Sri Lanka came back strongly with solid batting and bowling to thrash Pakistan by 129 runs in the second day-night international here Wednesday.

Spinners Muttiah Muralitharan (3-19) and Ajantha Mendis (3-29) capitalised on a early double strike by Nuwan Kulasekara as Sri Lanka bundled Pakistan out for 161 in 34.5 overs after setting the home team a target of 291.

Tillakaratne Dilshan (76) and Thilina Kandamby (59) made solid contributions in Sri Lankan total of 290-8 in 50 overs before bowlers pulled up their socks to help their team level the three-match series 1-1.

Pakistan won the first match by eight wickets here Tuesday. The final match is in Lahore Saturday.

Pakistan were wobbling from the start of their innings. They lost opener Khurram Manzoor (one) in the first over, before Younus Khan (four) and Misbah-ul-haq (one) fell by the fourth over with the score at 17.

Salman Butt, who hit a match-winning 100 Tuesday, rescued Pakistan through a 108-run stand for the fourth wicket, raising hopes of a home team win but both fell in successive overs.

Malik hit five boundaries and a six during his 52-ball knock. He fell to a miscued cut off Muralitharan in the 24th over. Five balls later Butt too miscued a drive off Sanath Jayasuriya and was caught at covers.

Butt hit six boundaries off 87 balls.

Pakistan lost their last seven wickets for 36 runs as Sri Lankan spinners ran amok.

Earlier Dilshan and Kandamby 59 rescued the visitors' during their 99-run third wicket stand after Sri Lanka were sent into bat by Pakistan.

Sri Lanka had raced to 43 without loss as Sanath Jayasuriya (19) and Dilshan cut loose against some wayward bowling by Pakistan.

Akhtar was hit for four boundaries, two each by Dilshan and Jayasuriya, in his second over, which yielded 17 runs. The injury-prone paceman went for 45 runs in his six overs, dismissing Dilshan for his only wicket.

From 66-2, Dilshan and Kandamby steadied the innings. Dilshan hit 11 boundaries during his 88-ball knock before hooking straight into the hands of deep square-leg in the 30th over.

The 26-year-old Kandamby, playing only his sixth one-day, batted with resolve, hitting four boundaries off 79 balls. His previous best of 40 came against Zimbabwe in Harare last year.

Kandamby added another 41 for the fourth wicket with Mahela Jayawardene, who made 24.

Chamara Kapugedera hit two boundaries and as many sixes in his rapid 39-ball 44 as Sri Lanka added 79 runs in their last ten overs.

Gul was the pick of Pakistan bowlers with 4-58.

(Article: Copyright © 2009 AFP)