Hasan stars as Pakistan upstage Sri Lanka

Medium pacer Hasan Ali finished with a career best bowling to once again anchor Pakistan's convincing seven-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the first T20I in Abu Dhabi Thursday. Hasan, who took 14 wickets in Pakistan's preceding 5-0 whitewash of the one-day series, took 3-23 in 3.3 overs as Pakistan skittled Sri Lanka out for a paltry 102 in 18.3 overs. Only Seekkuge Prasanna (23 not out) and debutant Sadeera Samarawickrama (23) put some resistance against a varied Pakistan bowling attack. Pakistan did lose Fakhar Zaman (six), Babar Azam (one) and Ahmed Shehzad (22) but were seen through to the target by Shoaib Malik (42 not out) and Mohammad Hafeez (25 not out) with 16 balls to spare.

Great entertainer Hasan Ali: Pretends to take caught & bowled when batsman didn't know where the ball was Next ball actual caught & bowled

— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) October 26, 2017

That gave Pakistan a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Malik hit four boundaries in his 31-ball knock while Hafeez's 23-ball innings had three hits to the rope as the pair added 39 for the unbroken fourth wicket stand. It was again Pakistan's bowling which led them to victory. Sri Lanka lost wickets at regular intervals after looking to build the innings at 51-2 in the ninth over.

The Hasan Ali celebration has to be one of the best in world cricket. Absolutely love it! #BOOM #PakvSL

— Usama Mir (@iamusamamir) October 26, 2017

But they lost their last eight wickets for another 51 runs and were bowled out for their second lowest T20I total against Pakistan. All six Pakistan bowlers took wickets with spinner Hafeez (2-10) and pacer Usman Shinwari (2-24) supplementing Hasan to the best effect. Skipper Sarfraz Ahmed praised his bowling. Sri Lankan skipper Thisara Perera admitted his team was undone by Pakistan's superior bowling.

Danny Morrison "In later years they'll have a statue of Hasan Ali in his home town" #Cricket #PakvSL

— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) October 26, 2017

Samarawickrama and Ashan Priyanjan (12) had added 22 for the third wicket but wicket started to fall in cluster and Sri Lanka could never recover. Just like in one-day series, Hasan was at his best in taking wickets, removing Sachith Pathirana (four), Isuru Udana (nought) and Vikum Sanjaya (four) to improve on his previous best of 3-49 against the West Indies in Dubai last year. Perera made six. It was left to Prasanna to hit two sixes in his run-a-ball 23 to get past the 100-mark.

3-23 for Hasan Ali are his best bowling figures in T20Is. Previous best was 3-49 against West Indies last year #Cricket #PakvSL

— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) October 26, 2017

The second match is also in Abu Dhabi Friday before the teams fly to Lahore for the last match Sunday. BRIEF SCORE Pakistan 103/3 in 17.2 overs (Malik 42*, Hafeez 25*) beat Sri Lanka 102 in 18.3 overs (Prasanna 23*, Hasan 3/23) by seven wickets