Pakistan wrapped up the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka in emphatic fashion on Sunday, thrashing the visitors by 82 runs in the second game at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium to take an unassailable 2-0 lead.
Maaz Sadaqat fell agonisingly short of a maiden hundred, smashing 96 off 51 balls with seven sixes and six fours before departing on the final delivery of the innings. Skipper Sahibzada Farhan struck 73 off 44 balls as Pakistan racked up 215 for three — their highest T20 total on home soil, bettering the 208 for three against the West Indies in Karachi five years ago.
Sri Lanka were made to pay for sloppy fielding, spilling three chances — Farhan on two and 11, Sadaqat on 44 — as the pair added 88 in just 49 balls for the second wicket. Sadaqat then put on 72 off 31 balls with Hasan Nawaz, who finished unbeaten on 19, as the hosts plundered 70 runs from the last five overs. Fakhar Zaman contributed 22 in an opening stand of 55 with Farhan.
Chasing 216, Sri Lanka’s reply unravelled early. Salman Mirza removed Lahiru Udara in the first over and Mohammad Imran struck during the powerplay, reducing the tourists to 74 for six. Skipper Kusal Mendis managed only nine before departing. Imran returned figures of three for 11 from his four overs, Mirza claimed two wickets, and Saim Ayub and Shadab Khan picked up one apiece.
Only Maheesh Theekshana, unbeaten on 32, and Chamindu Wickramasinghe, with 29, offered any real resistance as Sri Lanka closed on 133 for seven — Pakistan’s biggest T20 victory over the islanders. The third and final match of the series is scheduled for Tuesday.
