KARACHI, Nov 18: Khaqan Arsal and skipper Salman Butt hit sparkling unbeaten half-centuries as Pakistan thrashed Sri Lanka by nine wickets in the opening Under-19 One-day International at National Stadium here Sunday.

Sri Lanka Under-19 were restricted to 198 for nine in their 50 overs after their captain Dhammika Niroshan won the toss and elected to bat first.

Pakistan Under-19, in reply, reached the target for the loss of opener Kamran Younis by scoring 202 for one in 43.5 overs.

Right-hander Khaqan smashed 93 not out off 107 balls with 15 fours while left-handed Salman hit an enterprising 82 off 115 deliveries with 10 hits to the ropes during the unbroken 136-run second wicket stand.

Earlier, some fine tidy bowling and superb fielding by Pakistan teenagers caused the slide in Sri Lankan batting ranks as five of their batsman were run out which compounded their problems.

Sri Lankans slumped to 34 for three after promising paceman Umer Gul had opener Upul Tharanga caught behind by Zulqarnain for 17. Mevan Dunusinghe fell to Junaid Zia for four and four balls later Sahan Wijeratne was run out for a duck.

Sumal Perera and Jeevan Mendis added 58 for the fourth wicket. Perera was bowled by left-arm spinner Kamran Younis for 37.

Jeevan with Farveez Mahroof added another 56 for the sixth wicket to retrieve the situation but once the partnership was broken the remaining batting fell away.

Left-hander Mendis top-scored for the touring side with a defiant 56 off 91 balls. He hit three fours and a six.

Umer Gul and off-spinner Irfanuddin were the pick of home side bowling attack. Umer took one for 28 in 10 overs and Irfan captured one for 24 in his 10 overs.