Pakistan produced a commanding all-round performance to defeat Sri Lanka and lift the T20I tri-series trophy at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday. A brilliant bowling display set the stage, followed by composed batting to chase down a modest target of 115 in 18.4 overs, winning by six wickets.
Chasing 115, Pakistan Starts Strong
Openers Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan provided a solid platform, putting on a 46-run partnership. Farhan contributed 23 off 22 balls, including two fours and a six, before Eshan Malinga ended his innings.
Babar Azam then joined Saim Ayub to guide Pakistan past the 50-run mark by the eighth over. Saim fell for 36 off 33 balls, hitting six boundaries, as Wanindu Hasaranga struck to leave Pakistan at 75-2 in 11.3 overs.
Captain Salman Ali Agha and Babar Azam built another vital partnership to stabilize the innings, though Agha was dismissed for 14 by Pavan Rathnayake. Rathnayake removed Fakhar Zaman shortly after for three, leaving Pakistan at 104-4 in 17.1 overs.
Despite the mid-innings hiccup, Babar Azam’s unbeaten 37 off 34 balls, featuring two fours and a six, along with Usman Khan’s three runs, guided Pakistan to a comfortable six-wicket victory in the 19th over.
Pakistan’s Bowling Dominates Sri Lanka
Batting first, Sri Lanka began cautiously, with openers Pathum Nissanka and Kamil Mishara adding 20 runs for the first wicket. Shaheen Shah Afridi struck early, dismissing Nissanka for 11.
Mishara then partnered skipper Kusal Mendis in a 50-run stand for the second wicket. Mendis was dismissed cheaply by Mohammad Nawaz for 14, leaving Sri Lanka at 84-2. Mishara scored a determined 59 off 47 balls, hitting two fours and four sixes, before falling to Abrar Ahmed.
Pakistan’s spinners and pacers then took control. Abrar dismissed Kusal Perera for one and Pavan Rathnayake for eight in the same over, reducing Sri Lanka to 103-4. Nawaz took Janith Liyanage’s wicket for a duck and later removed Wanindu Hasaranga for five.
Shaheen Afridi struck twice in quick succession, dismissing captain Dasun Shanaka for two and Maheesh Theekshana for one, leaving Sri Lanka at 113-9 in 18.5 overs. The innings concluded when Salman Mirza bowled Dushmantha Chameera for a duck, ending Sri Lanka at 114 all out.
Key Performances
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Shaheen Afridi – 3 wickets
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Mohammad Nawaz – 3 wickets
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Abrar Ahmed – 2 wickets
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Salman Mirza & Saim Ayub – 1 wicket each
Pakistan’s disciplined bowling and steady batting ensured a dominant display, giving the home side a well-deserved tri-series triumph.
