Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Nuwan Pradeep and the other standouts of Sri Lanka's T20 series win in Pakistan - in pictures

Sri Lanka beat top-ranked Pakistan by 35 runs in the second T20 to take an unassailable lead in the three-match series

Bhanuka Rajapaksa: Gave the Sri Lankan selectors a timely reminder of his status by hitting a match-winning 77 in only his second Twenty20 International as Sri Lanka took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series on Monday. The left-hander was the leading scorer for his side with 253 runs at the U19 World Cup in 2010. AFP

Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva: The 22-year-old leg spinner bagged three wickets from four balls after his first delivery was hit for a six by Ahmed Shehzad. He returned with a career best 3-38. AFP

Danushka Gunathilaka: Returning to the T20I side for the first time in more than three years, Gunathilaka top scored for his team in the 67-run win in the first match in Lahore, blasting 57 off 38 balls. He struck three fours in a 10-ball 15 in the second match. AFP

Dasun Shanaka: Captaining the side in the absence of regular skipper Lasith Malinga, Shanaka didn’t bring himself on to bowl but he showed his prowess with the bat, smashing 17 off 10 balls with two towering sixes in the first match and 27 off 15 in the second match. EPA

Kasun Rajitha: Opening the bowling, the medium pacer set the platform for his side to defend their totals in both wins in Lahore. AFP

Sri Lanka clinched the Twenty20 International series against Pakistan 2-0 with a game to spare at Lahore on Monday.

With 10 senior players, including regular T20 captain Lasith Malinga, deciding not to tour Pakistan over security concerns, the Sri Lankan selectors provided fringe players with the opportunity to stake their claim for a place in the side ahead of Sri Lanka’s T20 World Cup qualifier later this month.

The team led by Dasun Shanaka stunned top-ranked Pakistan with a 67-run win in the first match in Lahore and followed that up with a 35-run victory in the second match at Gaddafi Stadium on Monday.

Man-of-the-match Bhanuka Rajapaksa smashed a brilliant 48-ball 77, studded with half-a-dozen sixes and four fours, for his side to post 182-6 to clinch the series.

The third and final match takes place at the same venue on Wednesday.

Above is a photo gallery of five players who have stood out for Sri Lanka in this T20 series so far.

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