Sri Lanka Win Final T20I by Eight Wickets in Rawalpindi as Pakistan Seal Series 2-1

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan lost the last match but still lifted the trophy. Sri Lanka won the third T20I by eight wickets on Tuesday night to avoid a clean sweep, yet the three-match series finished 2-1 to the hosts. Captain Kusal Mendis stayed unbeaten on 87 from 48 balls and took his side past the 169-run target in just 17.1 overs.

Farhan holds Pakistan’s innings together

Batting first, Pakistan made 168 for eight. The start was brisk, but Eshan Malinga removed Fakhar Zaman (12) and Maaz Sadaqat (0) in the fourth over to leave the score at 34 for two. Dasun Shanaka then worked through the middle order, dismissing Khawaja Nafay (3), Mohammad Imran (6) and Abdul Samad (15), and at 102 for six Pakistan were in real trouble. Captain Sahibzada Farhan stood firm. His 76 came off 47 balls, with seven fours and three sixes, and Arafat Minhas added an unbeaten 34 off 20 balls late on to push the total somewhere respectable. Shanaka, with three wickets, was Sri Lanka’s best bowler.

Mendis makes the chase look simple

In reply, Sineth Jayawardena (38) and Mendis put on 59 for the second wicket, before Mendis and Kamindu Mendis, who finished 40 not out, closed the game out with an unbroken stand of 98. Farhan, who made a half-century in all three matches, was named player of the series. Both sides now turn to the ODI tri-series with England, which starts in Rawalpindi on October 18.