Pakistan seal series with emphatic 82-run thrashing of Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi
Pakistan sealed the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka with a commanding 82-run victory in the second match at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday night. What began as a must-win contest for the visitors quickly turned into a one-sided affair as the hosts piled up 215 for 3 and then dismantled the Sri Lankan chase with disciplined bowling. By the time the final over was completed, the series stood at 2-0 with one game still to play, and Pakistan captain Sahibzada Farhan had claimed his first series win in the role.
The evening in Rawalpindi carried the usual electricity of a packed night game under lights. Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis won the toss and chose to bowl, hoping the early conditions might offer some assistance and that his bowlers could keep Pakistan under 180. That plan never materialised. Pakistan made one change, bringing in left-arm seamer Salman Mirza for Razaullah, while Sri Lanka shuffled their side with three alterations. The decision to field first soon looked costly.
Pakistan’s innings opened with Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman. The pair put on 55 in just under seven overs before Fakhar was caught by Kamindu Mendis off Maheesh Theekshana for 22 off 17 balls. The dismissal brought Maaz Sadaqat to the crease, and what followed was the defining partnership of the match. Farhan and Sadaqat added 88 runs in 49 balls. Farhan, already looking in fine rhythm, was dropped early in his innings, once on 2 and again on 11. He made the visitors pay, striking four fours and five sixes in a fluent 73 off 44 deliveries. His innings mixed crisp drives with powerful pulls and the occasional lofted shot over midwicket that cleared the boundary with ease.
When Farhan finally fell, caught by Theekshana off Dasun Shanaka in the 15th over with the score on 143 for 2, Pakistan still had five overs remaining and a platform that invited acceleration. Sadaqat took full advantage. The left-hander had already shown his intent, but after being dropped on 44 he moved into another gear. Hasan Nawaz joined him and the pair produced a breathless 72-run stand in only 31 balls. Sadaqat finished with 96 off 51 deliveries, including six fours and seven sixes, at a strike rate of 188. He fell on the final ball of the innings, attempting to reach a maiden T20I century, caught by Shanaka at deep cover off Eshan Malinga. Nawaz remained unbeaten on 19 off nine balls. Pakistan had posted 215 for 3, their highest total in a home T20I, surpassing the previous mark of 208 against West Indies in Karachi years earlier. In the last 12 overs alone they scored 156 runs.
The total looked daunting on a surface that rewarded clean striking, and Sri Lanka’s chase never found any rhythm. Salman Mirza struck in the very first over, having Lahiru Udara caught behind by Khawaja Nafay for 5. Sineth Jayawardena and Kusal Mendis tried to rebuild, but Mohammad Imran soon entered the attack and changed the complexion of the innings. Imran’s four-over spell of 3 for 11 was the standout bowling performance of the night. He removed Jayawardena for 22, caught by Fakhar Zaman, then dismissed Mendis for 9, again caught behind, and followed up by trapping Sahan Arachchige for a first-ball duck. At 49 for 4 inside eight overs, Sri Lanka were already staring at a steep climb.
Kamindu Mendis and Dasun Shanaka offered brief resistance, but Shadab Khan and Saim Ayub kept the pressure on. Kamindu fell for 23, caught by Nawaz off Shadab, and Shanaka was caught by Abrar Ahmed off Ayub for 9. By the 12th over Sri Lanka were 74 for 6. Chamindu Wickramasinghe and Maheesh Theekshana then put on a useful 50-run stand for the seventh wicket. Wickramasinghe made 29 off 24 before Mirza returned to have him caught by Farhan. Theekshana remained unbeaten on 32 off 26 balls with four boundaries, but the required rate had long since become impossible. Sri Lanka closed on 133 for 7, falling 82 runs short.
The margin of victory was Pakistan’s biggest in T20Is against Sri Lanka. It also marked a significant personal milestone for Farhan. In the post-match presentation the young captain spoke of the team’s improved intent with the bat and their ability to clear the boundary more consistently. He praised Sadaqat’s fearless approach and Imran’s control with the ball. Kusal Mendis was more subdued, acknowledging that his batters needed to take greater responsibility and that the fielding lapses, particularly the three dropped catches in the first innings, had proved costly on a surface that rewarded positive stroke play.
For Pakistan the win was the culmination of a strong collective performance. The top order set the tone, the middle order finished with aggression, and the bowling unit, led by Imran’s miserly spell, never allowed Sri Lanka a period of free scoring. Naseem Shah bowled a tidy four overs for 28 without a wicket, while Abrar Ahmed, Ayub and Shadab shared the spin duties effectively. The home crowd of more than 17,000 left the stadium satisfied, waving flags and celebrating a series already secured with a match still remaining.
Looking ahead, the third and final T20I is scheduled for Tuesday at the same venue. Pakistan will have the chance to complete a clean sweep, while Sri Lanka will look to salvage some pride and show the kind of batting application that was missing in Rawalpindi. For now, though, the story belongs to Maaz Sadaqat’s near-century, Sahibzada Farhan’s captain’s knock, and Mohammad Imran’s clinical bowling. On a cool October night in Rawalpindi, Pakistan produced a complete performance that left little doubt about which side currently holds the upper hand in this bilateral contest.
The match also highlighted the growing depth in Pakistan’s white-ball setup. Several players who have come through the domestic system and the Pakistan Super League are now translating that form onto the international stage. Sadaqat’s ability to clear the ropes consistently, Farhan’s calm leadership, and the emergence of bowlers like Imran and Mirza suggest a side that is beginning to find the right balance between aggression and control. For Sri Lanka the tour continues to pose questions about their middle-order consistency and their ability to contain high totals when the opposition finds rhythm early.
As the players left the field, handshakes were exchanged and the usual post-match rituals followed. Farhan’s smile as he lifted the series trophy in all but name told its own story. For a captain still relatively new to the role, the first series victory carries lasting value. For Sadaqat, the 96 will serve as both a landmark and a near-miss that will drive him further. And for the fans who filled the stands in Rawalpindi, the night offered the kind of dominant home performance they had come to see. Pakistan had set a big total, defended it with authority, and sealed the series. In T20 cricket, few results are more emphatic than an 82-run win.
