Kamran Akmal was first to go for the tourists

Pakistan were saved from potential defeat when torrential rain arrived in Colombo after they had made only 201-8 in their game against Sri Lanka.

The day-night match, the first of a best of three series, was abandoned with pools of water on the outfield.

Earlier, Mohammad Yousuf (46) and Younis Khan (41) were the main scorers in a moderate Pakistan total.

Seam bowler Farveez Maharoof (3-24) and leg-spinner Kaushal Lokuarachchi (3-47) were the pick of the home attack.

The home side went into the day-night game without opening batsman Sanath Jayasuriya and seamers Chaminda Vaas and Ruchira Perera.

And further pressure was added with the knowledge that they needed to win all three matches to guarantee direct entry into the Champions Trophy in India in September.

The abandonment means England can deny them automatic qualification by winning one of the first two games in their fortchoming series in India.

Pakistan included Rao Iftikhar Anjum in their side in place of injured fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, but their batting line-up was at full strength.

Despite that, however, they were on the back foot as Kamran Akmal and Shoaib Malik were bowled by Maharoof, the former with an inswinger and Malik off his pads, in an excellent new ball spell.

Lasith Malinga removed Salman Butt for 26 with the help of Lokuarachchi's catch and as has so often happened in the past, it was left to Yousuf and skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq to try and rebuild the innings.

Maharoof bowled a superb spell with the new ball

They added 53 in 11 overs but Maharoof then struck a crucial blow by having Inzamam caught behind for 24, a brilliant diving effort by Kumar Sangakkara.

Yousuf became Lokuarachchi's first victim three overs later and big-hitting Shahid Afridi followed when he was lbw for two.

Younis and Razzaq batted sensibly to put on 52, avoiding unnecessary risks in an attempt to give their team a reasonable total to defend, but Razzaq did hit two sixes before finally being caught by Upul Tharanga for 32.

The final wicket fell with three balls remaining as Younis, who only reached the boundary once in his 47-ball innings, was bowled by Dhammika Prasad.

Pakistan: Inzamam-ul-Haq ,Mohammad Yousuf, Younis Khan, Abdul Razzaq, Shahid Afridi,Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal, Salman Butt, Rana Naved, Rao Iftikhar, Mohammad Asif.

Sri Lanka: Marvan Atapattu, Mahela Jayawardene, Upul Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Russel Arnold, Farveez Maharoof, Lasith Malinga, Muttiah Muralitharan, Dhammika Prasad, Kaushal Lokuarachchi.