Sri Lanka deny Pakistan T20I whitewash

Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan by eight wickets in the third and final T20 International on Tuesday to avoid a series whitewash. Despite the defeat, Pakistan secured the three-match series 2-1 after winning the first two encounters.

Captain Kusal Mendis delivered a commanding performance, scoring an unbeaten 87 off 48 balls to guide Sri Lanka to their target of 169 in just 17.1 overs. The visitors finished at 171-2, completing a comfortable victory after suffering two consecutive defeats.

Mendis struck nine fours and four sixes during his impressive innings. He anchored the chase after Sri Lanka lost opener Lahiru Udara for just one run. The captain reached his half-century off 33 deliveries and maintained the momentum throughout the innings.

He shared a 59-run partnership with Sineth Jayawardena, who contributed 38 off 26 balls, including five fours and two sixes. Jayawardena’s dismissal brought Kamindu Mendis to the crease, and he remained unbeaten on 40 off 27 deliveries. Kamindu struck four boundaries as he and Kusal added an unbroken 98-run partnership to seal the victory.

Mohammad Imran and Arafat Minhas claimed one wicket each for Pakistan, but the bowlers struggled to contain the Sri Lankan batters.

Earlier, Pakistan posted 168-8 in their allotted 20 overs after being asked to bat first. Sahibzada Farhan top-scored with a determined 76 off 47 balls, holding the innings together as wickets continued to fall at the other end.

Farhan struck seven fours and three sixes, bringing up his 13th T20I half-century in 34 deliveries. He received valuable support from Arafat Minhas, who remained unbeaten on 34 off just 20 balls, hitting two fours and two sixes.

The pair added 66 runs off 37 deliveries for the seventh wicket, helping Pakistan recover from a difficult position and reach a competitive total.

Sri Lanka’s bowlers made regular breakthroughs to prevent Pakistan from building substantial partnerships. Dasun Shanaka was the leading wicket-taker with three wickets for 31 runs in four overs. Eshan Malinga and Nuwan Thushara claimed two wickets each, conceding 38 runs apiece.

Pakistan began positively through Farhan and Fakhar Zaman, who helped the hosts score 34 runs in the opening 19 balls. However, Malinga changed the course of the innings by dismissing Fakhar for 12 and Maaz Sadaqat for a duck in the same over. Maaz had scored half-centuries in Pakistan’s previous two matches.

Leg-spinner Vijayakanth Viyaskanth removed Hasan Nawaz for 16, leaving Pakistan struggling at 67-3 in the ninth over. Shanaka then dismissed Khawaja Nafay for three before removing Mohammad Imran Randhawa and Abdul Samad in quick succession. Pakistan slipped to 107-6 in the 15th over before Farhan and Arafat launched their recovery.

Pakistan made four changes to their playing XI for the final match, bringing in Sufiyan Moqim, Abdul Samad, Razaullah and Arafat Minhas. Shadab Khan, Saim Ayub, Naseem Shah and Abrar Ahmed were rested.

Pakistan had won the opening match by four wickets after successfully chasing a target of 183 runs. They then secured the series with an emphatic 82-run victory in the second encounter.

The national side will next turn its attention to the ODI tri-series beginning on October 18. England and Sri Lanka are also part of the competition, which will provide Pakistan with an opportunity to strengthen their preparations for next year’s World Cup, scheduled to be hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.