Well, that was a statement performance if I've ever seen one. Over at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Pakistan just put on a clinic, routing a struggling Sri Lanka side by seven whole wickets in the tri-series. It was their fourth T20I win in a row, and honestly, it looked like they barely broke a sweat chasing down Sri Lanka's total of 128. This match was a tale of two very different team performances, and it really highlighted the groove Pakistan is in right now.
Key Highlights
- ✓ Pakistan secured a dominant 7-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the T20 tri-series.
- ✓ Sahibzada Farhan smashed a career-best, unbeaten 80 off 45 balls, a new record for Pakistan against Sri Lanka.
- ✓ Mohammad Nawaz was named Player of the Match for his exceptional spell of 3-16, dismantling Sri Lanka's middle order.
- ✓ Sri Lanka, after choosing to bat, were restricted to a modest 128/7 in their 20 overs.
- ✓ Farhan became the first Pakistani to hit over 100 sixes in T20s in a calendar year, ending with 102.
Sri Lanka's Struggles at the Crease
It all started when Sri Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka won the toss and decided to bat first. You could see the logic, but things just didn't pan out. Their batting woes in Pakistan have been a running theme, having already lost the ODI series 3-0, and this match was no different. They got off to a decent enough start, with Kamil Mishara (22) trying to get things moving against the pace attack.
But the momentum just fizzled out inside the powerplay. Mishara was outsmarted by a slower ball from Faheem Ashraf and holed out at mid-on. Then, in a moment that just summed up their innings, Kusal Mendis was run out going for a second run that was never really there. It was a classic case of a team trying to force the issue and just not finding their rhythm.
The Spinners Turn the Screw
Here's where the game truly slipped away from Sri Lanka. Pakistan unleashed their spin duo of left-armer Mohammad Nawaz and leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed (1-28), and they completely squeezed the life out of the middle overs. By the 12th over, Sri Lanka had slumped to 80-5, and the bowlers were in total control.
Nawaz was simply unplayable. He struck with successive deliveries, first cleaning up Kusal Perera with a sharp turner that spun back into the left-hander. Then, he knocked back Shanaka's leg stump with another beautiful delivery the captain couldn't read. It was a masterclass in spin bowling, and his figures of 3-16 rightfully earned him the Player of the Match award. The tailenders couldn't accelerate either, as Pakistan’s pacers kept things tight at the death, allowing only 37 runs in the final five overs.
Farhan Unleashes a Batting Storm
With a target of just 129, Pakistan came out with clear intent, and one man led the charge: Sahibzada Farhan. He was in an aggressive mood right from the get-go. He and Saim Ayub (20) put the chase to bed early with a blistering 47-run stand inside the powerplay. Even after Ayub was stumped, Farhan didn't let up.
He showed off some serious "brutal muscle," as the commentary put it, belting the ball to all parts of the ground. He dominated a 69-run partnership with Babar Azam (16), playing attractive shots and raising his half-century off just 33 balls. He was severe on anything loose and made the Sri Lankan bowlers pay time and time again. This was more than just a good innings; it was a demolition job.
There was a tiny blip when fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera (2-29) picked up two late wickets, getting Babar's off-stump and trapping captain Salman Ali Agha LBW in successive balls. But let's be honest, the game was already long gone. Farhan fittingly finished the match off in style, lofting a full delivery from Eshan Malinga over mid-on for four, sealing the win in just 15.3 overs.
By the Numbers: A Record-Breaking Night
Let's talk about the incredible numbers behind this performance, because they really tell a story. Farhan’s unbeaten 80 is now the highest individual score for Pakistan against Sri Lanka in T20Is, surpassing the previous record of 57 set by Shoaib Malik all the way back in 2007. The five sixes he hit were also the most by a Pakistani batter against Sri Lanka.
But it gets even better. According to stats guru Shashikant Singh, this was Farhan's 15th fifty-plus score in T20s this year, putting him in elite company alongside Nicholas Pooran. And get this—he also became the first Pakistani and only the 12th batter ever to hit over 100 sixes in a calendar year in T20s, with a whopping 102. The stats on footwork were also fascinating: Pakistan was incredibly effective on the back foot (scoring at a strike rate of 145.65) and when coming down the track (a staggering 320.0 strike rate).
The Captains' Take
After the dust settled, the two captains had very different things to say. Pakistan's skipper, Salman Ali Agha, was thrilled. "It was a complete game," he said. "I think we were very good in bowling and fielding and batting as well." He specifically praised Farhan, noting, "he's someone who, if he bats like 3-4 over can take the game away from any opposition."
Agha also touched on the team's depth, mentioning the "luxury" of having all-rounders like Nawaz and Faheem and a strong bench. He feels they are very close to having a "perfect playing eleven" for the T20 World Cup next year, which is a scary thought for their opponents.
On the other side, Dasun Shanaka was brutally honest. "I must admit that we aren't a team who must perform like this. We got a better team who should perform well at this level," he confessed. He pointed to a lack of intent and losing wickets in clusters as major concerns. You could hear the frustration as he said, "since we arrived here, we haven't found that rhythm of batting in these pitches."
Conclusion
So, what's the bottom line? This was a comprehensive, all-around victory for Pakistan that cemented their strong form. From the chokehold applied by their spinners, led by the brilliant Mohammad Nawaz, to the sheer firepower of Sahibzada Farhan's record-breaking knock, they looked like a team firing on all cylinders. For Sri Lanka, it's back to the drawing board as they remain winless in the tri-series and desperately search for answers. Pakistan, meanwhile, looks like a well-oiled machine with their eyes firmly set on the big prize next year.
