COLOMBO: Pakistan’s blind cricket team comfortably beat their Sri Lankan counterparts by 48 runs in the first Twenty20 of a three-match series here at Bloomfield Cricket Ground on Wednesday.

After Sri Lanka decided to put the opposition in to bat first, openers captain Nisar Ali and Mohammad Rashid gave Pakistan a brilliant stand of 197. At this point, Rashid was run out for a magnificent 44-ball 92.

Nisar, who was later declared man-of-the-match, kept the Sri Lankan bowling attack at bay as he smashed an unbeaten 140 off 64 balls as Pakistan posted a healthy 261-1 in the stipulated 20 overs.

Sri Lanka in reply got a good opening stand too and their first wicket fell at the score of 153 in the 15th over. Saman Kumara then was dismissed for a 41-ball 64. His opening partner Dimithu Sandrawan was sent back soon after he made a 46-ball 67.

Sri Lanka in the end could manage to collect 213 runs in their 20 overs while losing six wickets.

Janbaz Khan, Deputy High Commissioner of Pakistan in Colombo, Pakistan Blind Cricket Council chairman Syed Sultan Shah and Chaminda Pushpakumara, the Sri Lanka Cricket Association secretary for visually handicapped, were the guests of honour on this occasion and gave the prizes.

Published in Dawn, February 28th, 2019