Sri Lanka eke out narrow win in Hong Kong Sixes opener

Sri Lankan opener Dilruwan Perera smashed a quickfire 31 as the men from the Emerald Isles eked out a narrow four-run win against the United Arab Emirates in the Hong Kong Sixes opener at the Kowloon Cricket Club on Saturday.

Emirates captain Khuram Ali had earlier put the Sri Lankans in after winning the toss. Kausalya Weeraratne, who has played 10 one-day internationals for Sri Lanka, was the first to go, out after making six runs.

But Perera in the company of Sanjeewa Silva got his team's innings going. Silva made 31, before he too was forced to retire like Perera before him, as a result of the tournament stipulations which does not allow a batsman to continue after he has reached 30. The duo's contribution ensured that Sri Lanka reached 80 for one, always a competitive total.

When Emirates replied, they initially struggled to keep up with the asking rate of over 16 an over. A late flurry from opener Arshad Ali, 33 off 12 balls with two fours and two sixes, though, brought them to within five runs of victory with one ball remaining. But skipper Khuram Khan, who needed to smash at least a boundary to tie the match, was dismissed when he attempted a big shot.