KEY POINTS
- Pakistan chased 114 comfortably, with Babar Azam anchoring the innings unbeaten on 37 off 34.
- Pakistan bowlers Shaheen, Nawaz, and Abrar dismantled Sri Lanka’s batting lineup.
- Openers Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan set the tone with a steady 46-run stand.
- Clinical bowling restricted Sri Lanka to 114 all out, paving the way for Pakistan’s title-clinching win.
RAWALPINDI, Pakistan: Pakistan lifted the tri-nation series trophy on Saturday after defeating Sri Lanka by six wickets with eight balls to spare, capping off a controlled run chase set up by a brilliant collective effort from their bowlers on Saturday at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Chasing 114, Pakistan stayed calm throughout the innings despite a few hiccups, with Babar Azam finishing unbeaten on 37 off 34 balls, an innings perfectly tailored to the situation.
His composed knock, featuring two fours and a six, ensured Pakistan crossed the finish line without drama.
The winning moment came in the 18.4th over, when Dushmantha Chameera pitched one up and Babar drove it elegantly down the ground for four, sealing both the victory and the trophy for Pakistan.
Earlier, the platform was built by openers Sahibzada Farhan (23 off 22) and Saim Ayub (36 off 33), who added 46 runs for the first wicket.
After their departures, Pakistan briefly wobbled at 98-3, but Babar held the innings together while Agha Salman (14) and later wicketkeeper Usman Khan (3)* provided support.
However, the match was truly shaped in the first half. Pakistan’s bowlers, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, operated with precision, stifling Sri Lanka’s scoring and triggering pressure that resulted in wickets at key moments.
Their disciplined spells restricted Sri Lanka to a below-par total that Pakistan chased efficiently.
Earlier, 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.
With this six-wicket win, Pakistan not only sealed the match but also claimed the tri-series title, showcasing a balanced performance built on spin excellence.
