Sahibzada hits T20I career best (80*) as Pakistan beat Sri Lanka in third fixture of Tri-nation series

Sahibzada Farhan struck unbeaten 80 off 45 balls - his T20I career best - to help Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by seven wickets as they chased the 129-run target in 15.3 overs picking up their second-consecutive win in the Tri-nation T20I series here at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday night.

Pakistan will now take on Zimbabwe at the same venue on Sunday, 23 November in the fourth match of the series with the toss slated to take place at 5.30pm PKT.

Also read: Pakistan outclass Sri Lanka by seven wickets in the third T20 of the tri-series

In pursuit of the target, opening batters Sahibzada and Saim Ayub (20, 18b, 4x4s) provided their team a blistering 47-run stand in five overs before the latter departed. Saim also became just the ninth Pakistan batter to cross the 1,000 T20I runs landmark during the outing.

Sahibzada then stitched a 69-run second-wicket stand with Babar Azam (16, 22b, 1x6) in which he contributed 53 runs also bringing up his sixth T20I half-century off 33 balls.

With Dushmantha Chameera striking twice on consecutive balls, Sahibzada kept his charge going and ended hit the winning runs in style with a boundary in the 16th over. The right-handed opening batter struck six fours and five sixes also becoming the Pakistan batter to hit 100 or more sixes in T20s in a year.

Earlier, Sri Lanka got off to a flying start with Kamil Mishara hitting two fours and as many sixes before departing in the fourth over with 32 runs on the board. 

Pakistan further dented Sri Lanka’s progress in the subsequent when Mohammad Wasim Jnr’s brilliant throw from third run out Kusal Mendis.

Sri Lanka’s score of 65-3 at the halfway mark turned to 78-5 in the 12th over, when player of the match Mohammad Nawaz removed Kusal Perera (25, 19b, 2x4s, 1x6) and Dasun Shanaka on consecutive deliveries. Nawaz returned to remove Kamindu Mendis in the 14th over as Sri Lanka slipped to 86-6.

Janith Liyanage, who top scored for Sri Lanka with 41 off 38 balls hitting three fours and one six, then formed a 31-ball 35-run seventh-wicket stand with Wanindu Hasaranga (11, 12b, 1x4) as they posted a fighting 128-7 in 20 overs.

Apart from Nawaz’s 3-16 in four overs, Faheem Ashraf, Salman Mirza and Abrar Ahmed struck once each.

Scores in brief

Third T20I – Tri-nation series – Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by seven wickets at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium

Sri Lanka 128-7, 20 overs (Janith Liyanage 41 not out, Kusal Perera 25, Kamil Mishara 22; Mohammad Nawaz 3-16)

Pakistan 131-3, 15.3 overs (Sahibzada Farhan 80 not out, Saim Ayub 20; Dushmantha Chameera 2-29)

Series schedule: (All matches at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium; All matches to begin at 6pm PKT)

18 November – First T20I – Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by five wickets

20 November – Zimbabwe beat Sri Lanka by 67 runs

22 November – Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by seven wickets

23 November – Pakistan v Zimbabwe

25 November – Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe

27 November – Pakistan v Sri Lanka

29 November – Final