Pakistan vs Sri Lanka

That's it! A single to end the innings and Pakistan have beaten Sri Lanka pretty comfortably and seized the series by taking a 2-0 lead. Back of a length, outside off, Maheesh Theekshana spanks it to deep cover and gets a single.

FOUR! SHOT! Short of a length, outside off, Maheesh Theekshana smashes it downtown for four runs.

Hits the deck hard, does Shah, outside off. Maheesh Theekshana gets beaten on the outside edge while performing his pull.

Just inches away from the stumps! Shah pitches it much fuller, just behind the yorker length, around middle and shaping in. Binura Fernando looks to slog it away, but gets beaten on the inside edge and it just misses the leg stump. The keeper, Khawaja Nafay does well to dive to his left and make a save, but the batter gets enough time to take a bye.

Fuller in length, on off, Maheesh drives it to long off and gets a single.

Short of a length, well outside off, Maheesh Theekshana slaps it to deep cover for a brace.

Back of a length, outside off, Binura Fernando punches it to cover.

The next batter is Binura Fernando.

OUT! TAKEN! Salman Mirza gets his second wicket. Pitches it fuller, just outside off. Chamindu Wickramasinghe plants his front foot toward the leg side of the delivery and drills it uppishly toward cover, where Sahibzada Farhan, moves just a bit to his right and squats half to securely pouch it in.

Change of pace, fuller in length. Maheesh flicks it to mid-wicket and gets a single. That will also bring up the 50-run partnership between these two batters.

A touch fuller, outside off, Chamindu Wickramasinghe heaves it across to long on and gets a single.

SIX! Up, up and over! Good-length delivery, outside off, Chamindu Wickramasinghe clears his front foot and powers it downtown for half a dozen.

Pitches it much fuller, on middle, Chamindu Wickramasinghe drills it to the right of the long on fielder for a brace.

Yorker, on middle. Chamindu Wickramasinghe jams it to the left of the bowler for a single.

FOUR! Well struck! Just a shade behind the good length, over off and middle. Chamindu Wickramasinghe flat-bats it over the bowler and gets the boundary. That's his first boundary of the innings.

Pitches it up, on middle, Maheesh Theekshana flicks it to deep square leg and gets across.

Much fuller, on off, Chamindu Wickramasinghe jams it to mid on and gets across.

Pitches it fuller, on off, Maheesh Theekshana pushes it with soft hands toward mid off and gets across.

Short, on middle, Chamindu Wickramasinghe pulls it to deep square leg for a single.

Full-length delivery, on middle, Maheesh Theekshana blocks it to the off side.

A touch fuller, on off, Chamindu Wickramasinghe punches it to long on for a single.

A touch fuller, outside off, Chamindu Wickramasinghe misses out on his heave.

A touch fuller, around leg, Maheesh Theekshana sweeps it to wide of short fine leg for a single.

Fuller, on off and middle. Maheesh Theekshana defends it down.

Short, on middle. Chamindu Wickramasinghe hurries his pull to mid-wicket and gets a single.

Fired in at the stumps, Maheesh Theekshana stays back and punches it away to cover, where the fielder fumbles and parries the ball behind, conceding the second run as well.

Nicely tossed up, fuller and on off. Theekshana leans on and nudges it back to the bowler.

Fractionally short and wide off, dabbed away behind point for a single. 100 up for Sri Lanka.

Beaten again! A big googly that turns. This is flatter and on middle, ends up around the sixth stump line. Wickramasinghe looks to cut but misses.

Play and a miss! On a good length, darted across the left-hander. Wickramasinghe backs away to pull but is well beaten.

Flighted ball outside off, Maheesh Theekshana leans on and chips the drive through mid off, picking up a single.

Good length on off, punched down to long off for a single.

Pushed through flatter and into the pads, Theekshana hops back to flick but can't get it away.

FOUR! Another freebie for Theekshana. Tossed up outside the line of off stump. Maheesh Theekshana sits down to sweep and gets it more off the top edge but well fine of deep backward square leg for another boundary.

Flatter one at the stumps, Theekshana fails to get it away.

FOUR! A variation gone wrong from Ayub. He tries to bowl a googly and ends up drifting a full one down leg. Maheesh Theekshana sweeps and sweeps well, getting the ball down to the fine leg fence.

This is lobbed up, wide outside off. Wickramasinghe reaches out and hits it along the turf, down to long off for a single.

Good length outside off, hit away from the crease and in front of point for a couple of runs in the deep.

Beaten! Quicker through the air, on a nagging length and outside off. The ball grips a bit and Theekshana is beaten past the outside edge.

Dragged length, angled across off. Wickramasinghe looks to force it off the back foot and hits it aerially towards wide long off for one more.

Tossed up fuller and on off, Theekshana drives off the front foot, a bit uppishly and down to long off for a single.

FOUR! Stellar timing. Fractionally short on off, sliding onto the bat nicely. Maheesh Theekshana plays a back foot punch and nails it wide of sweeper cover for a boundary.

Flatter and a bit short, angled from middle to wide outside off. Wickramasinghe backs away to cut but gets an underedge towards deep third for a single.

Fuller, at the stumps, Chamindu Wickramasinghe bunts it to square leg for a single.

Quicker and fuller, on middle and leg, Chamindu Wickramasinghe flicks it to backward square leg for a brace.

Fuller, on middle, Chamindu Wickramasinghe defends it to the leg side.

Short of a length, on off and middle. Maheesh Theekshana tucks it to square leg and gets another single.

Short, on off, Maheesh Theekshana clips it to square leg for one.

A touch fuller, on off, Chamindu Wickramasinghe pushes it to cover and gets across.

Fuller, on off, Maheesh Theekshana defends it down.

Maheesh Theekshana comes out to bat next.

OUT! CAUGHT! Another one bites the dust and Shadab Khan gets a wicket off a shorter delivery. Khan pulls the length well short and tries to turn it into the batter. Kamindu Mendis rocks back to pull but gets it high on the bat. The ball sails down to long on, where Hasan Nawaz staysjust inside the ropes and takes a well-judged catch.

Tossed up on a length and angled across off. Mendis hits it straight to cover-point.

FOUR! Excellent placement. Short ball after short ball from Khan, and he pays the price. The attempted googly, over middle and leg. Kamindu Mendis rocks back and flat-bats it back over the bowler's head and into the long on fence.

Shadab flattens it up, bowling it short on leg, at 95.3 kph. Wickramasinghe swivels around and pulls it to deep square leg for one more.

Just behind a good length, drifted wide of the off stump. Mendis rocks back and cuts it firmly down to deep point for a single.

Double change! Shadab Khan joins the attack as well.

Tossed up at the stumps, driven down to long on for another single. 4 singles and a wicket off Ayub's first over.

Quicker one on off, slanting it in with the arms. Mendis leans on to cover drive but gets an inside edge towards short fine leg.

A bit of stutter in the middle from the two batters, but there was always an easy single on offer. Floated up outside off, Wickramasinghe gets forward and smothers it to the right of cover, before eventually crossing over for a single.

Marginally short from Ayub, around off. Kamindu Mendis rocks back and short-arm jabs it to deep mid-wicket for one more.

Flatter and pushed into the stumps from around the wicket. Wickramasinghe stays back and tucks it through mid-wicket for a single.

Chamindu Wickramasinghe is the new batter in.

OUT! CAUGHT!  Well, there goes Dasun Shanaka's six-hitting ability, and Saim Ayub strikes gold on his very first ball. Ayub shortens the length a bit and bowls it straighter at the stumps. Shanaka goes down early for the sweep and ends up spooning it off the top edge towards short fine leg. Abrar Ahmed takes a few steps back and reverse-cups it easily. Sri Lanka have no lost half their side for just 64 runs.

DRINKS BREAK! Well, Pakistan seem completely in control at the moment thanks to that superb spell from Mohammad Imran. 3 wickets for just 11 runs in 4 overs, and he's got his side plenty far ahead in this contest. Sri Lanka need a whopping 152 more in just 60 balls, and this will require some Herculean effort if they are to get anywhere close to that total. Dasun Shanaka has the ability and has shown this year that he can be a real consistent six-hitter and will be key for his side. Also, Saim Ayub will have a bowl now.

A touch fuller, around middle and leg. Dasun Shanaka glances it to deep square leg to get across.

On a nagging length, around off, Dasun Shanaka blocks it back to the bowler.

Angling just down the leg side. Dasun Shanaka covers the stumps and fails to clips it away.

Hard length, outside off, Kamindu Mendis tries to punch it to cover, but gets nicked off the outside edge.

Oh, that's a beauty from Imran! Pitching it on a good length, around the leg stump and shaping it away from the left-hander. Kamindu Mendis gets forward to defend it down, but it just zips past the outside edge by few inches.

Back of a length, outside off, Mendis steers it to short third.

SIX! Up, up and over! Tossed up, fuller, on middle. Dasun Shanaka skips down the track to get to the pitch of the delivery and slogs it away with full power, to sail it over deep mid-wicket for half a dozen.

Fuller, on middle, Dasun Shanaka blocks it down.

On a nagging length, around leg, Kamindu Mendis flicks it to deep backward square leg for one.

FOUR! Now that's an excellent shot from Kamindu Mendis. Tossed up, fuller, outside off. Kamindu Mendis lunges forward and extends his arms to drive it, opening the face of the bat through cover-point for a boundary.

A touch fuller, on off and middle, Kamindu Mendis pushes it to extra cover.

Short, on off, Dasun Shanaka pushes it to long on for one.

Fullish, at the stumps, Kamindu Mendis defends it down.

On a length, outside off, Dasun Shanaka guides it to backward point for one.

Sri Lanka are in a spot of real bother now, and out walks Dasun Shanaka to bat.

OUT! EDGED AND TAKEN! This is magnificent from Imran and the crowd is just loving it. Slanted across the batter, into the corridor outside the off stump on a good length. The batter rocks back to punch off the back foot but gets done by the angle and seam, edging it low to the left side of the keeper. Khawaja Nafay is alert as he dives across to his left to gather the ball cleanly just before it touches the turf.

WIDE! Bumper, sails way over the batter. Sahan Arachchige makes a leave.

Sahan Arachchige walks in to bat at number 5.

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Make it two for Mohammad Imran and this is a big, big wicket for Pakistan. Good-length delivery holding its line outside off. Mendis waits in his crease before attempting an aggressive, expansive drive. He can only manage an edge that flies low towards the keeper. Khawaja Nafay reacts brilliantly, lunging forward to gather the ball just before it hits the ground.

A touch fuller, around the pads, Kamindu Mendis clips it to square leg for a single.

On a length, around off, Kusal Mendis pushes it to deep point for one.

SIX! Full marks for effort, but it all goes in vain. Dropped short outside off stump, Kamindu gets across his crease and hooks it toward deep midwicket. Saim Ayub makes a running catch near the boundary and parries the ball back inside before losing his balance over the rope. It looks like a brilliant piece of fielding, but the TV umpire takes a second look. The slow-motion replay confirms Ayub's heel made contact with the boundary cushion while in secure possession of the ball. 170 runs needed off 78 balls now.

Short, around off, Kusal flat bats it to cover for a single.

Tossed up, fuller, on off, Kamindu reverse sweeps it to deep point and gets across.

A touch fuller, around off, Kamindu Mendis drives it toward the right of the sweeper cover for a brace.

Short, on off, Mendis blocks it out.

Fuller, around middle, Kusal Mendis pushes it to mid on for one.

Kamindu Mendis joins Kusal Mendis out in the middle for Sri Lanka. Also, the Powerplay is done and the field can now spread.

OUT! TAKEN! Mohammad Imran gets his first wicket and Sri Lanka lose both their openers now. Hits the deck hard to generate some extra bounce, over off. Sineth Jayawardena looks to swat it across the line, but catches the top edge. The ball loops up high toward square leg, where Fakhar Zaman gets underneath the skier from mid-wicket and pouches it safely.

Pitches it up, on off and middle. Kusal Mendis clips it to deep square leg for one.

Back of a length, on middle, angling in. Sineth Jayawardena tries to heave it away, but gets beaten on the inside edge and wears on the back thigh pad, before it bounces off toward short fine leg for a leg bye.

Back of a length, outside off, Sineth Jayawardena pulls it across the line to mid on.

Fuller in length, around off, Kusal Mendis drives it with soft hands toward cover-point and gets a single.

Slower, on a good length, around off, Kusal Mendis punches it to cover.

Marginally shorter, wider of the off stump as well. Jayawardena stays back and smacks it away to the left of deep backward point for a couple of runs now. Another tidy over for Pakistan.

Pitched up around off, slower as well and angling across the left-hander. Jayawardena leans into the drive but misses.

Short and wide, cut away hard to deep backward point for a single.

What's happened here? First up, it's an excellent change-up from Shah, bowling that heavy bumper, right around the batter's face. Kusal Mendis is rushed into the pull and the ball sails past the gloves. There's half an appeal from Shah and the umpire almost signals it out, before eventually signalling one bouncer for the over. Everyone is a bit perplexed with the manner that signal was given by the umpire, but Pakistan do not review. UltraEdge later shows that there wasn't any bat or glove involved anyway.

Pace off again, on a dragged length and angled well across off. Jayawardena taps it down to deep point and rotates strike.

Shah changes ends and starts with a back-of-the-hand slower ball. This is bowled full at the legs, at 108.3 clicks. Mendis wrists it in front of square leg for a single.

A very tidy start for Imran, just 3 off his first over. Pitched further up, on off and angling it away. Jayawardena is caught on the crease and edges it down to short third. 189 more needed now off 96 balls.

Bashed into the surface, on a hard length and around off. Jayawardena blocks it off.

Good cricket all around. Back of a length and in the channel, Kusal Mendis rocks back and glides it off the face of the blade to the left of short third. Salman Mirza dives across and cuts it off, but can't prevent Mendis from sneaking in a quick single.

Hard length, in and around off, pushed across the off stump. Jayawardena presses back and plays it with soft hands through backward point for a run.

Banged into the pitch and getting it to dart away from the left-hander. Jayawardena leans back to pull but is well beaten.

Imran begins with a shortish ball wide outside off, Kusal cuts it down through backward point and collects a single to get off the mark.

Back of a length and outside off, Jayawardena waits back before dabbing it down to backward point. 12 off that over.

FOUR! That's a confident-looking shot, and Jayawardena makes it a hat-trick of boundaries. Good length, wide outside off, no real pace behind the ball. Jayawardena gives the charge and slams it in front of point for a boundary.

FOUR! A bit unlucky for the bowler. The off-cutter by Mirza, back of a length and this one jags back in sharply from outside off. Jayawardena is nearly cut in half but gets an inside edge that goes past the stumps and runs away into the fine leg fence.

FOUR! Crunched! Short ball over middle, Jayawardena picks the length in a trice and powers the pull in front of mid-wicket for a boundary.

Just short of the fielder. Hard length around off, Jayawardena gets forward to play the lofted drive but gets it off the splice of the bat and on the bounce to mid off.

Swing and a miss! Full and wide outside off, the length is there to be hit and Jayawardena throws his hands at it, but fails to connect.

This one jags back in! Length again, around off and angling back in sharply. Mendis looks to get forward but is rushed and gets an inside edge onto the body.

Lovely delivery, getting it to move a bit in the air. Pitched a bit fuller and outside off, shaping away sharply. Kusal Mendis thinks about playing at it but is beaten by the movement.

The attempted away-swinger, on the money, attacking the top of off. This one nibbles away a bit and Kusal Mendis watchfully defends.

Good-length delivery, at just 115.1 kph and angled across off. Jayawardena stays back and taps it to deep point, picking up a single.

Slight halt! The physio comes out running and has a lot on the left hand of Sineth Jayawardena. He is all good to continue now.

FOUR! Spanked away to the fence. Slightly short but well wide outside off. Jayawardena waits on the back foot before cutting it firmly behind point for a boundary.

Much better from Shah this time. Hammered in back of a length and over middle, looking to angle the ball back in. Sineth Jayawardena is rushed as he tries to play a short-arm jab and gets hit in the midriff.

WIDE! A loose one from Naseem Shah to start. This is pushed well wide of the off stump line and a wide is called.

Kusal Mendis will come out to bat next. Also, Naseem Shah will bowl from the other end.

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Excellent review. Salman Mirza slips in a sharp bumper over the left shoulder. Lahiru Udara goes to pull but is cramped up and the ball whizzes over the blade and into the mitts of Khawaja Nafay. However, there is a very excited appeal from the Pakistan camp for a caught behind here, but the umpire turns it down. The bowler and the keeper want the review and Sahibzada Farhan does go for it. The third umpire has a look and UltraEdge shows that the ball did flick the gloves on its way through to the keeper. Sri Lanka's aggressor from the last game is gone in the first over.

FOUR! Classic! Length ball in the channel, slanting across. Lahiru Udara drives on the up, hitting through the line and he creams it through covers for the first boundary of the chase.

Slower one, pitched up on middle and angling across the right-hander. Udara tucks it across to mid-wicket.

Fuller this time, swinging into the stumps. Jayawardena stays back and taps it across in front of square leg for a run.

Mirza hits a good length at 132.1 kph, and keeps the line tight on off stump. Sineth Jayawardena hangs back and punches it down to point.

A tight single, Lahiru Udara and Sri Lanka are off the mark. Pitched very full on off and middle, and there's a hint of shape on it as well. Udara plays it under the eyes and bunts it to mid off for a quick single.

OUT! CAUGHT! Heartbreak for Maaz Sadaqat on the final ball of the innings, and Pakistan finish with 215/3 on the board. Eshan Malinga keeps hitting that shorter length and darts it across the left-hander. Sadaqat gets upright and goes after it, but there's not enough room to completely free his arms. Sadaqat ends up hitting it high and down to deep cover, where Dasun Shanaka hangs on to the catch. Sadaqat cannot believe his luck as he misses out on what would have been a sensational ton.

That's excellent from Malinga. Another slower bumper, around the fifth-stump line and Malinga gets it around shoulder height. Sadaqat hops to slash it away but misses. Just 5 off the over with a ball to go.

Two more. Malinga spears it in at the toes, Sadaqat clips it away behind square leg and to the right of deep backward square leg for another brace. Sadaqat is now on 96.

Yet another misfield and Sadaqat is able to get back on strike. Full and wide outside off, jammed out firmly to the left of extra cover. The fielder gets across and spills it behind for a couple of runs.

Slow and short, wide of the off stump. Sadaqat looks to reach out and slash it over the off side but is undone by the lack of pace.

Dug into the pitch and slinging well away from the right-hander. Nawaz reaches out and toe-ends it in front of mid off for a single.

Hard length at the stumps, Sadaqat looks to swing it leg side but gets an inside edge down to fine leg and picks up a couple of runs. Another 16-run over for Pakistan.

FOUR! Picked up on the leg side now. Malinga drifts onto the pads and Maaz Sadaqat nonchalantly just flicks it up and over backward square leg for another boundary. He's now into the 90s.

FOUR! Poor delivery, but Sadaqat really had to reach for it. Full toss, nearly the tramline outside off. Sadaqat goes through with the shot, throwing his hands at it and slashes it through point for a boundary.

Very full and on off, Nawaz stays deep in the crease and hits it down to long off for one more. 200 UP FOR PAKISTAN.

Sadaqat tries it again, but this time it doesn't quite come off. Good length around off, Sadaqat tries a cheeky lap and gets an inside edge onto the body. The ball rolls behind leg stump and the batters get a single.

FOUR! Ominous signs for Sri Lanka. Slower and fuller, angled across off. Sadaqat shuffles to the off side and plays a no-look lap, getting it perfectly over short fine leg for a boundary.

FOUR! Immaculate placement! Short ball, right at the batter. Nawaz leans back and controls the pull between deep square leg and deep mid-wicket for another boundary. 16 off the over, and the 50-run stand is also up between these two.

SIX! Spilled over the ropes! The bowler must be fuming at the moment. Good length, slanted well across off, slower too. Hasan Nawaz crouches a bit and whacks it high towards wide long off. Kamindu Mendis runs behind to his left and the ball is always going away from him, and he ends up parrying it over the ropes for a six.

A wide yorker now, Binura nails it as well. Sadaqat stays back and throws his hands at it, drilling the ball to sweeper cover for just one more.

Back of a length and outside off, cut away off the back foot to sweeper cover for a single.

Good fielding, but the batters get three runs in the end. Banged in well short, with pace off and outside off. Sadaqat goes after it and has to force it over wide mid off. The ball skips away but the mid off fielder chases it down, saving a run.

Buttery fingers from the Lankan fielders. Binura pitches it full and wide at just 106.3 kph. Nawaz waits and pats it down to the right of backward point, where Malinga fumbles it through his hands and concedes a single.

SIX! That's more like it from Sadaqat, and hitting down the ground is his strength. Malinga keeps taking pace off but he bowls this one a bit fuller around off. Sadaqat shuffles to the off side and batters it over long off for a biggie.

Sadaqat trying too many things at the moment. Pace off once again, slanted well across off. Sadaqat moves around in his crease, going for the reverse lap in the end and he fails to connect.

A slower bumper now, tighter around off and around shoulder height. Sadaqat looks to pull but is well beaten.

That's sloppy from Dasun Shanaka. Pace off, on a good length and outside off. Maaz Sadaqat extends his arms and slaps it down to extra cover, where Shanaka lets it through his fingers, conceding a couple of runs in the deep.

Back of a length and in the channel, pushed away off the back foot past covers for one more.

Top effort in the deep. Another pace off delivery, short and well wide of the off stump. Sadaqat slashes it up and over point and the fielder in the deep comes charging in from the deep. The fielder dives but the ball falls short and he is able to get his body behind the ball, keeping it down to a single.

WIDE! Slower one into the deck, pushed across the left-hander. Sadaqat goes after it and misses, and a wide is called. Sri Lanka aren't happy with that call.

Dragged length on off, Nawaz rocks back and works it away between square leg and deep mid-wicket, pinching a quick couple of runs. 22 off Theekshana's final over.

Quicker one, bashed into the deck and outside off. Sadaqat slaps it away through extra cover for a single.

WIDE! Theekshana takes the ball even wider of the off stump, and Sadaqat leaves it alone for an extra.

SIX! One more, the third one of the over. Floated up wide of the off stump, but this is too full. Maaz Sadaqat goes after it and launches it over extra cover for yet another six.

SIX! Swung away into the stands. Just behind a good length and at the stumps, Sadaqat lines it up early and slogs it over deep mid-wicket for another biggie.

Fired in outside the off stump, Sadaqat firmly jams it out to point.

SIX! The hang time on that one was pretty long. Maaz Sadaqat brings up his FIFTY as well, and he too goes back-to-back. Flighted ball on off, Sadaqat clears the front leg and wallops it over long off for a biggie.

Maheesh Theekshana is back on to finish his spell.

Fuller, around the pads, Hasan Nawaz clips it to deep square leg for a brace.

The next batter is Hasan Nawaz.

OUT! TAKEN! There comes the wicket that the Lankans were chasing for a long time, and it's Dasun Shanaka who breaks the 88-run foundation. Slower short ball wide of off. Farhan waits and tries a wild upper cut. He miscues it completely, sending the ball sky-high into the atmosphere. It comes floating down like a snowflake at deep third, where Maheesh Theekshana sets his feet, keeps his eyes locked, and pouches it safely in his big palms

FOUR! Now towards the leg side. Spraying around the pads of the batter. Sahibzada Farhan glances it away toward the right of the short fine leg fielder. He does well to sprint all the way and slides to flick it into the field of play, but the replay shows that he gets the contact with boundary cushion, while flicking it back.

SIX! Farhan just holds the pose after offering the shot. A half-volley delivery, keeping the line outside off. Sahibzada Farhan covers the stumps with his back leg and smashes it downtown for half a dozen. Actually, that ball nearly smashed into the commentary box.

Just a shade behind the fuller length, around off, Maaz Sadaqat punches it wide of cover for one.

In the air... SAFE! A touch fuller, outside off. Sahibzada Farhan attempts to lash it toward long off, but catches the top edge. The ball loops up high but drops safely between the two converging fielders, one from deep point and another tracking back from cover. Single taken.

Just a shade behind the good length, around leg. Maaz Sadaqat misses his flick and wears on the front pad. After a huge appeal turned down, Kusal Mendis opts for a review. However, the Ball Tracking shows that the delivery is clearly pitching outside leg and Sri Lanka lose their first review.

Slower one yet again, outside off. Maaz Sadaqat tries to guide it to short third but gets beaten.

Short of a length, around off, Maaz Sadaqat fends it to point.

Slower one, a touch fuller, outside off. Maaz Sadaqat looks to push it away, but gets beaten on the outside edge. On the fuller side, outside off, off-pace to tempt the drive. Sadaqat plays with hard hands, driving firmly back up the pitch. Nuwan, while finishing his follow-through, extends his hands to his right to take the catch, but handles it far too casually and ends up spilling it away.

DROPPED! Another chance goes begging, and this time Thushara himself is the culprit.

Back of a length, outside off, Sahibzada Farhan pats it to cover and gets across.

Pitches it up, around off, Sahibzada Farhan punches it to long off for a single.

WIDE! Shortish, but darts it down the leg side. Farhan makes a leave.

Short of a length, around off, Maaz Sadaqat punches it to deep cover-point and gets a single.

Pitches it up, on off, Maaz Sadaqat drives it to cover.

Fuller, on middle, Maaz Sadaqat clips it to deep mid-wicket for a brace.

Short, outside off, Maaz Sadaqat slaps it to deep point for a brace.

SIX! Optimum use of the free-hit delivery! Short of a length, on off. Maaz Sadaqat powers it over long on and gets half a dozen.

Tossed up, much fuller, on middle, Sahibzada Farhan clips it to wide long on and gets a single. Oh no, the buzzer goes off and the umpire signals a No Ball as Mendis oversteps. Free Hit coming up next.

A touch fuller, around off, Sahibzada Farhan punches it to cover and gets across.

SIX! Hot knife through butter! Good-length delivery, on middle and off. Sahibzada Farhan goes deep into the crease and slogs it over deep mid-wicket for a biggie.

On a length, around off, Maaz Sadaqat punches it to cover for one.

FOUR! The runs are piling up thick and fast. Fernando tries for a wide yorker, but spills out a low full toss. Maaz Sadaqat frees his arms to slice it to beat the right of the deep cover-point fielder for another boundary.

A touch fuller, outside off, Maaz Sadaqat attempts to loft it over the bowler, but it sneaks past the outside edge.

Fuller, around off, Sahibzada Farhan fends it to point and gets a single.

FOUR! Quick thinking from Sadaqat! Change of pace from Dasun Shanaka, on a good length, just outside off. Maaz Sadaqat switches his stance and ramps it toward the right of the short third fielder for four runs.

Nails a yorker, at the base of the off stump. Maaz Sadaqat does well to block it down, but sets off for a single that was never a good plan, as the ball bounces off toward the charging keeper. Sahibzada Farhan spots it and rejects the call instantly.

Bangs in a bouncer, over off. Sahibzada Farhan pulls it down with control, toward square leg for a single.

On a nagging length, outside off, Sahibzada Farhan pushes it to cover.

Much fuller, wide outside off, Maaz Sadaqat squeezes it to point and gets a single.

SIX! BANG! Full-length delivery, on off, Maaz Sadaqat clears his front foot and heaves it across the line, over mid on for half a dozen.

DRINKS BREAK! Losing a wicket just after the Powerplay could have slowed things down, but Maaz Sadaqat had other ideas. He stepped in smoothly and kept the scoreboard ticking. At the other end, Sahibzada Farhan notched yet another half-century, and a dream start to his captaincy it is.

On a hard length, on middle and jagging back in. Farhan gets cramped up and jams it back down the pitch. Pakistan are 90/1 at the halfway mark in their innings.

Fuller now, angled well across off. Sadaqat reaches out and smothers it away in front of point for a single.

FOUR! High on the bat, but clean enough to take it over the infield. Short of a good length, angling it across off. Maaz Sadaqat stands tall and hammers it away over mid off for a boundary. 30 runs in the last 10 balls for Pakistan.

WIDE! A slower ball gone wrong from Malinga now. This is spilled beyond the tramline outside off for an extra.

SIX! Bread and butter for an in-form player like Sadaqat. Short and wide, Sadaqat extends the arms and lays into the shot, slashing it up and over deep point for a six.

That will be FIFTY for Sahibzada Farhan, second in a row in this series, and 12th overall in T20Is. A slower bumper now, over middle. Farhan rides the bounce well and pulls it down through square leg for a single.

Back of a length, slanted across the left-hander. Sadaqat stays put to cut, but he toe ends it down to the keeper's left. Kusal Mendis dives and parries it behind, conceding a single.

The length is pulled back now and Farhan hops onto the back foot, punching it square through covers for a couple of runs more. Farhan moves to 49 now.

SIX! Whacked away! Fired in a bit wider of the off stump now. Sahibzada Farhan sits down and reaches for it, walloping it wide of long on for a 96-meter behemoth.

SIX! That was premeditated by Farhan. Farhan starts backing away to the leg side and Theekshana tries to angle it back in. Farhan gets the ball in the arc and swings it with aplomb over deep square leg for a biggie.

Nagging length, in and around off. Farhan is caught on the crease and ends up just fending it off.

Nagging length around off, punched away through mid off for a single.

A very safe place to hit the ball. Darted in towards the batter. Sadaqat steps out and hits it straight back over the bowler's head. Kamindu Mendis at long off runs across to his left and cuts it out, keeping it down to two runs.

Slower again, on a length and at the stumps. Sadaqat tucks it away through mid-wicket for a single. Only 4 singles off Shanaka's first over.

Good change-up from Shanaka. Slower one, a bit full and outside off, slanting it back in. Sadaqat moves to the off side, looking for the pick-up shot but ends up hitting it off the back of the blade towards point. Shanaka appeals a bit for LBW and this might have flicked the pad, but the impact certainly seems outside off.

A skiddy short ball, jagging back into the body. Farhan stays back and plays it in front of himself, jabbing it through mid-wicket for another single.

A heavy-length ball, bashed into the deck. Sadaqat comes forward to pull but gets rushed and toe-ends it to mid on for a run.

Slightly round-arm, full as well and slanted into the front pad. Sadaqat looks to clip across the line but gets an inside edge onto the pads.

Shanaka begins on the shorter side of a good length. Farhan stays back, lifts one leg up and tugs it down to deep square leg for a single.

The in-drifter, full and angled in sharply into the pads. Maaz Sadaqat looks to flick but gets a leading edge in front of extra cover.

Maaz Sadaqat is the new batter at the crease.

OUT! CAUGHT! Straight down the fielder's throat and Pakistan's opening stand is finally broken. Maheesh Theekshana gives it some air and tosses it up around off. Fakhar Zaman dances down the pitch and looks to slam it wide of long off but doesn't quite get to the pitch of the ball. He goes through with the shot and lofts it down to long off, where Kamindu Mendis pouches it safely. Pakistan are now 55/1.

Good work in the deep. Too slow and short, over middle. Farhan has time to rock back and pull, and he does so powerfully but the fielder at deep backward square leg makes a good stop to his left, keeping it down to a single.

SIX! Launched into the evening sky! Floated up outside off, looking to drift it away. Farhan sits down and drags the slog sweep handsomely over deep mid-wicket for a biggie. It's been well caught by the ball boy as well. 50 UP FOR PAKISTAN.

Fractionally shorter, going away from off. Sahibzada Farhan swivels in his crease and swats the pull to the right of deep square leg, picking up a couple of runs.

On a good length, honing in on that front pad. Farhan plays it with a straight bat and towards mid on.

End of the Powerplay! Pakistan have posted 46 runs off the first six overs and have looked lethal as well. However, all thanks to Sri Lanka's fielding, as they have dropped a couple of chances, which built more confidence for the batters.

Pace off now, into the pitch and outside off. Farhan stabs it in front of covers for a single, and Pakistan are 46/0 at the end of the Powerplay.

Bashed on a shorter length and just outside off. Zaman leans across and swings it away without any real timing, down to deep backward square leg for a run more.

A straight yorker now, swinging back into the batter. Farhan digs it out to cover and pinches a quick single.

FOUR! Up and over! Pitched up, too full and on off. Sahibzada Farhan hammers it away off the front foot, launching it over wide mid off for another boundary.

No run there! Shorter one, banged into the deck and around off. Farhan gets upright and jams it down to cover. Fakhar Zaman is quick to set off for the single but Farhan rightly sends him back.

FOUR! In the gap! Fuller and wider of the off stump, not a half-volley but plenty wide. Sahibzada Farhan goes after it and slams the drive through the gap at covers for a boundary.

Eshan Malinga comes in to bowl the final over of the Powerplay, replacing Nuwan Thushara.

Pitching it fuller, outside off, Fakhar Zaman slaps it to cover.

FOUR! Magnificent! Flatter and quicker, fuller in length, around the leg stump. Fakhar Zaman gets down on one knee and sweeps it over short fine leg for four runs.

Just a shade behind the fuller length, on middle, Sahibzada Farhan clips it to deep square leg for one.

A touch fuller, on off, Fakhar Zaman slaps it through cover and gets a single.

Fuller, on off, defended by Zaman.

Fuller, at the stumps, Sahibzada Farhan clips it to deep square leg for a single.

DROPPED! Oh my word, that should have been taken. Slower delivery now, pitching it fuller on the line of the stumps. Farhan attempts a big blow through the leg side but gets it entirely off the toe end, sending a towering miscue up into the ring. Sineth Jayawardena at short third stands rooted to the spot with minimal movement required, but gets his hands completely wrong and drops the ball. The batters get a single as well.

Fuller in length, around leg, Fakhar Zaman flicks it to deep backward square leg for a single.

Bangs a bouncer, over middle. Fakhar Zaman makes room and tries to upper it over short third, but misses the connection.

A touch fuller, on middle, Sahibzada Farhan flicks it away to deep square leg for a single.

Full-length delivery, attacking the middle stump. Sahibzada Farhan pushes it with the full face of the bat. The ball beats the bowler's right hand and hits the stumps at the non-striker's end.

Back of a length, over middle. Fakhar Zaman pulls it behind deep square leg for a single.

Fyller delivery, on middle, Sahibzada Farhan looks to defend it down, but induces an inside edge before it rolls to deep fine leg for a brace.

On a nagging length, angling across, outside off. Sahibzada Farhan looks to smash it downtown, but gets beaten on the outside edge.

FOUR! Hammered away! Back of a length, around the hips of the batter. Sahibzada Farhan picks up the length pretty early and pulls it hard, through square leg for four runs.

Back of a length, around leg, Sahibzada Farhan flicks it late to short fine leg.

DROPPED! Oh, that was hit really hard, and it's a very tough chance put down by Maheesh Theekshana. Good length on leg, shaping in. Sahibzada Farhan charges down the track whilst making room and heaves it away flat to the right of mid-wicket. Theekshana is quick to react and lunges across, getting both hands on it as well, but the ball bursts through the hands and Farhan gets two runs.

Good-length delivery, on off and middle, Sahibzada Farhan blocks it down.

FOUR! More runs for Pakistan! Nuwan aims for the yorker, but spills out a full toss, on off. Fakhar Zaman drills it straight down the ground and gets a boundary.

On a length, at the stumps, Fakhar Zaman clips it to wide deep square leg and gets a brace.

FOUR! Excellent shot from Zaman! Pitched fuller, shaping back into the pads. Fakhar Zaman shows superb timing, flicking his wrists to direct the ball wide of long leg. Senith Jayawardene sprints to his right from the deep boundary, lunges out a hand, but can't hold it back as it trickles past for four.

On a length, around middle and leg, Sahibzada Farhan flicks it to square leg and gets a single.

Now that one stays pretty low! Pitches it on the back of a good length, outside off. Sahibzada Farhan rocks back to punch it away, but the ball skids through and beats the batter.

Pitches it up, around off, Sahibzada Farhan pushes it to cover.

Nuwan Thushara to operate from the other end.

FOUR! Oh, what a shot that is! Good-length delivery, on off. Fakhar Zaman makes room and slaps it hard through the cover-point gap for the first boundary of this encounter.

Pitches it fuller, just outside off, nipping in a shade away from the left-hander. Fakhar Zaman fends it down the track.

HIts the deck hard, does Fernando, outside off. Fakhar Zaman dabs it to cover. Three dots in the trot.

Hard-length delivery, outside off, Fakhar Zaman offers no shot at it.

Back of a length, outside off. Fakhar Zaman hands his willow up in the air and makes a leave.

Off the outside edge! Binura Fernando scoots from over the wicket and bowls fuller, on off, angling it just a bit away. Sahibzada Farhan covers the stumps and looks to defend it to his front, but gets the outside edge before it rolls behind point for one.

All in readiness for the game to begin. The umpires are out in the middle, and so are the players of Sri Lanka. The duo of Fakhar Zaman and Sahibzada Farhan is also set to open the innings for Pakistan. It will be Binura Fernando to start proceedings with his left-arm medium pace. Let's play...

Sri Lanka (Playing XI) - Lahiru Udara, Sineth Jayawardena (In place of Kamil Mishara) , Kusal Mendis (C/WK), Kamindu Mendis, Sahan Arachchige, Dasun Shanaka, Chamindu Wickramasinghe (In place of Dunith Wellalage), Maheesh Theekshana, Eshan Malinga, Binura Fernando (In place of Dushmantha Chameera) and Nuwan Thushara.

Pakistan (Playing XI) - Sahibzada Farhan (C), Fakhar Zaman, Maaz Sadaqat, Hasan Nawaz, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Khawaja Nafay (WK), Mohammad Imran, Naseem Shah, Salman Mirza (In place of Razaullah) and Abrar Ahmed.

TOSS TIME - Up goes the coin flip and it lands in favour of Sri Lanka. They elected to BOWL first.

Win or bust - For Sri Lanka, Friday was a tale of one man and ten passengers. Lahiru Udara’s brilliant 91 was the only bright spark in an otherwise hapless batting performance, a knock that almost single-handedly got Sri Lanka to a competitive total, only to be let down by a top order that took nine deliveries just to get off the mark. Sri Lanka’s only bilateral T20I series win over Pakistan came in Lahore in 2019, which was a 3-0 whitewash, and they will need to reach back into that memory to find the belief required tonight. Lose tonight, and the series is gone. Win, and Rawalpindi gets its decider on Tuesday. Toss and team updates to follow...

New leader, new heartbeat - Pakistan’s captain Sahibzada Farhan celebrated his ascension to the T20I captaincy in the grandest possible style on Friday, smashing a 53-ball 89 that blazed his side to a comprehensive win. A blistering 70-run powerplay set the tone, and a commanding 92-run partnership between Farhan and Maaz Sadaqat put the result beyond doubt. The partnership not only set the tone of that match but also announced both men as the new heartbeat of Pakistan’s T20I batting unit.

Greetings folks - Rawalpindi is buzzing again on Sunday night, and the stakes could not be higher for Sri Lanka. Pakistan lead the three-match series 1-0 after a dominant four-wicket win in the opener on Friday, meaning a Pakistan victory tonight seals the series with a match to spare, while Sri Lanka must win to keep their hopes alive heading into Tuesday’s decider.

... MATCHDAY ...

Midway point of the series - Pakistan will look to consolidate their advantage in the three-match T20I series when they face Sri Lanka in the second T20 International at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. The hosts secured a four-wicket victory in the opening encounter, chasing down Sri Lanka’s total of 182 with seven balls to spare. With Pakistan leading 1-0, the visitors face a crucial contest in which another defeat would hand the hosts an unassailable series lead. The opening match offered plenty of encouragement for both sides, albeit in different departments. Sri Lanka demonstrated their ability to post a competitive total through Lahiru Udara’s outstanding innings, but Pakistan’s batting depth and the composure of their new captain, Sahibzada Farhan, ultimately proved decisive. The second T20I will test whether Sri Lanka can turn promising individual performances into a complete team display, while Pakistan will aim to maintain their momentum and take another step forward under their new leadership. A glimpse of the previous game - Pakistan’s four-wicket victory in the series opener was built around an exceptional innings from Sahibzada Farhan. After Sri Lanka elected to bat first, the visitors posted 182/8 in 20 overs, establishing a challenging target that required Pakistan’s batting unit to combine positive intent with sound game management. Lahiru Udara was the standout performer for Sri Lanka, scoring 91 from 55 deliveries, including 11 fours and a six. His innings provided the foundation for a total that kept the visitors competitive despite the loss of wickets around him. Udara showed that Sri Lanka possess the batting resources to challenge Pakistan, although the inability to convert his individual brilliance into an even larger total could become an important talking point. Pakistan’s bowling effort was led by Naseem Shah, who claimed three wickets for 36 runs, while Mohammad Imran impressed on his T20I debut with two wickets for 21 runs. Their contributions helped prevent Sri Lanka from pushing beyond 200, a milestone that might have made the chase considerably more difficult. In reply, Farhan produced a match-winning 89 off 53 balls, striking 10 fours and four sixes. He shared an opening stand of 54 with Fakhar Zaman before building a decisive 92-run partnership for the second wicket with Maaz Sadaqat, who contributed 50 from just 29 deliveries. Pakistan reached 187/6 in 18.5 overs, securing victory with eight balls to spare. The result highlighted the contrasting strengths of the two teams. Pakistan benefited from a commanding individual performance supported by an important contribution from a young batter, whereas Sri Lanka were left to consider how to defend a substantial total more effectively. Both teams have clear areas to address ahead of the second encounter. Farhan's time to shine - Pakistan will enter the second T20I with renewed confidence after their successful chase, and the attention will once again be on Farhan. Taking charge of the side following Salman Ali Agha’s removal as captain, Farhan made an emphatic statement in his first T20I as bilateral-series skipper. His 89 was not merely a match-winning innings, and it demonstrated his ability to take responsibility and set the tempo in a demanding run chase. The challenge for Pakistan will be to avoid complacency. Their victory was convincing in terms of the final result, but conceding 182 runs showed that their bowlers still have work to do. If they can restrict Sri Lanka’s scoring during the middle overs and execute their plans at the death, the hosts will be well positioned to take the series. Sri Lanka's challenge - Sri Lanka have little time to dwell on the opening defeat. Their batting performance contained several positive signs, particularly Udara’s outstanding 91, but they will need a more collective contribution to level the series. Kusal Mendis, the Sri Lankan captain, will be central to that effort. As an experienced top-order batter, he needs to provide stability while maintaining enough scoring momentum to prevent Pakistan’s bowlers from dictating the pace. Kamil Mishara and the other top-order options will also need to make their starts count. With the ball, Sri Lanka must find a way to contain Farhan. Their bowlers struggled to prevent the Pakistan captain from controlling the chase, and the partnership with Sadaqat further exposed their inability to break through at a crucial stage. Maheesh Theekshana and Eshan Malinga, who each claimed two wickets in the first match, will be expected to play important roles again. Venue and conditions - Given that Rawalpindi will host all three T20Is, giving both sides the opportunity to make adjustments without having to adapt to a different venue. The opening match, in which Sri Lanka scored 182 and Pakistan chased the target in 18.5 overs, suggests that batters can score freely when they settle at the crease. A competitive batting surface would again place a premium on Powerplay efficiency, the ability to rotate strike through the middle overs and clean hitting at the end. However, the actual conditions on match day will determine whether the surface offers assistance to the fast bowlers or allows batters to play their shots with confidence. The toss could influence the teams’ tactical decisions. Chasing worked well for Pakistan in the first T20I, so the captain winning the toss may consider batting second if the conditions and expected evening dew support that approach. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, could prefer to bat first and put pressure on Pakistan with a stronger total, provided their bowlers can defend it more effectively than they did in the opener. Form (Last 5 completed T20Is, most recent first) - PAK - WLWWL | SL - LWLLL. Prediction time - Sri Lanka are capable of levelling the series if their batting and bowling units perform together, but Pakistan’s momentum and greater confidence in the current conditions give them the edge. Another victory would seal the series for the hosts with one match remaining, while a Sri Lankan win would set up a decisive third T20I. Ultimately, the contest is likely to hinge on two questions - can Sri Lanka find a way to dismiss Farhan before he settles, and can their own batters turn individual contributions into a total their bowlers can defend? The answers could determine not only the result of this match but also the direction of the entire series.