Pacemen Umar Gul and Mohammad Sami each took three wickets as Pakistan posted a comfortable six-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the first One-Day International here Thursday. Man of the Match Gul finished with 3-24 and Sami with 3-19 before Pakistan achieved a rain-revised target of 135 with more than seven overs to spare in the day-night match for a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. The duo helped Pakistan restrict the hostto 135-8 in a match reduced to 42-overs-a-side due to the poor conditions. Opener Mohammad Hafeez top-scored with 37, while Umar Akmal (36 not out) and Misbahul Haq (30) were the other main scorers as Pakistan recorded its ninth one-day win over Sri Lanka in their last 11 matches. Misbah added 51 runs for the third wicket with Hafeez after two wickets had fallen for 27 and then 55 for the fourth with Akmal. Pakistan's win was set up by bowlers in seaming conditions as Gul took three wickets in a sharp opening spell, removing skipper Mahela Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan and Dinesh Chandimal to send Sri Lanka reeling at 23-3. He was superbly backed by Sami, who dismissed Kumar Sangakkara and all-rounder Angelo Mathews in his first two overs to reduce the hosts to 41-5. Lahiru Thirimanne, who added 50 for the eighth wicket with Nuwan Kulasekara (18), top-scored for Sri Lanka with an unbeaten 42 while extras contributed 31, the second-highest of the innings. Thisara Perera (17) and Upul Tharanga (10) were the other batsmen to reach double-figures. The second one-dayer will also be played in Pallekele Saturday and the last three games in Colombo on June 13, 16 and 18. The one-dayers will be followed by a three-Test series starting on June 22. First day's paly washed out Rain washed out the first day of the third and final Test between England and West Indies at Edgbaston Thursday. Persistent rain fell all day, after heavy rain overnight, and play was finally called off at 1535 local time. By that stage almost all of the spectators had left and they will be entitled to a full refund on their tickets. England said earlier in the day that wicketkeeper Matt Prior had recovered from an eye infection and would play despite reserve Steven Davies being called up as a replacement. The forecast is also gloomy for Friday.
