Advertisement
Advertisement
RAWALPINDI: Sahibzada Farhan’s whirlwind knock and Mohammad Nawaz’s three-wicket haul powered Pakistan to a resounding win over Sri Lanka in the third fixture of the T20I Tri-Series here at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday.
Set only 129, Pakistan sealed victory on the third ball of the 15th over, losing just three wickets in the process.
Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub were off to a flyer, adding 47 in only five overs. Farhan remained the core aggressor while Saim milked the scoring with singles.
The partnership was broken with Saim’s wicket, who made 20 off 18 with the aid of four boundaries.
Meanwhile, Farhan continued to charge and stitched another 69-run partnership with Babar Azam, who played second fiddle in the stand.
Eventually, Green Shirts reached the target without major hiccups, with Sri Lanka taking two more wickets in the shape of Babar Azam (16) and Salman Ali Agha for a golden duck.
Farhan top-scored with 80 off just 45 deliveries, studded with five sixes and half a dozen fours.
For Sri Lanka, Dushmantha Chameera picked up two wickets.
Earlier, Pakistan left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz bowled a clinical spell, picking up a three-wicket haul to limit Sri Lanka for a modest total.
Sri Lanka could not capitalize on the decision to bat first as they huffed and puffed to 128-7 in their 20 overs, thanks to Janith Liyanage’s valiant 41 from 38 balls.
Kamil Mishara and Pathum Nissanka provided a decent start with a 31-run stand in 3.1 overs. Mishara looked promising before getting caught on 22 from 12 with the help of two sixes and two fours.
Kusal Mendis was run out soon after for just three with the Islanders 38-2 in 5.4 overs. Meanwhile, Nissanka, trying to regain form, played 22 and was caught after scoring 17 from 23 deliveries with the help of only a single boundary.
As a result, the visitors were 60-3 in 8.1 overs before a middle-order collapse saw them reeling 86-6 in 13.3 overs.
Nawaz remained the architect of the collapse, including two in an over which left Sri Lanka searching for answers. However, it was Janith Liyanage’s knock lower down the order that provided his side some respite. He hit three fours and a six in his knock.
For Pakistan, Mohammad Nawaz topped the wickets chart with three wickets in his quota of four overs. Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, and Salman Mirza also chipped in with one wicket apiece.
READ: Taijul Islam breaks Shakib Al Hasan’s record during Ireland Test
