Sublime Malik inspires Sri Lanka clean sweep
Pakistani batsman Shoaib Malik hits a shot during the third and final T20 cricket match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka at the Gaddafi Cricket Stadium in Lahore on October 29, 2017. PHOTO: AFP
After being put into bat first on a historic day, after fifteen over of the innings, the Men in Green were in need of a real push to post more than respectable total on the board.
Hasan, Hafeez, Malik earn praise
Malik, who had a difficult outing in the previous match, stood up and scored breathtaking 51 off just 24 with the help five fours and two maximums to help Pakistan post 180 for the loss of three wickets in their allotted 20 overs.
Chasing 181 to register first victory, Islanders had the worst start possible as they lost first three wickets for just 21 runs in 3.4 overs.
1st T20I: Malik, bowlers help Pakistan down Sri Lanka
Young Dasun Shanaka tried to stabilise the ship with a quick-fire half-century, but it was not going to be enough as the visitors only managed to score 144 for the loss of nine wickets in their 20 overs.
For Pakistan, pacer Mohammad Amir was the pick of the bowlers as he claimed four, whereas all-rounder Faheem Ashraf picked two wickets.
So that's it from us. What a memorable series it was for Pakistan, who clinched clean sweeps in both ODI and T20I series. Hope you enjoyed our coverage. Till next time, it's goodbye from Azeem Siddiqui.
SL 144-7 (20 overs)
Just two runs and two wickets off the over.
Amir to bowl final over.
SL 142-7 (19 overs)
Nineteen off the over. Great one for Sri Lanka.
SIX! Another from Prasanna. Brilliant batting.
SIX! Glorious shot from Prasanna.
FOUR! Boundary for Sri Lanka.
Hasan Ali to start his final over.
SL 123-7 (18 overs)
Nine off the over.
Ashraf to start his new over.
SL 114-7 (17 overs)
Seven runs and a wicket off the over.
Hasan Ali to start his new over.
SL 107-6 (16 overs)
Just three runs and a wicket off the over.
Mohammad Amir to start his new over.
SL 104-5 (15 overs)
Just five off the over.
Hafeez to start his new over.
SL 99-5 (14 overs)
Just three runs and a wicket off the over. Great one for Pakistan.
Faheem Ashraf to start his new over.
SL 96-4 (13 overs)
Six off the over.
Hasan Ali to start his new over.
SL 90-4 (12 overs)
Seventeen off the over. Great one for Sri Lanka.
Shadab Khan to continue.
SL 73-4 (11 overs)
Seven off the over.
Hasan Ali to start his new over.
SL 66-4 (10 overs)
Seven off the over.
Imad Wasim to start his new over.
SL 59-4 (9 overs)
Just four runs and a wicket off the over.
Fahim Ashraf to continue.
SL 55-3 (8 overs)
Fourteen off the over. Great one for Sri Lanka.
Shadab Khan to start his first over.
SL 41-3 (7 overs)
Just three off the over.
Faheem Ashraf to start his first over.
SL 38-3 (6 overs)
Six off the over.
Amir to start his new over.
SL 32-3 (5 overs)
Ten off the over. Good one for Sri Lanka.
Imad to continue.
SL 22-3 (4 overs)
Six runs and a wicket off the over. Great one for Pakistan.
Mohammad Hafeez to start his first over.
SL 16-2 (3 overs)
Just three runs and a wicket off the over.
Imad to continue.
SL 13-1 (2 overs)
Just three runs and a wicket off the over.
Mohammad Amir to start his new over.
SL 10-0 (1 over)
Ten off the over. Good one for Sri Lanka.
So it's Gunathilaka and Munaweera to open for Sri Lanka, whereas Imad Wasim will begin for Pakistan.
So that's it from the first session. Do you think 180 is enough for Pakistan to complete clean sweep, or do you think Sri Lanka will finally manage to clinch a victory in this series? We will see this in the next session.
PAK 180-3 (20 overs)
Twenty three runs and a wicket off the over. Great one for Pakistan.
Sanjaya to start his final over.
PAK 157-2 (19 overs)
Ten off the over. Good one for Pakistan.
Perera to continue.
PAK 147-2 (18 overs)
Thirteen off the over.
Shanaka to start his new over.
PAK 134-2 (17 overs)
Ten off the over.
Perera to start his new over.
PAK 124-2 (16 overs)
Sixteen off the over. Great batting from Shoaib Malik.
Udana to start his new over.
PAK 108-2 (15 overs)
Just five off the over. Great bowling.
Sanjaya to start his new spell.
PAK 103-2 (14 overs)
Just four off the over.
Perera to start his new over.
PAK 99-2 (13 overs)
Eight runs and a wicket off the over.
Udana to start his new over.
PAK 91-1 (12 overs)
Six off the over.
Gunathilaka to start his new over.
PAK 85-1 (11 overs)
Fourteen off the over. Great one for Pakistan.
Chaturanga de Silva to start his first over.
PAK 71-1 (10 overs)
Just six off the over.
Munaweera to start his final over.
PAK 65-1 (9 overs)
Eight off the over.
Pathirana to start his first over.
PAK 57-1 (8 overs)
Just five runs and a wicket off the over.
Munaweera to continue.
PAK 52-0 (7 overs)
Five off the over.
Thisara Perera to start his new over.
PAK 47-0 (6 overs)
Ten off the over.
Gunathilaka to start his first over.
PAK 37-0 (5 overs)
Eight off the over.
Udana to start his new over.
PAK 29-0 (4 overs)
Ten off the over.
Munaweera to continue.
PAK 19-0 (3 overs)
Six off the over.
Sanjaya to continue.
PAK 13-0 (2 overs)
Five off the over.
Munaweera to start his first over.
PAK 8-0 (1 over)
Eight off the over.
So it's Umar Amin and Fakhar Zaman to open for Pakistan, whereas Vikram Sanjaya to start for Sri Lanka.
TOSS: The news from the centre is Thisara Perera has won the toss and opted to bowl first.