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RAWALPINDI: Opening batter Saim Ayub became the ninth Pakistan player to score 1000 runs in T20Is during the T20I tri-series clash against Sri Lanka here at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday.
Saim came to the crease with 983 runs to his name in 50 innings and achieved the feat during the fifth over of Pakistan’s innings with a drive against Sri Lanka skipper Dasun Shanaka.
With this, he joined the likes of Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, and Shahid Afridi, hence becoming the ninth Pakistan batter to score 1000 runs in T20Is.
The 23-year-old, however, was stumped in Shanaka’s over after scoring 20 off 18 with the help of four boundaries.
Nonetheless, Pakistan eased past Sri Lanka by seven wickets, courtesy of a complete all-round performance with the bat and ball.
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.
The fourth match of the T20I tri-series will be played tomorrow at the same venue between Pakistan and Zimbabwe.
READ: Agha hails Pakistan’s ‘complete performance’ after Sri Lanka win
