DAMBULLA, Sri Lanka: Wanindu Hasaranga’s match-winning spell and a late hitting blitz by captain Dasun Shanaka helped Sri Lanka defeat Pakistan by 14 runs in the rain-reduced third and final T20 International on Sunday, levelling the three-match series 1-1 at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium.
The match was reduced to 12 overs per side after rain delayed the start by nearly two hours. Sri Lanka posted a strong 160 for six before restricting Pakistan to 146 for eight.
🇵🇰 Pakistan fight till the end! 👏🏻
Sri Lanka level the 3-match T20I series with a win 1️⃣-1️⃣ 🏏#SLvPAK | #BackTheBoysInGreen pic.twitter.com/f40i3SLOPa
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) January 11, 2026
Chasing 161, Pakistan lost opener Sahibzada Farhan early for nine off seven balls, dismissed by Eshan Malinga.
Skipper Salman Ali Agha and Saim Ayub counter-attacked aggressively, racing past the 50-run mark in the fourth over.
However, Matheesha Pathirana broke the 51-run stand by dismissing Agha for a rapid 45 off just 12 balls, including five fours and three sixes. Pakistan were 60 for two in 3.4 overs.
The momentum swung decisively in Sri Lanka’s favour when Hasaranga struck twice in his first over, removing Saim Ayub for six and Usman Khan for one. Pakistan slipped to 67 for four.
Khawaja Nafay and Mohammad Nawaz added 49 runs to stabilise the innings and take Pakistan past 100.
Hasaranga returned to dismiss Nafay for 26 and then Shadab Khan for six, tightening the grip.
Pathirana later bowled Nawaz for 28. With 20 needed in the final over and two wickets in hand, Pakistan could manage only five runs.
Faheem Ashraf was run out, and Pakistan finished on 146 for eight.
Hasaranga finished with four wickets for 35 runs, while Pathirana took two wickets and Malinga claimed one.
Shanaka’s late assault lifts Sri Lanka
Earlier, Sri Lanka lost opener Pathum Nissanka for a duck in the first over to Naseem Shah.
Kamil Mishara struck a brisk 20 off eight balls before falling to Mohammad Wasim Jr, leaving the hosts 22 for two.
Kusal Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva steadied the innings with a 32-run partnership.
De Silva was dismissed for 22 by Mohammad Nawaz, while Mendis continued to anchor the innings.
Mendis added 46 runs with Charith Asalanka, taking Sri Lanka past 100. He was dismissed for 30 off 16 balls by Wasim Jr, and Asalanka fell soon after for 21.
Captain Shanaka then provided the decisive push. He smashed five sixes in a blistering 34 off nine balls in a 52-run partnership with Janith Liyanage.
Liyanage remained unbeaten on 22 off eight balls as Sri Lanka finished on 160 for six.
Pakistan bowlers struggle at the death
For Pakistan, Wasim Jr was the most successful bowler with three wickets but conceded 54 runs.
Naseem Shah, Mohammad Nawaz and Faheem Ashraf picked up one wicket each.
Pakistan made two changes for the final match, resting Fakhar Zaman and Salman Mirza, while Khawaja Nafay and Naseem Shah were included in the playing XI.
The result left the series tied 1-1 after Pakistan won the opening match and the second game was abandoned due to rain.
