New Delhi, Sept. 23 -- Kamindu Mendis scored a hard-fought 50 to take a wobbly Sri Lanka to 133/8 in their Asia Cup Super Four match against Pakistan on Tuesday in Abu Dhabi. Shaheen Afridi (3/28) and Hussain Talat (2/18) struck twice each to leave Sri Lanka tottering at 80/6 at one stage, but Mendis' 44-ball knock which included three fours and two sixes saved the blushes.

Afridi took two wickets upfront to put Sri Lanka under pressure but it was Talat who gave Pakistan the command of the contest with dismissals of Charith Asalanka (20) and Dasun Shanaka (0) in the eighth over.

Opting to bowl first, Pakistan were off to a flying start after Shaheen dismissed Kusal Mendis for a golden duck on the second ball of the match. Pathum Nissank...