Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by 8 wickets (with 17 balls remaining) – 3rd T20I Report
Sri Lanka won by 8 wickets (with 17 balls remaining) in the 3rd T20I of the series at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. This was the 167th match of 188 in the T20 Internationals. A clinical chase led by Kusal Mendis saw the visitors dismantle Pakistan‘s total with ease, with the Sri Lankan opener striking at 181 to seal a commanding performance.
Pakistan’s Batting Collapse
Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat, but struggled to build momentum against a disciplined Sri Lankan bowling attack. Sahibzada Farhan was the lone bright spot, smashing 76 off 47 balls (7 fours, 3 sixes) at a strike rate of 162 to anchor the innings. His dismissal at 168/8 in the 19th over came too late to salvage the total.
Fakhar Zaman made just 12 off 7 before falling at 34/2 in the 3rd over, while Maaz Sadaqat was dismissed for a duck at 34/3. Hasan Nawaz contributed 16 off 17 at 67/4, but the middle order crumbled. Khawaja Nafay managed only 3 at 72/5, and Mohammad Imran Randhawa added 6 at 86/6. Arafat Minhas provided late resistance with 34 off 20 (2 fours, 2 sixes) to push Pakistan to 168 for 8, but it proved insufficient.
Dasun Shanaka was the standout bowler, claiming 3 for 21 from 4 overs at an economy of 5.25. Nuwan Thushara and Eshan Malinga each took 2 wickets, while Vijayakanth Viyaskanth claimed 1 for 23.
Sri Lanka’s Masterclass Chase
Sri Lanka made light work of the target, reaching 172 for 2 in just 17.1 overs. Kusal Mendis was the architect of victory, striking an unbeaten 87 off 48 balls (9 fours, 4 sixes) at a strike rate of 181. His aggressive approach set the tone from the start, and he remained at the crease to guide his team home with consummate ease.
Lahiru Udara fell early for 1, caught LBW at 15/1 in the 1st over, but Sineth Jayawardene provided crucial support with 38 off 26 (5 fours, 2 sixes) at 146 strike rate. His partnership with Mendis added 59 runs before he was dismissed at 74/2 in the 7th over. Kamindu Mendis finished the job unbeaten on 40 off 27 (4 fours), requiring just 17 balls to be spared.
Mohammad Imran Randhawa was Pakistan’s most economical bowler, taking 1 for 31 from 4 overs, while Arafat Minhas claimed 1 for 26 from 3. Salman Mirza and Raza Ullah proved expensive, leaking 40 and 37 runs respectively without taking a wicket.
Statz MVP: Dasun Shanaka (Statz Rating: 101.42)
Dasun Shanaka earns the Statz MVP award with a Statz Rating of 101.42. His 3 for 21 from 4 overs was the cornerstone of Sri Lanka’s bowling performance, strangling Pakistan’s middle order and setting up the chase. Shanaka’s economy of 5.25 was exceptional in the powerplay and death overs, and his control proved decisive in a match where every run mattered.
Top 5 Statz Ratings
- Dasun Shanaka (SL) – Statz Rating: 101.42 | 3/21 from 4 overs – Exceptional bowling performance that set up the chase.
- Kusal Mendis (SL) – Statz Rating: 97.41 | 87 off 48 (SR 181, 9 fours, 4 sixes) – Dominant unbeaten innings that sealed victory.
- Sahibzada Farhan (PAK) – Statz Rating: 90.45 | 76 off 47 (SR 162, 7 fours, 3 sixes) – Pakistan’s sole bright spot in a disappointing total.
- Arafat Minhas (PAK) – Statz Rating: 89.96 | 34 off 20 (SR 170, 2 fours, 2 sixes) plus 1/26 with the ball – Valuable all-round contribution.
- Mohammad Imran Randhawa (PAK) – Statz Rating: 50.62 | 1/31 from 4 overs – Pakistan’s most economical bowler in a difficult chase.
Turning Point
The match turned decisively when Sahibzada Farhan was caught for 76 at 168/8 in the 19th over. His dismissal removed Pakistan’s only genuine threat, and the loss of momentum meant the total of 168 was never going to trouble Sri Lanka. From that point, the chase became a formality, with Kusal Mendis and Sineth Jayawardene taking the game away from the hosts.
Match Context
This was the 167th match of 188 in the T20 Internationals. Sri Lanka (ranked 10th with a rating of 220) delivered a clinical performance to dominate the series, while Pakistan (ranked 6th with a rating of 240) will be disappointed with their batting collapse. Check the head-to-head record and explore match insights on Statz for deeper analysis of this dominant victory.
