Farhan’s 80 Guides Pakistan Past Sri Lanka in Confident Win

Pakistan wrapped up their chase with quiet authority and clinical timing, brushing aside Sri Lanka by 7 wickets in the Pakistan T20I Tri Series in Rawalpindi. The match never tilted out of Pakistan’s grip once their bowlers choked Sri Lanka to 128, and Sahibzada Farhan finished the job with a statement knock that controlled the rhythm of the night.

Sri Lanka Lose Shape After Lively Start

Sri Lanka walked out with purpose and punched early through Kamil Mishara, who attacked Pakistan’s seamers with clean, decisive hitting. His intent forced Pakistan to rethink lengths in the opening overs, but the spark faded the moment Mohammad Nawaz entered the attack.

Nawaz dragged Sri Lanka from free-flowing to uncertain in a single spell. Mishara’s dismissal cracked open the innings, and Sri Lanka’s momentum evaporated almost instantly. The powerplay that began brightly ended with nerves creeping in, and Pakistan’s bowlers tightened their hold as the fielders turned sharp half-chances into pressure.

From the 7th over onward, Sri Lanka looked stuck between preserving wickets and pushing the score. The hesitation became costly. Their middle order neither consolidated nor counterattacked, and Pakistan pounced on every indecision.

Middle Overs Controlled by Nawaz and Co.

The middle phase belonged entirely to Pakistan. Nawaz’s variations gripped the surface and forced batters into cramped strokes. Abrar Ahmed slid into his spell without fuss and gave nothing away. Faheem Ashraf and Salman Mirza chipped in at crucial moments, ensuring Sri Lanka never stitched partnerships long enough to change the tone.

Sri Lanka’s innings stalled as boundaries dried up. Pakistan’s fielding intensity kept Sri Lanka boxed in. Four overs passed without a boundary, and the innings drifted into defensive survival.

Even when Sri Lanka tried to break out, the moves felt forced. Pakistan held their lines and refused to feed width. Only Janith Liyanage showed clarity. He read the surface, resisted slogging, and stitched together a responsible unbeaten 41 that spared Sri Lanka from a deeper collapse. His late boundaries ensured the total reached 128 for 7, still modest, still short, still manageable for Pakistan.

Farhan Takes Charge of the Chase

Pakistan began the pursuit with composure. Saim Ayub flicked early boundaries, and the opening stand settled any nerves about the surface. Ayub’s dismissal late in the powerplay created a small opening for Sri Lanka, but Farhan shut it immediately with a chase-management masterclass.

Farhan’s innings was smart, steady, and timed with authority. He read the spinners early and used the angles well. He placed the ball more than he muscled it, waiting for Sri Lanka to stray before punishing the errors. His footwork against spin forced the bowlers to pull their lengths shorter, which opened scoring gaps across the ring.

The rhythm of the chase changed in the ninth over. Farhan opened up, picked his matchups, and ensured the required rate never flickered into discomfort. Fakhar Zaman and the middle order floated around him cleanly, rotating strike and preventing the bowlers from building any pressure.

Farhan guided the chase deep before Pakistan crossed the target at 131 for 3 in the 19th over. His 80 became the defining performance of the match; assured, calm, and perfectly paced for a modest total.

Pakistan’s win looked comfortable because they made it that way. They controlled the ball, controlled the chase, and controlled the night.

Player of the match: Sahibzada Farhan (80 off balls)