RAWALPINDI: Captain Kusal Mendis smashed an unbeaten 87 off 48 balls to lead Sri Lanka to a commanding eight-wicket victory over Pakistan in the third and final T20 International at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, although the hosts secured the three-match series 2-1.
🚨 SRILANKA WIN BY 8 WICKETS 🤯
– Captain Kusal Mendis finishes in style. Srilankan seal the 3rd T20i victory.
Pakistan win the t20i series by 2-1 🇵🇰
Well played Kusal Mendis ❤️ https://t.co/734YxdmJ2h
— M Farhan (@MFarhan1200) October 13, 2026
Chasing a target of 169, Sri Lanka reached 172-2 in just 17.1 overs, with Kusal and Kamindu Mendis combining for an unbeaten 92-run partnership to seal the win with 17 balls to spare.
Kusal anchored the successful chase with an explosive knock featuring nine fours and four sixes, while Kamindu remained unbeaten on 40 off 27 deliveries, including four boundaries.
Sri Lanka initially stumbled when Mohammad Imran Randhawa dismissed Lahiru Udara for one in the second over. However, Kusal joined opener Sineth Jayawardena, and the pair added 59 runs for the second wicket to put the visitors back on track.
Jayawardena contributed a brisk 38 off 26 balls, striking five fours and two sixes, before Arafat Minhas broke the partnership in the eighth over.
Kusal and Kamindu then took control, maintaining the scoring rate and guiding Sri Lanka comfortably to victory. Imran and Minhas claimed one wicket each for Pakistan.
Sri Lanka clinch the final T20I by eight wickets, as Pakistan take the series 2-1 🏏
#PAKvSL | #BackTheBoysInGreen | #CricketKaJashan https://t.co/bOQdID4nam
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) October 13, 2026
Farhan, Minhas lift Pakistan to 168-8
Earlier, Pakistan posted 168-8 in their allotted 20 overs after captain Sahibzada Farhan and Arafat Minhas rescued the innings with an important late partnership.
Pakistan made an aggressive start through openers Fakhar Zaman and Farhan, who added 34 runs in the first three overs. Sri Lanka pacer Eshan Malinga then struck twice in the fourth over, dismissing Fakhar for 12 and Maaz Sadaqat for a duck.
Farhan and Hasan Nawaz attempted to rebuild the innings, adding 33 runs before Nawaz fell for 16 off 17 balls to Vijayakanth Viyaskanth in the ninth over.
Read Also: Farhan-Minhas Help Pakistan Score 168 in Third T20I Against Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka subsequently triggered a middle-order collapse, dismissing Khawaja Nafay for three, Mohammad Imran for six and Abdul Samad for 15. Pakistan slipped to 102-6, leaving the lower order with the task of rebuilding the innings.
Farhan and Minhas responded with a 66-run partnership that lifted Pakistan towards a competitive total. Farhan eventually fell to Nuwan Thushara on the penultimate delivery of the innings after scoring 76 off 47 balls, with seven fours and three sixes.
Minhas remained unbeaten on 34 off 20 deliveries, hitting two fours and two sixes. Thushara dismissed Razaullah for a duck on the final ball to finish Pakistan’s innings at 168-8.
Sri Lanka secure a consolation win against Pakistan in the third T20I in Rawalpindi 🙌
📝: https://t.co/6G9e7at0kF https://t.co/xwIyaRCIcp
— ICC (@ICC) October 13, 2026
Shanaka was Sri Lanka’s leading bowler, taking three wickets for 21 runs in four overs. Malinga and Thushara claimed two wickets each, while Viyaskanth took one.
Despite Sri Lanka’s emphatic victory in the final match, Pakistan won the series 2-1.
