Scorecard

All-rounder Shahid Afridi [ Images ] smashed 73 off just 34 balls to lead Pakistan to a five-wicket victory over Sri Lanka [ Images ] in the first of three one-day internationals in Abu Dhabi.

Pakistan, playing for the first time since their disappointing World Cup campaign and the mysterious death of their coach Bob Woolmer [ Images ], reached their target of 236 with eight overs to spare.

Afridi shared an unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 102 with wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal (51 not out) to steer his side home in the day-night game.

Sri Lanka, World Cup runners-up, made 235 for nine from their 50 overs, Farveez Maharoof top-scoring with an unbeaten 69 and Chamara Silva making 47.

Seamer Umar Gul was the most successful Pakistan bowler with figures of three for 61.

Pakistan openers Salman Butt [ Images ] and Imran Nazir [ Images ] added 53 for the first wicket before both were run out, and Yasir Hameed [ Images ], Mohammad Yousuf [ Images ] and Shoaib Malik [ Images ] all fell cheaply.

But Afridi was in sublime form, hitting two fours and four successive sixes in one over from Malinga Bandara to set up a comfortable victory for Pakistan in Malik's first match as captain.

Bandara's over was the second most expensive in one-day international history.

The second match in the series takes place on Saturday.