KEY POINTS
- Kamil Mishara top-scored with 59 off 47 balls.
- Shaheen Afridi and Mohammad Nawaz picked three wickets each.
RAWALPINDI, Pakistan: Pakistan’s bowlers produced a disciplined performance to bundle Sri Lanka out for 114 runs in the final of the T20I tri-series at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday.
Batting first, Sri Lanka got off to a cautious start as openers Pathum Nissanka and Kamil Mishara added 20 runs for the first wicket. Shaheen Afridi struck early, removing Nissanka for 11 off seven balls, which included a four and a six, breaking the opening partnership.
Mishara then joined captain Kusal Mendis to steady the innings with a 50-run stand for the second wicket. However, Mendis fell cheaply for 14 off 18 balls, caught by Mohammad Nawaz, leaving Sri Lanka at 84-2 in 10.3 overs.
Playing a determined knock, Mishara scored his third T20I fifty, finishing unbeaten on 59 off 47 balls, hitting two fours and four sixes.
Yet Sri Lanka’s innings quickly unraveled as Abrar Ahmed dismissed Kusal Perera for one and Pavan Rathnayake for eight in the same over, reducing the score to 103-4 in 14.4 overs.
Mohammad Nawaz returned to remove Janith Liyanage for a duck and Wanindu Hasaranga for five. Afridi then struck twice in quick succession, dismissing captain Dasun Shanaka for two and Maheesh Theekshana for one, leaving Sri Lanka reeling at 113-9 in 18.5 overs.
The final wicket fell in the last over when Salman Mirza trapped Dushmantha Chameera for a duck, ending the innings at 114 all out.
For Pakistan, Shaheen Afridi and Mohammad Nawaz led the attack with three wickets each, while Abrar Ahmed took two wickets, and Salman Mirza and Saim Ayub claimed one apiece.
The disciplined bowling effort puts Pakistan in a strong position for the tri-series final.
