COLOMBO, March 17: The first One-day International between Sri Lanka and Pakistan was washed out on Friday after a tropical downpour midway through the match. The rain started just minutes after Sri Lanka had restricted Pakistan to a modest 201 for eight and the outfield was soon covered with water.

Sri Lanka all-rounder Farveez Maharoof and leg spinner Kaushal Lokuarachchi shared six wickets in the Pakistan innings.

Paceman Maharoof applied pressure with the new ball during a miserly opening spell, taking 2-16 from eight consecutive overs, before returning to dismiss Pakistan captain Inzamamul Haq (24) during a second mid-innings spell.

Lokuarachchi, playing ahead of first-choice leg spinner Malinga Bandara because of his batting ability, picked up the important wickets of Mohammad Yousuf, Shahid Afridi and Abdul Razzaq.

Maharoof finished with 3-24 from 10 overs and Lokuarachchi claimed 3-47.

The pair’s performances, supported by sharp fielding, justified Marvan Atapattu’s brave decision to bowl first on a two-paced pitch at Premadasa International Stadium.

None of Pakistan’s batsmen were able to score freely with Mohammad Yousuf spending nearly two hours at the crease for his 46, the top score.

The innings sparked into life only during a 53-run stand in 68 balls between Yousuf and Inzamam, a fourth-wicket partnership that was ended by a brilliant one-handed catch by wicket-keeper Kumar Sangakkara to dismiss Inzamam.

Pakistan collapsed to 127-6 before a late recovery led by vice-captain Younis Khan (41) and all-rounder Abdul Razzaq (32).

The remaining two games in the three-match series will be played on Sunday and Tuesday.

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