COLOMBO: Pakistan set a target of 278 runs for hosts Sri Lanka in their crucial Group A match of the ICC World Cup 2011 here at the R Premadasa Stadium on Friday.Batting on an easy wicket, Pakistan plundered 277 runs for the loss of seven wickets in the allotted 50 overs after captain Shahid Afridi won the toss.The main architects of the innings were veteran batsman Younis Khan and experienced Misbah-ul-Haq who steered Pakistan from 105-3 to 213 runs, adding 108 runs for the fourth wicket partnership.Both completed half-centuries – Younis from 56 balls and Misbah in 65 deliveries. They had also made fifties in their previous match against Kenya on Wednesday.Younis made 72 off 76 balls while Misbah top scored with 83 not out from 91 balls.Earlier, openers Ahmed Shehzad and Mohammad Hafeez made 13 and 32, respectively while Kamran Akmal scored 39.Later, Umar Akmal and hahid Aridi scored 10 and 16, respectively while Abdul Razzaq remained not out on 3For Sri Lanka, Rangana Herath and Thisara Perera claimed two wickets each.Sri Lanka left out slinger Lasith Malinga who failed to fully recover from a back strain which forced him to miss the match on Sunday.Chamara Kapugedera and Ajantha Mendis made way for Chamara Silva and left-arm spinner Rangana Herath. Both teams are seeking their second win in the tournament as they have already enjoyed convincing opening victories: Pakistan defeated Kenya by 205 runs and Sri Lanka beat Canada by 210.Pakistan have never lost a World Cup match against Sri Lanka in six previous attempts, but the last time they met was in 1992, before Sri Lanka became one of the game's global powers.
