Afridi made Sri Lanka pay for dropping him twice

All-rounder Shahid Afridi hit 73 off just 34 balls as Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by five wickets in Friday's one-day international in Abu Dhabi.

Afridi, who was dropped twice, struck 32 off one over, including two fours and four successive sixes, as his side eased home with eight overs to spare.

Wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal made an unbeaten 51, as Pakistan gave new captain Shoaib Malik the ideal start.

Sri Lanka made 235-9, thanks largely to a half-century from Farvez Maharoof.

The Pakistan innings started promisingly with Imran Nazir hitting a quickfire 38 before being run out by Sanath Jayasuriya.

Yasir Hameed quickly followed him back to the pavilion, lbw to Lasith Malinga for 10.

Salman Butt scored a pedestrian 34 before he was run out by Chamara Kapugedera, followed by Mohammad Yousuf (12) and Malik (11), but Afridi then took centre stage.

He smacked a total of four sixes and eight fours, while his 32 off leg-spinner Malinga Bandara was the second best score off a single over in one-day international history.

Umar Gul had done the most damage with the ball for Pakistan, taking 3-61.

He removed Kapugedera for 28, Mahela Jayawardene for 18 and Bandara for three.

Maharoof's knock included nine fours and one six to continue a fightback started by Chamara Silva, who hit 47.

The Sri Lankan top order all failed to post a score above 30, with Jayasuriya going for just one, Upul Tharanga for 17 and Mahela Jayawardene for 18.