Lahore (Abdul Basit): Pakistan produced a commanding all-round performance to dismantle Sri Lanka by six wickets and clinch the T20I tri-series title at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday.
Chasing a modest 115, Pakistan crossed the finish line with eight balls to spare, capping off a night defined by disciplined bowling and a calm, measured chase. Sri Lanka, sent into bat, began positively as Pathum Nissanka and Kamil Mishara collected 20 runs inside the first three overs. But the early momentum was short-lived. Shaheen Shah Afridi drew the first breakthrough, rattling Nissanka’s stumps for 11 off seven balls.
Mishara, however, stood firm, combining with skipper Kusal Mendis for a 64-run stand that briefly put Sri Lanka in a position of strength at 84-1. Once Mendis fell to Mohammad Nawaz for a scratchy 14, the innings lost all rhythm. Mishara fought hard for his 59 off 47 balls, striking two fours and four sixes, but his dismissal triggered a collapse of startling speed. From 98-2, Sri Lanka crumbled spectacularly, losing their remaining eight wickets for just 16 runs.
Abrar Ahmed removed Kusal Perera and Pavan Rathnayake in the 15th over, while Nawaz returned to eliminate Janith Liyanage and Wanindu Hasaranga. Shaheen Afridi then delivered another incisive burst, castling skipper Dasun Shanaka and later Maheesh Theekshana. Salman Mirza dismissed Dushmantha Chameera to close the innings at a meagre 114 in 19.1 overs. Pakistan’s bowlers shared the spoils: Shaheen and Nawaz claimed three wickets apiece, Abrar picked two, while Mirza and Saim Ayub chipped in with one each.
Pakistan’s reply began confidently, with Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub stitching together a composed 46-run stand. Farhan’s fluent 23 off 22 balls came to an end when Eshan Malinga found his stumps, but Saim’s crisp strokeplay kept Pakistan ahead of the curve. The left-hander struck six boundaries in a steady 36 off 33 balls before falling lbw to Hasaranga.
Babar Azam then anchored the innings with trademark calmness. He rotated strike efficiently and punished loose deliveries, ensuring Pakistan never drifted away from the target. Though Salman Ali Agha (14) and Fakhar Zaman (3) departed in quick succession, Pakistan remained untroubled. Babar closed out the chase with an unbeaten 37 off 34 balls, assisted by Usman Khan’s steady presence at the other end.
SCORES IN BRIEF: PAKISTAN 118-4 (Babar 37*, Ayub 36, Rathnayake 2-11) beat SRI LANKA 114 (Mishara 59, Nawaz 3-17, Shaheen 3-18, Abrar 2-18) by 6 wickets.
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