On 21st January 2009, Sri Lanka exhibited a robust all-round performance at the National Stadium in Karachi and was victorious against Pakistan by 129 runs. The highlight of the Sri Lanka batting was a half century by Tillakratne Dilshan. Further, Nuwan Kulasekara and Muttiah Muralitharan were successful in crippling the Pakistani batting.
Sri Lanka innings
In the initial part of the Sri Lankan innings, Dilshan displayed some very bold strokes. He hit Shoaib Akhtar over mid-wicket and Iftikar Anjum over short fine-leg. However, Sanath Jayasuriya was out hit wicket and Kumar Sangakkara was run out. Unperturbed, Dilshan continued to dominate the proceedings. Eventually, he accrued 76 runs in 88 balls and was for 141 minutes on the crease. This knock included 11 boundaries. He was caught by Misbah-ul Haq off the bowling of Shoiab Akhtar. Afterwards, Thilina Kandamby was dropped by Kamran Akmal when he was just on 16. Later, he picked up singles and twos and kept the scoreboard ticking. He accumulated 59 runs at a strike rate of 74.68 and was caught by Shoiab Malik off the bowling of Iftikar Anjum. During the final overs, Chamara Kapugedera contributed useful 44 runs in 39 balls which included 2 sixers and 2 fours. Sri Lanka set Pakistan a target of 291.
Pakistan innings
The Pakistan innings did not begin satisfactorily. They were reduced to 3 for 17 by Kulasekara. At this stage, Shoiab Malik and Salman Butt got the act together and raised a partnership of 108 runs. However, Muralitharan bowled a doosra and got rid of Malik. Further, Butt was caught by Jayawardene off the bowling of Jayasuriya on 62. The remaining batsmen could not overcome Muralitharan and Mendis and Pakistan was bowled out for 161.
Due to this win, the three match series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka was leveled at 1-1.