Farhan’s 80 pushes Pakistan past Sri Lanka in T20I tri-series game

• Pakistan are at the top of the table with two wins.
• Sri Lanka struggle after early collapse.
• Mohammad Nawaz shines with three wickets.

Sahibzada Farhan scored an unbeaten 80-run knock as Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka by seven wickets in the third T20I of the tri-series, also against Zimbabwe, at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

The win, which was Pakistan’s second in the ongoing series, helped them replace Zimbabwe at the top of the table with four points from two matches. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, slumped to the bottom after back-to-back defeats.

Set to chase a modest target of 129 runs, the home side comfortably cruised to the winning runs losing just three wickets with 27 balls to spare.

Farhan spearheaded Pakistan’s chase with an unbeaten 80 off just 45 deliveries, with five sixes and six fours.

He received notable support from fellow opener Saim Ayub and star Babar Babar Azam, who contributed 20 and 16, respectively.

For Sri Lanka, Dushmantha Chameera took two wickets while skipper Dasun Shanaka could take one.

Sri Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka’s decision to bat first backfired as his side could muster 128/7 in 20 overs despite Janith Liyanage’s bravery.

The visitors got off to a flying start to their innings, with Kamil Mishara tackling the Pakistan bowlers for two sixes and as many fours during the 12-ball 22 until Faheem Ashraf drew the curtains on his blistering knock in the fourth over.

Sri Lanka then suffered another setback 13 balls later when Kusal Mendis (three) was run out by Mohammad Wasim Jr, reducing the total to 38/2 in 5.4 overs.

After back-to-back wickets, Kusal Perera joined opener Pathum Nissanka (17) for a careful 22-run partnership which culminated in the former’s dismissal in the first delivery of the ninth over, bowled by Abrar Ahmed.

Nissanka’s dismissal sparked a middle-order collapse, fueled by Nawaz as he picked up three wickets in quick succession, two of which came in the same over, as Sri Lanka slipped further to 86/6 in 13.3 overs.

Meanwhile, Liyanage stood firm amid the collapse and tried to start a comeback by putting together a one-sided 35-run partnership for the seventh wicket with Wanindu Hasaranga, who fell in the penultimate over after scoring a 12-ball 11.

Liyanage, on the other hand, remained unbeaten and bounced back after top-scoring with 40 off 37 deliveries, with three fours and a six.

Nawaz was the leading bowler for Pakistan, returning bowling figures of 3/16 in his four overs, while Abrar, Faheem and Salman Mirza chipped in with a wicket each.