RAWALPINDI: Captain Sahibzada Farhan and Maaz Sadaqat starred with the bat as Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka by four wickets in the opening match of the three-match T20 International series at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Chasing a target of 183 runs, Pakistan reached the required total with four wickets to spare, thanks to a brilliant captain’s knock of 89 runs from Sahibzada Farhan and an aggressive half-century by Maaz Sadaqat.
Farhan led from the front, delivering an impressive innings to put Pakistan in a strong position, while Maaz contributed 50 runs off just 29 balls to accelerate the chase and help the hosts secure victory.
Udara’s 91 Goes in Vain
Earlier, Sri Lanka posted a competitive total of 182 for eight in their allotted 20 overs after being put in to bat.
The visitors suffered an early setback as they lost two wickets for just 18 runs. However, a 60-run partnership for the third wicket helped steady the innings and rebuild the momentum.
Opener Lahiru Udara anchored the Sri Lankan batting effort with an outstanding 91 off 55 deliveries, taking on the Pakistani bowlers with confidence. Despite his superb knock, Udara fell short of a century as Sri Lanka finished on 182.
Kamindu Mendis contributed 23 runs, while Dasun Shanaka added 15.
For Pakistan, fast bowler Naseem Shah claimed three wickets, while Imran Randhawa picked up two. Razaullah, Saim Ayub and Shadab Khan took one wicket each.
Two Pakistan Players Make T20I Debuts
At the toss, Pakistan captain Sahibzada Farhan said his side had also preferred to bowl first. He confirmed that Razaullah and Imran Randhawa were making their debuts.
Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis said the pitch looked good for batting and stressed the importance of making the most of the powerplay. He also acknowledged that his team had been affected by injuries to several key players but expressed confidence in the replacements.
Second T20I on October 11
The three-match T20I series began at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, with the second match scheduled for October 11 and the third for October 13 at the same venue.
