Saturday Feb 21, 2026
Saturday Feb 21, 2026
Monday, 12 January 2026 00:23 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Sa’adi Thawfeeq reporting from Dambulla
Sri Lanka pulled off a much-needed victory when they beat Pakistan by 14 runs in the third and final T20 International played at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium yesterday to draw the three-match series one-all.
Rain cut short the contest to a 12-overs-a-side game and Sri Lanka put into bat first racked up an imposing 160-6 and then restricted Pakistan to 146-8. The second game was abandoned without a ball bowled and heavy rain late in the evening threatened a similar decision. But thankfully for the large number of spectators who had turned out for the match the rains ceased and they had some action to witness.
Pakistan looked on course to chase the target of 161 with a required rate of 13 and Sri Lanka having to contend with the dew and a wet ball to handle. Pakistan skipper Salman Agha got Pakistan off the blocks quickly despite losing an early wicket, racing to 45 off just 12 balls (5 fours, 3 sixes). Pakistan piled on 62 runs in four overs and appeared clear favourites at that stage.
But Sri Lanka, however, fought back strongly through their premier spinner Wanindu Hasaranga, who struck twice in his opening over and added two more in his final over to finish with figures 4/35 to pick up the Player of the Match as well as the Player of the Series awards. The pace duo of Matheesha Pathirana and Eshan Malinga then held their nerve in the closing overs, making the task significantly tougher for Pakistan. Pathirana took the crucial wicket when he dismissed the rampaging Agha off the last ball of the power play – his scoop shot ending in the hand of short fine leg.
Sri Lanka lost Pathum Nissanka in the very first over, but his partner Kamil Mishara struck 3 fours and a six before perishing in the second over for 20. Dhananjaya de Silva wasted little time to get off the blocks scoring 22 off 15. Kusal Mendis, however, took his time to get his eye in. After scoring 47-2 in the powerplay (3.4 overs), the scoring rate dipped a bit with Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz operating. Mendis who got a reprieve on 9 then significantly upped the ante. From 9 off 9 balls, he raced to 30 off 16. Both the set batters were dismissed within a span of three deliveries. However, that didn't hamper Sri Lanka as the captain Dasun Shanaka played a blinder of an innings slamming 5 sixes in a cameo knock of 34 off 9 balls that gave Sri Lanka a total to defend.
