Dinesh Chandimal has hit an unbeaten 48 to guide Sri Lanka to a series-levelling two-wicket victory over Pakistan in the second one-day international in Pallekele.

Chasing Pakistan’s challenging 8-287, the hosts recovered from 5-159 to post 8-288 with 11 balls to spare in a tense finish to Wednesday’s day-night match.

Chandimal led the fightback by adding 37 for the sixth wicket with Milinda Siriwardana (26), 52 for the seventh with debutant Sachith Pathirana (33) and 37 for the eighth with Thisara Perera.

Perera was eighth out when three more runs were needed for victory, but Lasith Malinga kept his cool amid mounting tension before Chandimal hit the winning run.

Pakistan had won the first match in Dambulla by six wickets last Saturday to take the lead in the five-match series.

Ninth-ranked Pakistan need a series win to stay in contention for a place in the eight-nation Champions Trophy in England in 2017.

Sri Lanka, currently ranked fifth, are assured of taking part in the tournament.

Opener Kusal Perera gave Sri Lanka a rollicking start with a breezy 68 off 25 balls that included 13 boundaries and two sixes.

The left-hander raced to 50 off just 17 balls, just one delivery short of equalling South African AB de Villiers’ record for the fastest half-century in 16 balls.

Kusal matched his countryman and idol Sanath Jayasuriya’s feat of a 17-ball 50 as he put on 92 for the first wicket with Tillakaratne Dilshan off just 8.2 overs.

Dilshan’s 47 carried Sri Lanka to a commanding 140-1 in the 19th over when Pakistan hit back with four wickets for 19 runs, three of them in successive overs in the space of four runs.

Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews said he was relieved to win after his team’s sloppy catching that let Pakistan off the hook.

“Both teams made a real game out of it,” said Mathews.

“Kusal and Dilshan gave a really good start, but I thought Chandimal was brilliant with the way he pulled it through with the others.

“Our terrible display of fielding was embarrassing, to be honest, but we tried to put it behind us when we batted.”

Pakistan skipper Azhar Ali said Kusal Perera took the game away from his team at the start.

“I thought we had a decent total on the board, but the first 10 overs were crucial,” he said.

“It was tough to come back after the way Kusal Perera batted, but I am proud of my team for fighting back.