Colombo, March 19:

Abdul Razzaq anchored Pakistan during a hard-fought four-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the second one-dayer today.

Razzaq struck a defiant 41 not out as Pakistan overcame a top-order collapse to pass the home side’s meagre 130 and take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Razzaq played an uncharacteristically subdued 101-ball knock. He did not hit a boundary off the first 98 deliveries before unleashing some big shots to seal a memorable win with over five overs to spare.

He added 35 for the sixth wicket with Mohammad Yousuf (26) and an unfinished 52 with Kamran Akmal (20).

Pakistan came under pressure after throwing away their the wickets of opener Shahid Afridi (two), Salman Butt (four), Younis Khan (four). Captain Inzamam-ul Haq and Shoaib Malik also contributed little as Pakistan sank to a dismal 47-5 before Razzaq and Yousuf steadied the innings.

Earlier, Sri Lanka crashed for just 130 as Pakistan’s seamers justified Inzamam’s decision to field first, ripping through the top and middle-order to reduce the home side to 56-7 by the 21st over.

Tillakaratne Dilshan’s gritty 48 not out lent the score some respectability in the company of tail-enders. He added 42 with Kulasekara (11) for the eighth wicket and 25 for the ninth with Malinga (15).

Rana Naved took 3-23. Razzaq and Rao Iftikhar bagged a couple each.

NZ close in on series win

Wellington: New Zealand tightened their grip on the second cricket Test against the West Indies, ripping through the top order to leave the tourists at 118/4 in their second innings on the third day.

Brian Lara once again surrendered his wicket cheaply, and the West Indies still require a further 62 runs to make New Zealand bat again.

Only Chris Gayle showed the determination required to turn the Test into an even contest, after New Zealand were all out in their first innings early in the day for 372 in reply to the West Indies’ 192 runs.

But even Gayle succumbed to a lack of concentration in the second to last over before tea, when he attempted to sweep Daniel Vettori but was instead trapped plumb in front for 68. Shivnarine Chanderpaul was unbeaten on 13, with Dwayne Bravo on two when play was halted because of bad light three overs after tea.