Pakistan registered their second successive triumph in the Tri-nation T20I series as Sahibzada Farhan produced a commanding unbeaten 80 off 45 balls – his highest score in T20Is – to script a seven-wicket win over Sri Lanka at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday night. The hosts chased down the 129-run target in 15.3 overs.
Pakistan will next face Zimbabwe on Sunday, 23 November, at the same venue. The toss is scheduled for 5.30pm PKT.
In pursuit of 129, openers Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub gave Pakistan an explosive start, adding 47 runs in five overs. Saim scored 20 off 18 balls with four boundaries and also became the ninth Pakistan batter to cross the 1,000 T20I runs milestone.
Sahibzada continued to dominate the innings, stitching a 69-run second-wicket partnership with Babar Azam, who contributed 16 off 22 balls including a six. Farhan brought up his sixth T20I half-century off 33 balls and contributed 53 runs to the stand.
Dushmantha Chameera removed Babar and Shadab Khan off successive deliveries, but Sahibzada remained unfazed, guiding Pakistan home and sealing the chase with a boundary. His innings included six fours and five sixes, and he became the first Pakistani batter to hit 100 or more sixes in T20s in a calendar year.
Earlier, Sri Lanka made a brisk start with Kamil Mishara striking two fours and two sixes before falling in the fourth over. A sharp throw from Mohammad Wasim Jnr soon accounted for Kusal Mendis, restricting Sri Lanka’s early momentum.
At 65-3 at the halfway mark, Sri Lanka collapsed further to 78-5. Mohammad Nawaz proved decisive, removing Kusal Perera (25) and Dasun Shanaka off consecutive deliveries and later dismissing Kamindu Mendis, returning figures of 3-16 in four overs.
Janith Liyanage held the innings together with an unbeaten 41 off 38 balls, adding 35 runs for the seventh wicket with Wanindu Hasaranga as Sri Lanka reached 128-7.
For Pakistan, Nawaz claimed three wickets, while Faheem Ashraf, Salman Mirza and Abrar Ahmed picked up one each.
Scores in Brief
3rd T20I – Tri-nation series
Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by seven wickets
Venue: Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium
Sri Lanka 128-7, 20 overs
(Janith Liyanage 41*, Kusal Perera 25, Kamil Mishara 22; Mohammad Nawaz 3-16)
Pakistan 131-3, 15.3 overs
(Sahibzada Farhan 80*, Saim Ayub 20; Dushmantha Chameera 2-29)
Player of the match – Sahibzada Farhan
Series Schedule
All matches at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium (6pm PKT start)
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18 November – Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by five wickets
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20 November – Zimbabwe beat Sri Lanka by 67 runs
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22 November – Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by seven wickets
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23 November – Pakistan v Zimbabwe
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25 November – Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe
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27 November – Pakistan v Sri Lanka
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29 November – Final
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