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Wayward bowling by Pakistan added 20 extra runs to Sri Lanka’s total score which eventually was the difference of the scores between the two teams. Had they bowled tightly, it could well have been a different story.

Set to chase a modest 151, Pakistan was done in by the brilliance of the Lankan bowling duo of Lasith Malinga and Muttiah Muralitharan. Just when skipper Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq was threatening to take Pakistan close to the target, Malinga and Muralitharan struck in quick successions to remove both the batsmen along with the dangerous Shahid Afridi in between to break the momentum of the chase. Pakistan could never recover from the blows and eventually succumbed to 131. Lasith Malinga picked 3 wickets for 17 runs to earn a Bowling Efficiency (BE) of 141, while Muralitharan picked 2 for 28 (BE 57).

Earlier, the opening duo of Sri Lanka, Sanath Jayasuriya and Tillakratne Dilshan scored briskly to make 81 runs in less than 9 overs. Dilshan (46 runs from 39 balls, a Batting Momentum of 54) was judged ‘Man of the Match’ for his superb knock that accelerated Quickstart Batting of Sri Lanka. Surprisingly Younis Khan decided to deploy his leading wicket-taker, Shahid Afridi much later. Afridi and off-spinner Saeed Ajmal displayed excellent control to pick 4 wickets conceding just 49 runs.

Sohail Tanvir of Pakistan was the most erratic bowler bowling 8 extra deliveries and gifted as many extra runs to Sri Lanka. In all Pakistan bowled 13 wides and no-balls – an unpardonable act in T20 format. The 20 extras helped the Lankans with a cushion which cost Pakistan the match.