Abu Dhabi, May 23:

Mahela Jayawardene struck seven boundaries and two sixes in his 83-run knock on Tuesday that led Sri Lanka to a 115-run win over Pakistan and earned it some consolation in the finale of the three-match Warid Series.

With Pakistan already having secured the series with victories in the first two matches, Sri Lanka scored 296-9 and then dismissed Pakistan for 181.

Pakistan lost openers Salman Butt (2) and Mohammed Hafeez (34) and never seriously challeged. Farveez Maharoof removed Butt, and Tillakaratne Dilshan’s direct throw dismissed Hafeez to reduce Pakistan to 61-2. Then Dilhara Fernando did the early damage, claiming

three wickets including Mohammad Yousuf (5) and debutant Fawad Alam (0) in successive deliveries.

Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik delayed the inevitable with a defiant 79 not out. He hit four sixes and an equal number of fours, and shared a 54-run stand for the eighth wicket with Rao Iftikhar.

Jayawardenes reached 83 off 81 balls and shared a 124-run stand for the fourth wicket with Chamara Silva, who added 64.

Jayasuriya (19) was the first to depart when he dragged a ball off Iftikhar with the total on 62 in the 11th over. Iftikhar then had Tharanga (40) and Chamara Kapugedera (15) caught behind by Kamran Akmal to account for the first three wickets before Jayawardene and Silva came together to revive the Sri Lankan innings.

Dilshan played a little cameo knock to swell the total. His 14-ball 28 not out helped Sri Lanka post a challenging total after a middle-order collapse.

For Sri Lanka, the match marks the end of Australian Tom Moody’s regime as their coach. Moody, who took charge in 2005, guided the islanders to the 2007 World Cup final in the West Indies.