Pakistan extended their lead in the T20I series against Sri Lanka to 2-0 with an emphatic 82-run victory in Rawalpindi. Captain Sahibzada Farhan and young batting talent Maaz Sadaqat were the architects of the win, repeating their strong performances from the series opener to set up an imposing total of 215/3. The timing didn’t immediately come for Sadaqat.
Opting to chase in an attempt to level the series, Sri Lanka made three changes to their side, notably resting frontline seamer Dushmantha Chameera. However, their efforts were undermined by erratic bowling, missed opportunities in the field, and a disjointed batting performance. Although Sri Lanka secured an early break after Farhan was dropped at short third-man, they could not contain the pair for long. Erratic bowling and an inconsistent batting approach meant they were never really in the game, but sloppy catching. Not letting any of their frontline bowlers settle on a length, the duo kept taking their chances.
On a pitch featuring variable bounce, Pakistan accelerated quickly to reach 24/0 in three overs. After Fakhar Zaman fell to Maheesh Theekshana, Farhan took charge, striking consecutive 90-metre sixes against the off-spinner. Farhan reached his half-century in 31 balls, while Sadaqat built his momentum to eventually hammer Eshan Malinga for a massive six over deep point. Despite dropping three catches, Sri Lanka struggled to stem the flow of runs. By the time the skipper reached his fifty off 31 balls, Sadaqat had found his tempo, hitting Malinga for a sensational six over deep point.
Sadaqat, 21, dominated the later stages, particularly in the 16th over where he muscled three sixes off Theekshana. The bowler finished with the most expensive figures of his T20I career as a result. Sadaqat narrowly missed a century, falling to Malinga for 96 off 51 balls, while Farhan contributed a robust 73. Together, the duo hit 12 sixes, providing a stark contrast to the tourists, who managed only three in their entire innings. The 21-year-old then went after Theekshana’s assortment of slot balls. Racing from 51 off 30 to 76 off 40, sadaqat kept the charge on.
In response, Sri Lanka’s pursuit faltered early. Salman Mirza dismissed Lahiru Udara, the top scorer from the first game, with a sharp bouncer. While Sineth Jayawardena briefly showed promise, his dismissal at the end of the Powerplay left the visitors at 35/2. Mohammad Imran subsequently dismantled the middle order, finishing with 3 for 11 from four overs by utilizing tight lines and pace variations.
A late 50-run partnership between Chamindu Wickramasinghe, who scored 29, and Theekshana, who added 32, was not enough to challenge the target. Sri Lanka concluded their 20 overs at 133/7. Brief scores: Pakistan 215/3 in 20 overs (Maaz Sadaqat 96, Sahibzada Farhan 73; Dasun Shanaka 1-30, Eshan Malinga 1-41) defeated Sri Lanka 133/7 in 20 overs (Maheesh Theekshana 32, Chamindu Wickramasinghe 29; Mohammad Imran 3-11, Salman Mirza 2-28) by 82 runs.
