KEY POINTS
- Pakistan chased 129 to beat Sri Lanka by seven wickets with 27 balls to spare.
- Sahibzada Farhan starred with 80* off 45 balls, hitting six fours and five sixes.
- Mohammad Nawaz led Pakistan’s bowling with 3/16, restricting Sri Lanka to 128/7.
- Saim Ayub reached 1,000 T20I runs, becoming the ninth Pakistani to achieve the milestone.
RAWALPINDI, Pakistan: Pakistan secured a commanding seven-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the third match of the T20I Tri-Series at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, chasing down 129 with 27 balls to spare.
Sahibzada Farhan was the hero with a brilliant 80* off 45 balls, smashing six fours and five sixes, guiding Pakistan home with authority.
His aggressive innings set the tone as Pakistan reached 131/3 in just 15.3 overs. Saim Ayub also contributed a quick 20, while Babar Azam added 16 before being dismissed.
Earlier, Sri Lanka posted a modest 128/7 in their 20 overs after opting to bat first. Janith Liyanage top-scored with 41* as Pakistan’s bowlers shared the spoils.
Spin maestro Mohammad Nawaz was the standout with 3/16, while Salman Mirza and Abrar Ahmed picked one wicket each, keeping the scoring in check and building pressure throughout the innings.
Pakistan’s bowlers struck early, reducing Sri Lanka to 78/5 inside 12 overs, but the visitors managed to post a total that looked challenging at first glance.
However, Farhan’s fearless batting dismantled the Sri Lankan attack, ensuring Pakistan maintained their winning momentum in the tri-series.
Meanwhile, dynamic left-handed opener Saim Ayub reached a major milestone in the match, completing 1,000 runs in men’s T20Is.
The 23-year-old, who came into the match with 983 runs from 50 innings, brought up his landmark with a single off Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka in the fifth over.
Ayub became only the ninth Pakistani batter to achieve 1,000 T20I runs, joining elite names like Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, and Shahid Afridi.
The host Pakistan is set to take on Zimbabwe in their next match of the series tomorrow.
Match Summary:
Sri Lanka: 128/7 in 20 overs
Pakistan: 131/3 in 15.3 overs (Sahibzada Farhan 80*, Saim Ayub 20)
Result: Pakistan won by 7 wickets with 27 balls remaining
