Pak lose five early wickets chasing Lanka's 275 in first ODI

Pakistan struggle in their first ODI against the Sri Lankan bowlers while chasing the hosts' 275 with just five wickets remaining at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium in Hambantota.

At the time of filing of this report Pakistan were 193 for five with 54 balls remaining and trail the hosts by 82 runs.

Sri Lanka went in to bat first on a wet ground, as Pakistan decided to field on winning the toss. The hosts posted 275 for the loss of seven wickets in their allotted 45 overs with former Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene hitting 63 and current captain Angelo Mathews scoring 89.

In a match affected by rain, Jayawardene was run out by Umar Akmal, while Mathews lost his wicket to left-arm pace bowler Wahab Riaz. Riaz claimed three wickets including Mathews' wicket. The two other batsmen to go back on Riaz's deliveries were opener Upul Tharanga for his individual score of 18 and Thisara Perera for 13.

Pakistan's towering pace express Mohammad Irfan took two wickets, bowling out Tillakaratne Dilshan for his individual score of six and Dinesh Chandimal, also for six.

Former Sri Lankan skipper Kumar Sangakkara was caught by Ahmed Shehzad for his individual score of 25 off the delivery of Mohammad Hafeez.

Ashan Priyanjan and Nuwan Kulasekara remained unbeaten on their individual scores of 39 and three respectively.

For Pakistan, opener Ahmed Shehzad hit 49 runs before losing his wicket to fast-medium bowler Perera. Shehzad was helped on the crease by Mohammad Hafeez, who lost his wicket Mathews' delivery for his individual score of 21 runs.

Sri Lankan pace express Lasith Malinga caught wicketkeeper batsman Umar Akmal for his individual score of 15 off Perera's delivery. Kulasekara caught Younis khan for his individual score of three of Mathews' delivery.

Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq was the next to go as he was caught behind the wicket by Sangakkara off slow left-arm orthodox bowler Rangana Herath's delivery for his individual score of 13.

Fawad Alam and Sohaib Maqsood remain unbeaten on 29 and 54 respectively and provide a slight chance of a difficult victory for Pakistan.