Both sides were playing their first match after their wildly contrasting World Cup experiences.

Shoaib Malik enjoyed a fruitful first outing as captain of Pakistan, relying on the traditional Pakistani ingredients of fast bowling to reduce Sri Lanka to 103 for 5 in the first 25 overs, after he had lost the toss.

The World Cup finalists were pegged back initially by the nagging accuracy of Mohammed Asif and the pace of Mohammed Sami, both players bowling with venom.

However, the islanders recovered late in the innings through the efforts of first, Chamara Silva (47) and later fast bowler Farveez Maharoof who smashed an unbeaten 54-ball 69 with 9 fours and a six to propel his side to a respectable total.

Umar Gul was the pick of the Pakistani bowlers as he took 3-61 off his ten overs.