RAWALPINDI (GNP): Pakistan won the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka 2-1, even though they lost the third and final match by eight wickets at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday evening. Pakistan had already secured the series by winning the first two matches at the same venue, by four wickets on 9 October and by 82 runs on 11 October, so Sri Lanka’s victory in the finale was a consolation.
Asked to bat first, Pakistan made 168-8 in 20 overs, built around captain Sahibzada Farhan’s commanding 76 and an unbeaten 34 from Arafat Minhas.
Farhan faced 47 balls and hit seven fours and three sixes. He held the innings together as wickets fell steadily at the other end. Pakistan lost Fakhar Zaman (12 off 7, one four, one six) and Maaz Sadaqat (0 off 3) in the fourth over, slipping to 34-2. Hasan Nawaz (16 off 17, two fours) then added 33 with Farhan for the third wicket before falling in the ninth over.
Khawaja Nafay (3 off 5), Mohammad Imran (6 off 10) and Abdul Samad (15 off 10, two fours, one six) followed, leaving Pakistan on 102-6 after 13.4 overs. Farhan and Arafat then put on 66, which lifted the hosts to a competitive total. Arafat remained unbeaten, hitting two fours and two sixes in his 20-ball innings, while Farhan was dismissed off the penultimate delivery.
It was Farhan’s third successive half-century of the series, and his first time captaining the side at home. Dasun Shanaka took 3-21 for Sri Lanka, with Nuwan Thushara and Eshan Malinga taking two wickets each.
Defending 169, Pakistan made an early breakthrough when Mohammad Imran trapped Lahiru Udara lbw for one in the second over. Sri Lanka recovered through a 59-run second-wicket stand between Sineth Jayawardena and captain Kusal Mendis. Arafat Minhas ended it by removing Jayawardena for 38 off 26 balls, which included five fours and two sixes.
Kusal Mendis then added an unbroken 98 for the third wicket with Kamindu Mendis, and the pair took the visitors home in 17.1 overs. Kusal top-scored with an unbeaten 87 off 48 balls, with nine fours and four sixes, while Kamindu made 40 not out off 27.
Pakistan, Sri Lanka and England will now play an ODI tri-series starting on Sunday, 18 October in Rawalpindi. The final will be played at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on 31 October.
Also read: Pakistan Chase Sri Lanka Whitewash in Final T20I Showdown
Sri Lanka won by eight wickets.
- Pakistan 168-8 in 20 overs: Sahibzada Farhan 76, Arafat Minhas 34 not out; Dasun Shanaka 3-21, Nuwan Thushara 2-38, Eshan Malinga 2-38
- Sri Lanka 172-2 in 17.1 overs: Kusal Mendis 87 not out, Kamindu Mendis 40 not out, Sineth Jayawardena 38; Mohammad Imran 1-31, Arafat Minhas 1-26
- Player of the match: Kusal Mendis (Sri Lanka)
- Player of the series: Sahibzada Farhan (Pakistan)
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
