In a rain-affected contest, Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan to finish their T20I series level.
The match, delayed by rain, was reduced to 12 overs. Captain Dasun Shanaka’s explosive late batting helped Sri Lanka surpass the 150-run mark, while Wanindu Hasaranga picked up wickets in two separate overs. Sri Lanka’s win secured a tied series with Pakistan.
In the final match of the three-match T20I series, Sri Lanka won by 14 runs. Pakistan had won the first match, while the second was washed out due to rain.
In Dambulla on Sunday, Sri Lanka scored 160 in 12 overs. Pakistan could manage only 146 in reply.
For the first time in over 13 years, Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan at home in a T20I. Their last home win against Pakistan in this format came in October 2012 in Colombo, winning by 16 runs. Between then and now, Pakistan had won all three T20Is played in Sri Lanka.
Coming in at number six, Shanaka struck five sixes off just nine balls for 34 runs. Leg-spinning allrounder Hasaranga was named Man of the Match for his four-wicket haul, finishing with 4/35 in his overs.
After losing the toss and opting to bat, Sri Lanka lost Pathum Nissanka in the first over. Fellow opener Kamil Mishara contributed 20 off eight balls, including three fours and a six, before falling in the next over.
Dhananjaya de Silva scored 22 off 15 balls with four boundaries, while Kusal Mendis added 30 from 16 balls with two fours and two sixes. Former captain Charith Asalanka made 21 off 13 deliveries.
Shanaka then formed a blazing 52-run partnership with Janith Liyanage off just 15 balls, taking Sri Lanka past the 150-run mark. In the final over, Shanaka smashed three sixes in three balls off Mohammad Wasim, while Liyanage remained unbeaten on 22, hitting a four and a six. In total, Sri Lanka scored 98 runs in the last six overs, including 24 in the final over.
Chasing 161, Pakistan lost Sahibzada Farhan early. Salman Ali Agha steadied the innings with a 51-run partnership off 14 balls with Saim Ayub. Salman, the Pakistan captain, scored 45 off 12 balls with five fours and three sixes. Hasaranga removed Saim and Usman Khan in quick succession, reducing Pakistan from 60/1 to 67/4.
Mohammad Nawaz and debutant Khawaja Nafe then rebuilt the innings with a 49-run stand in 26 balls. Needing 45 from the final 18 balls, Hasaranga struck again, removing Nafe (26 off 15) and Shadab Khan. Matheesha Pathirana then bowled Nawaz (28 off 15).
In the final over, with 20 needed, Fahim Ashraf was run out on the first ball. Despite four wides, Ishan Malinga conceded only five runs, sealing a 14-run win for Sri Lanka.
Brief Scores
- Sri Lanka: 12 overs – 160/6 (Nissanka 0, Mishara 20, Mendis 30, Dhananjaya 22, Asalanka 21, Shanaka 34, Liyanage 22*, Hasaranga 1*; Naseem 3-0-35-1, Wasim 3-0-54-3, Abrar 2-0-22-0, Shadab 2-0-19-0, Nawaz 1-0-8-1, Fahim 1-0-19-1)
- Pakistan: 12 overs – 146/8 (Sahibzada 9, Saim 6, Salman 45, Usman 1, Nawaz 28, Nafe 26, Shadab 6, Fahim 9, Wasim 7*, Naseem 1*; Thikshana 2-0-27-0, Malinga 2-0-27-1, Pathirana 3-0-34-2, Hasaranga 3-0-35-4, Dhananjaya 2-0-22-0)
Result: Sri Lanka won by 14 runs
Series: Three-match series ends 1-1
Man of the Match: Wanindu Hasaranga
Man of the Series: Wanindu Hasaranga
