs, two of those to Junaid.

Junaid had Dilshan caught behind and bowled Kumar Sangakkara (22) round his legs to complete 50 wickets in the calendar year.

Gul accounted for Ashan Priyanjan (one) while skipper Angelo Mathews's laborious 31-ball eight was ended by paceman Anwar Ali before Chandimal's rearguard action.

"We were just good enough to win the game," said Mathews.

"Once again, a little disappointed with the batsmen who got starts but didn't go from there. Mendis came to the party, along with Chandimal, and got us over the line."

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul Haq said the series win was satisfying.

"Our team is in good shape," said Misbah.

"Of course, it's disappointing to lose the last match but overall I am happy the way team won the series."

Earlier, Misbah top-scored with 51 while in-form batsman Hafeez, who scored three centuries in the series, made 41 as

Pakistan were bowled out for 232 in the 50th over.