LONDON (AP)

Pakistan won the Twenty20 World Cup with an eight-wicket victory over Sri Lanka at Lord's yesterday.

Man-of-the-match Shahid Afridi made an unbeaten 54 as Pakistan made 139-2 to overhaul Sri Lanka's total. Kamran Akmal added 37 as he put on 48 for the first wicket with Shahzaib Hasan.

Sri Lanka's failure to take early wickets proved crucial as Afridi and Shoaib Malik (24) clinched victory with eight balls to spare.

Earlier, Sri Lanka, led by captain Kumar Sangakkara, had recovered to reach 138-6 after Abdul Razzaq had ripped through the top order to take 3-20.

Sangakkara anchored the innings, top-scoring with an unbeaten 64, as a succession of batting partners came and went until Angelo Mathews (35 not out) arrived at the crease and helped steer the pre-match favourites to a defendable, but ultimately inadequate total.

Sri Lanka had to wait until the eighth over to take its first wicket when Sangakkara stumped Akmal off Sanath Jayasuriya's first ball. Hasan was then caught by Jayasuriya off Muttiah Muralitharan at the start of the 10th, leaving Pakistan on 63-2 at the halfway point of the innings.

comfortable victory

But that was the last wicket to fall and Pakistan ultimately cruised to a comfortable victory.

The run rate hovered around eight an over until Afridi smashed a six off Muralitharan at the start of the 14th over, then a four off the next ball.

Udana's 18th over effectively sealed Sri Lanka's fate when he conceded 19 runs, Afridi hitting a six from the fifth ball then a four from Udana's next delivery, a no ball.

That left Pakistan needing just seven runs from the last two overs and they clinched victory with eight balls to spare when Afridi scrambled a leg bye off Lasith Malinga.