SL vs PAK (Final Match) – Highlights
Pakistan capped off their Pakistan T20I Tri-Series campaign in style, clinching the title with a composed six-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the final at Rawalpindi. It was a night where bowlers dictated terms, batters needed patience, and Pakistan’s temperament shone brightest in a low-scoring contest. Sri Lanka, after opting to bat first, never quite recovered from early jolts and could only muster 114, a total that felt 25 to 30 runs short on a surface offering seam and grip. PAK, despite a few hiccups, chased the target with eight balls to spare, thanks to Babar Azam’s reassuring presence through the middle overs.
SL’s innings belonged almost entirely to Kamil Mishara, who fought a lone battle with 59 off 47. His stroke selection was controlled, and he carried the innings through the middle overs even as partners kept falling around him. Pathum Nissanka briefly threatened with a brisk 11, but Shaheen Shah Afridi’s ability to swing the new ball ended that early. Once Mishara lost Mendis and Rathnayake in quick succession, Sri Lanka’s collapse accelerated. Abrar Ahmed’s guile through the middle overs trapped Pavan Rathnayake and Kusal Perera, while Nawaz’s tight spells accounted for three wickets, including the key scalps of Mendis and Hasaranga.
Shaheen was the standout, picking three wickets with trademark pace and late movement. Sri Lanka slid from 98 for 2 to 114 all out in the space of nine overs, a collapse that highlighted both Pakistan’s discipline and Sri Lanka’s failure to manage pressure. With no late-order resistance and an inability to rotate strike, the visitors finished with a total far too modest for a final.
PAK’s chase began with intent as Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub added fluent early runs. Farhan looked sharp before falling for 23, while Saim continued to anchor the chase with 36 off 33. Even as Sri Lanka tried to claw back through Hasaranga and Rathnayake, Pakistan’s batting depth ensured no panic set in. The reunion of Babar Azam and a chase scenario felt inevitable, and the captain delivered exactly what the moment demanded. His unbeaten 37 off 34 was a masterclass in calm decision-making, rotating the strike when required and finding boundaries to keep the run rate in check.
SL had brief moments of hope when Salman Agha and Fakhar Zaman fell in quick succession, but the target was too small to truly unsettle Pakistan. Usman Khan joined Babar to finish off the chase, sealing the title emphatically and capping a strong bowling performance with a mature batting display.
Pakistan’s victory underlined their growing balance as a T20I unit, while Sri Lanka will reflect on their batting frailties that denied them a competitive total in a final. In a tournament defined by tight spells and high-pressure overs, Pakistan once again proved they can thrive in low-scoring battles.
Sri Lanka vs Pakistan Scoreboard
Sri Lanka – 114/10 (19.1)
Pakistan – 118/4 (18.4)
Result – Pakistan won by 6 wickets (with 8 balls remaining)
Player of the Match – Mohammad Nawaz
Mohammad Nawaz
SL vs PAK Playing XIs
Sri Lanka | Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis (wk), Pavan Rathnayake, Kusal Perera, Dasun Shanaka (c), Janith Liyanage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Eshan Malinga. |
Pakistan | Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Salman Agha (c), Fakhar Zaman, Usman Khan (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Salman Mirza, Abrar Ahmed |
Disclaimer: The following match highlights are based on the author’s personal insights and analysis. Readers are encouraged to consider these perspectives and form their own conclusions.
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