Runs were proving tricky to come by with more fielders scattered, until two fours in three balls to end the ninth over gave Sri Lanka momentum. Kusal Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva built pressure, pushing them to 74/2 at the midpoint of the innings and laying a strong platform.
Mendis finally went for 46 off 29, ending a 45-run partnership, but the stroke-making continued for Sri Lanka, as three de Silva boundaries brought up three figures for the Lions in the 13th over. Charith Asalanka joined the party at the change of ends, hitting a four and a six to keep things moving swiftly.