Pakistan cruised to a 7-wicket win over Sri Lanka in their second match of the tri-nation series.
Mohammad Nawaz’s brilliant spell, backed by his fellow bowlers, kept Sri Lanka to a modest total. In the chase, Sahibzada Farhan unleashed a flurry of boundaries to guide Pakistan to a dominant second straight victory.
In Saturday’s game of the tri-nation T20 series, Pakistan restricted Sri Lanka to 128 in Rawalpindi and reached the target with 27 balls to spare.
Left-arm spin all-rounder Nawaz claimed the Player of the Match award with a superb 3-for-16. Sahibzada then produced a career-best knock of 80, hitting 5 sixes and 6 fours in his 45-ball innings.
Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bat, but their innings faltered early. They lost two wickets in the powerplay. Faheem Ashraf broke the 31-run opening stand by removing Kamil Mishara in the fourth over, and Kusal Mendis was run out in the sixth.
Despite spending time at the crease, Pathum Nissanka couldn’t build a big innings. Nawaz bowled Kusal Perera after a 19-ball 25 that included 1 six and 2 fours.
Sri Lanka struggled to score freely against Pakistan’s disciplined bowling. Their total crossed 100 largely because of Janith Liyanage, who played an unbeaten 41 off 38 balls with 1 six and 3 fours.
In reply, Saim Ayub signaled intent early with three boundaries in the second over, though he fell for 20 after being stumped off Dasun Shanaka.
Sahibzada gained momentum by striking Wanindu Hasaranga for a four, then hitting a four and a six off Dushmantha Chameera. Pakistan tallied 53 runs in the powerplay.
With aggressive batting, Sahibzada reached his sixth T20I fifty off 33 balls and then hammered two sixes off Hasaranga in the next over.
Babar Azam hit Shanaka for a six but couldn’t finish the job, as Chameera bowled him and trapped Salman Ali Agha lbw on consecutive deliveries.
By then, Pakistan were already within touching distance of victory. Sahibzada, joined by Usman Khan, calmly completed the chase. He sealed the win with a boundary.
Pakistan will face Zimbabwe on Sunday at the same venue, while Sri Lanka take on the same opponent a day later.
Score Summary
- Sri Lanka: 128/7 in 20 overs (Nissanka 17, Mishara 22, Kusal Mendis 3, Perera 25, Liyanage 41*, Shanaka 0, Kamindu Mendis 3, Hasaranga 11, Viyaskanth 0*; Mirza 4-0-26-1, Wasim 4-0-27-0, Ashraf 2-0-15-1, Abrar 4-0-28-1, Nawaz 4-0-16-3, Saim 2-0-15-0)
- Pakistan: 131/3 in 15.3 overs (Sahibzada 80*, Saim 20, Babar 16, Salman 0, Usman 5*; Chameera 3-0-29-2, Malinga 2.3-0-28-0, Hasaranga 4-0-28-0, Shanaka 2-0-14-1, Viyaskanth 4-0-28-0)
Result: Pakistan won by 7 wickets
Man of the Match: Mohammad Nawaz
