A commanding batting display followed by a clinical bowling effort propelled Pakistan to a comprehensive 82-run victory over Sri Lanka in the second T20 international at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. After being sent in to bat first, the hosts registered an imposing total of 215 for 3 in their allocated 20 overs. Sri Lanka wilted under the scoreboard pressure right from the start of the steep 216-run chase, eventually crawling to 133 for 7 across their 20 overs.
Top Order Aggression and Farhan's Captain's Knock
Pakistan opened with purpose as captain Sahibzada Farhan joined forces with Fakhar Zaman to set an aggressive tempo right from the powerplay. Fakhar chipped in with a brisk 22 off 17 deliveries, striking 4 boundaries, before falling to spinner Maheesh Theekshana. The breakthrough brought Maaz Sadaqat to the crease, and he quickly established a dominant partnership alongside his captain.
Sahibzada Farhan led from the front with a stroke-filled half-century, compiling 73 runs from just 44 balls with the help of 4 fours and 5 sixes. By the time Dasun Shanaka had him caught out, Farhan had already guided his side into a commanding position that allowed the middle order to swing freely.
Maaz Sadaqat Blasts 96 to Propel Pakistan Past 200
Following the dismissal of the captain, Maaz Sadaqat intensified the onslaught on the visiting bowlers. The left-hander narrowly missed out on a well-deserved century by four runs, finishing on 96 off only 51 deliveries with 6 fours and 7 maximums to his name. His aggressive hitting ensured that Pakistan comfortably crossed the 200-run milestone.
Towards the death overs, Hasan Nawaz delivered a quickfire cameo, remaining unbeaten on 19 from 9 deliveries with 1 four and 1 six to lift the total to 215 for 3. Sri Lanka's bowling unit struggled to contain the flow of runs throughout the innings. While Maheesh Theekshana, Eshan Malinga, and Dasun Shanaka claimed 1 wicket apiece, Theekshana proved exceptionally expensive, leaking 55 runs across his 4 overs.
Randhawa Dismantles Sri Lanka's Top Order
Facing a massive required run rate from ball one, Sri Lanka's top order collapsed under the weight of the target. Opening batsman Lahiru Udara fell for 5 when Salman Mirza had him caught by Khawaja Nafay. Fast bowler Mohammad Imran Randhawa then took center stage with an incisive opening spell that completely derailed the chase.
Stand-in skipper and wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis, leading the side in the absence of Dinesh Chandimal, managed only 9 runs off 15 deliveries before being dismissed by Randhawa. Sineth Jayawardene offered brief resistance with 22 off 21 balls, but Randhawa removed him as well courtesy of a catch by Fakhar Zaman. Sahan Arachchige then fell for a golden duck on the very next delivery to compound Sri Lanka's misery.
Middle Order Stumbles as Pakistan Bowl Out the Match
The middle order offered little respite against disciplined bowling. Kamindu Mendis made 23 off 19 balls, and former skipper Dasun Shanaka managed 9 off 8 balls before both fell short of mounting any serious counter-attack. Spinners Saim Ayub and Shadab Khan tied down the scoring during the middle phase, ensuring Sri Lanka never gained momentum.
Lower-order contributions from Chamindu Wickramasinghe, who scored 29 off 24 balls, and Maheesh Theekshana, who remained unbeaten on 32 off 26 deliveries, only served to reduce the margin of defeat. Binura Fernando was not out on zero after facing 2 balls as the visitors finished on 133 for 7. For Pakistan, Mohammad Imran Randhawa was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3 for 11 in his 4 overs. Salman Mirza bagged 2 wickets, while Saim Ayub and Shadab Khan took 1 wicket each, supported by tight spells from Naseem Shah and Abrar Ahmed to wrap up a dominant team performance.
