COLOMBO, June 17: All-rounder Thisara Perera bagged a hat-trick to bowl Sri Lanka to a dramatic 44-run victory over Pakistan in the fourth One-day International here on Saturday (also partly reported in Sunday’s edition).

Pakistan were strongly placed at 166-2 in the 38th over before they collapsed to 199 all out chasing a 244-run target in the day/night contest, with Man-of-the-Match Perera finishing with 4-42.

It was Pakistan’s first defeat at R. Premadasa Stadium in eight years, having previously won eight with two ending in a no-result due to inclement weather.

Opener Azhar Ali carried his bat through the innings with an unbeaten 81, hitting one six and four boundaries. He added 113 for the third wicket with skipper Misbah-ul-Haq (57).

Pakistan lost their last eight wickets for 33 runs, with six batsmen failing to open their account in the innings.

Kumar Sangakkara earlier top-scored with a 130-ball 97 for Sri Lanka, who now lead 2-1 in the five-match series. Pakistan won the opening one-dayer by six wickets and Sri Lanka won the second game by 76 runs in Pallekele.

The third match here was abandoned due to rain on Wednesday.

Perera had Younis Khan caught behind and then had Shahid Afridi caught in the covers before completing the hat-trick with the wicket of Sarfraz Ahmed, caught by skipper Mahela Jayawardene in the slips.

“Thisara is improving and learning with each game,” said Jayawardene. “Also Kumar batted really well. We are still short of our best game, but we’ll take this.”

Perera also ran out Sohail Tanvir in the same over and then ended the innings with the wicket of Saeed Ajmal.

Pakistan’s slide began with the dismissal of Misbah, with Nuwan Kulasekara taking a brilliant catch to his right at mid-off off paceman Lasith Malinga.

Malinga also dismissed Mohammad Hafeez with his fifth delivery and left-arm spinner Sajeewa Weerakoon trapped Asad Shafiq (25) leg-before for his maiden wicket in One-day Internationals.

“Everything was under control and I don’t know what happened after that. And we can’t drop players like Sangakkara,” said Misbah.—Agencies