Pakistan vs Sri Lanka SL in PAK, 3 T20Is, 2026

FOUR! That will be more than enough! Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by 8 wickets in this last match of the T20I series and it's all happy faces in the Lankan dugout. Razaullah fires it fuller, just outside off. Kusal Mendis rocks back, bends his back leg, and drills it beautifully toward the left of the short cover fielder for the boundary.

Mirza produces a beauty out of nowhere. Angled in from over the wicket before straightening off the deck. Mendis attempts the flick by closing the bat face but is undone by the seam movement and is beaten past the outside edge.

Scores are level! Short and wide on off. Mendis frees his arms and cracks the cut to deep point, where the fielder tidies up and keeps the batters down to a single.

SIX! Clean strike. Kusal Mendis is showing his full range. Mirza pushes the length up, on off and middle. Mendis backs away and with a clean swing of the arms, he slams it over long off for a biggie. With that, Kusal becomes the leading run-getter for Sri Lanka in T20Is, overtaking Pathum Nissanka, according to the on-air commentators.

FOUR! Clever, very clever! Banged in short, over middle. Mendis backs away and hops. He gets his hands high to play the upper cut over the keeper's head for another four. 8 more needed for Sri Lanka.

Very full, on off. Kusal tries to repeat the dose of reverse scoop but toe-ends it back to the bowler.

FOUR! Innovative and mighty effective. Angled in towards the off stump, on a length. Mendis pre-empts the reverse scoop and backs away to give himself room. He hangs low to get under the ball and gets it over short third for a boundary.

Pushes the length up, on off. Kamindu knocks it to extra cover.

Bowls the leg-cutter, not all that short, angled into the right-hander. Mendis crouches and shovels it to the left of deep square leg for one.

Low full toss, on middle and leg. Kamindu clips it to deep mid-wicket for one.

In and around the off pole, on a back of a length. Kamindu taps it back to the bowler.

Low full toss, on off. Mendis swipes it away past mid-wicket for a run.

Pace off, on a good length. Mendis punches it to deep cover for a single. The 150 comes up for Sri Lanka.

Yet again some extra bounce, pitching it on a length, outside off. Kusal Mendis frees his arms to spank it away, but misses on the outside edge.

A touch fuller, on off, Kamindu Mendis pushes it to deep cover for one. Sri Lanka need 20 more runs.

On a length, outside off, Kusal Mendis rocks back and cuts it to the left of the sweeper cover fielder for one.

Another concussion check! The umpire calls for the physio, but Kusal Mendis points out that Khawaja Nafay was struck on the shoulder, not the helmet. The umpires, however, insist on a concussion check. The test is complete, and we are good to go.

Short of a length, wide outside off. Kamindu Mendis hangs back to cut it away, but gets beaten on the top edge as it gets some bounce off the deck. Khawaja Nafay fails to glove it and yet again takes a blow on the helmet.

Short, on middle. Kamindu Mendis clips it to deep mid-wicket for a couple of runs.

DROPPED! Delivers it fuller, on off stump. Kusal goes for the sweep-slog but gets a top edge due to the extra bounce. The ball hangs high above the infield as Moqim runs over his right shoulder. He stretches his hands out in front but barely lays a hand on the ball. That should have been taken.

FOUR! Hammered away! Short of a length, around middle. Kamindu Mendis pulls it into the gap between deep mid-wicket and deep square leg for four runs.

On a length, on off. Kusal Mendis ramps it to deep third for a single.

SIX! Some lucky runs for Kusal! Just a shade behind the good length, just outside off, angling in. Kusal Mendis tries to flick it away, but a top edge. The ball flies and bounces on the boundary cushions on the full for a six.

On a nagging length, around off, Kamindu clips it to mid-wicket for a single.

FOUR! That is glorious from Kamindu! Razaullah pitches it up, much fuller, on off. Kamindu Mendis plants his front foot toward the delivery and drives it crisply toward the left of the mid off fielder for a boundary.

Back of a length, outside off, Kamindu Mendis guides it to deep backward point for a brace.

SIX! Catch taken but it won't matter. Flighted delivery, on off. Mendis advances down the track and extends his hands into the lofted hit, playing it towards long off. Abdul Samad backpedals and takes the catch over his head but keeps going with the momentum and falls on his back beyond the boundary cushions with the ball in hand. 14 runs off the over. Sri Lanka require 44 runs from 42 balls.

Tossed up, on middle. Kamindu steps out and works it to long on. They cross.

Fractionally short, on off. Mendis punches it to deep cover for one more.

Full and on off, flicked to deep mid-wicket for a single.

FOUR! Streaky! On a length, outside off. Kamindu Mendis looks to cut it away, but the ball catches the outside edge and it races away for four runs through deep third.

FIFTY FOR KUSAL MENDIS! Certainly a captain's knock from the skipper of Sri Lanka. Pitching it on a good length, Kusal punches it to deep cover-point and gets a single to get to his 21st T20I half-century for the nation.

Change of ends for Arafat Minhas.

Change of pace, on a length, outside off, Kamindu Mendis punches it to the left of deep cover for another brace. 10 runs off the over. 58 needed from 48 balls.

On a length, around off, Kamindu Mendis knocks it to the left of long off for a brace.

Short, outside off, Kusal Mendis steers it to short third for one.

Back of a length, well outside off, Kusal Mendis tries to cut it away, but gets beaten.

A touch fuller, on off, Kamindu Mendis nudges it to mid-wicket for a single.

FOUR! Up and over! Hard-length delivery, just outside off. Kamindu Mendis uses his bottom hand and launches it over the cover region for another boundary.

Pace back on through Salman Mirza.

FOUR! SHOT! Floated up, around off, Kusal Mendis makes room and slams it over extra cover for four runs. 68 runs needed from 54 balls.

Short, around middle, Kamindu Mendis flicks it to square leg for one.

Short, on off, Kusal Mendis guides it to short third for one.

Fuller, on off, Kamindu Mendis nudges it to long on for one.

Short, on off, Kusal Mendis pulls it to deep mid-wicket for one.

Pitches it up, on middle, Kusal Mendis flicks it into the vast gap between deep backward square leg and mid-wicket for a brace.

Direct hit! Minhas drops it short, on off. Mendis goes onto the back foot and cuts it wide of deep point. The fielder in the deep sprints to his left and dives to save a run for his side. The throw comes in from the deep and it hits the stumps at the batting end. A bit of excitement is shown by the Pakistan players and it is referred upstairs. Kusal is well in, confirmed by the replays.

Khawaja Nafay takes a blow on his helmet due to some extra bounce off the track and the physio comes out to have a mandatory concussion check, and the umpire calls DRINKS. After the end of the first 10 overs, Pakistan were 75 for 4, so Sri Lanka are doing really well in terms of runs as well as keeping wickets in hand, but they need to continue this as they still need 81 runs off 61 balls.

Wowza! Where did that come from? Grips in the surface and turns away with extra bounce, short and around off. Mendis presses back to turn it away and is beaten all ends up. Khawaja Nafay is also caught off guard and gets hit flush on the grill of the helmet.

Fires it in full, on middle. Kamindu steps out and knocks it to the right of long on for one.

Flighted delivery, on a length, on off. Kamindu Mendis lunges for the block.

Good running! A bit fuller, on off. Mendis works it with the spin to the right of deep mid-wicket and comes charging back for the second run.

On off, on the shorter side. Mendis whips it off the back foot towards wide long on. Razaullah is quick to his left but cannot prevent the second run.

FOUR! A boundary off the last ball spoils the over for Pakistan. Dropped short by Moqim, turning back in on middle. Mendis is quick to go deep in the crease. Pulls it hard and wide to the left of the man at deep square leg for a boundary. Sri Lanka need 86 runs in 66 balls.

Tossed up, on leg. Mendis brings out the reverse, dragging it to deep point for another single.

Around leg, Kusal tucks it in front of deep mid-wicket for a run.

Nicely bowled. Slows it down, it is another googly, across off. Kusal is neither back nor forward and is beaten on the outside edge while trying to defend.

Googly, fractionally short, on middle. Kamindu nurdles it behind square leg for a run.

Wide. Looped up, down leg. Mendis misses out on the glance.

Full and on the pads. Mendis sweeps it towards deep backward square leg for a single.

Kamindu Mendis walks out next.

OUT! CAUGHT! Risk taken by Sineth Jayawardena but it does not come off for him and Pakistan have an opening. Floated up, on middle. Jayawardena gives the bowler a premeditated charge, looking to go down the ground. He does not reach the pitch of the ball but still goes through with the shot. Spoons it down the throat of long on, where Razaullah makes no mistake. End of a 59-run stand. Sri Lanka are 74/2, needing 95 off 72 balls.

From around the wicket, short and around off. Kusal drags the pull to long on and rotates the strike.

The physio comes out running with a medical kit as Arafat Minhas takes a blow to his right hand while taking the catch. After some magic spray and some bandages, Minhas is good to continue.

DROPPED! Another chance goes down. It was a tough one, though. Dragged down, on off. Jayawardena tries to force it through the off side but ends up hitting it a lot straighter back towards the bowler. Arafat gets both hands to his right but gets hit on the pinky finger of his right hand and the ball goes away. They cross. To add insult to injury, Minhas is down in pain.

Full and darted in on middle. Mendis eases it to mid on for one.

Flat and short, on off. Jayawardena cuts it to deep cover for a run.

Was that a chance? Darted in, following the left-hander on a length as he backs away. Jayawardena shapes up to go inside out over cover but is beaten on the outside edge. His back leg gets lifted, but Khawaja Nafay can't gather the ball cleanly, allowing Sineth to plonk his back leg back in.

Flighted up, on off. Jayawardena knocks it to long off and takes a single. 11 runs off Moqim's first over.

FOUR! Put away with ease! Googly attempted but he gets the line wrong, as well as the length. A half-tracker down leg, Jayawardena pivots and pulls it behind square leg for a boundary.

Tosses it up, fuller and it spins back into the pads. Jayawardena presents a straight bat for the block but is beaten by the turn and gets hit on the pads.

At the hips, that is flicked off the back foot wide of short fine leg for a run. The 50-run stand comes up between these two batters.

FOUR! Through the gap. It is the googly, on the shorter side, on off. Mendis makes room and cuts it late to thread the gap between short third and backward point for a four.

A bit of a drag down, on leg. Jayawardena works it in front of square on the leg side for a single.

End of the Powerplay! Sri Lanka have lost one wicket, but Sineth Jayawardena and Kusal Mendis are doing well to take the chase forward. Sufyan Moqim has joined the attack now.

SIX! All the way. Imran strays too straight, at the hips. Mendis uses the pace and the angle of the ball to shovel it over long leg for half a dozen. At the end of the Powerplay, Sri Lanka are 59/1.

Going away, on a back of a length. Jayawardena punches it to deep cover for a single.

Pushed across the left-hander, on a back of a length. Sineth gives himself a bit too much room and flashes but can only connect with thin air.

Tucking the batter up for room, on a hard length. Kusal mistimes the pull in front of mid on for a quick single.

FOUR! One bounce and over the ropes. Full and hooping back in at the pads. Mendis clears the front leg and clubs it towards the vacant deep mid-wicket fence. The 50 comes up for Sri Lanka and this is already their highest Powerplay score of the series, inform the on-air commentators.

Wide. Slower bumper, over middle, too high as Mendis lets it go.

Tailing back in sharply, full and on the pads. Mendis steps out for the flick but is beaten and wears it on the pads.

FOUR! More runs for Sri Lanka! Back of a length, around the hips of the batter. Sineth Jayawardena pulls it late, through short fine leg for a boundary.

Yorker, on off, Sineth Jayawardena tries to guide it toward backward point, opening the face of the bat, but gets the connection on the bottom edge.

In the air...but safe! On top of the off stump, moving away off the surface with extra pace. Mendis commits early to the pull shot, but is beaten by the lateral movement and can only offer a high leading edge. The ball travels deep towards third man, landing safely just short of the fielder on one bounce. Single taken.

FOUR! Oh, deft touch from Mendis! Just a shade behind the good length, around off. Kusal Mendis hangs back and slightly opens the face of his bat to guide it to the left of the deep third fielder.

A touch fuller, on off and middle. Kusal Mendis whacks it along the ground but finds the fielder in the mid-wicket region.

Hard length, around middle, Kusal Mendis clip it to deep square leg and gets a brace.

Back of a length, outside off, Sineth Jayawardena looks to punch it away but misses.

FOUR! Now towards the off side. Shortish, angling outside off. Sineth Jayawardena slaps it up and over the cover region for another boundary.

SIX! This time, Jayawardena connects it pretty well. Hits the deck hard, around off, Sineth Jayawardena shuffles across and pulls it over deep square leg for a six.

WIDE! Short of a length, spraying beyond the tramline, around off. Sineth Jayawardena fails to connect his cut.

Yet again, Jayawardena fails to connect his shot! Hard length, outside off, shaping away. Sineth Jayawardena tries to flick it away, but misses.

Hard length, over off, Kusal Mendis pulls it to deep square leg for one.

Swing and a miss! Good-length delivery, pitching it outside off, swinging away just a shade. Kusal Mendis tries to heave it across, but it zips past the outside edge.

Short of a length, outside off, Sineth Jayawardena tries to punch it away with a cross bat but misses.

Back of a length, angling in, around middle and leg. Kusal Mendis tries to clip it away, but wears it on the thigh pad. The ball bounces off toward the leg side and the batter gets a leg bye.

FOUR! Not exactly from the middle of the bat, but Mendis will take these runs. Fullish, just outside off. Kusal Mendis lofts it from his front foot, from the upper part of his bat. It loops up high and sails over mid off for a boundary.

On a length, around off. Kusal Mendis pushes it to the off side with soft hands. Razaullah charges at the ball and prevents the single.

A quick concussion check for Maaz Sadaqat. The keeper is in good spirits, and we are good to go.

Beaten! Full-length delivery, pitching it well outside off, swings away beautifully. Kusal Mendis tries to drill it away through cover, away from his body, but gets beaten on the outside edge. Khawaja Nafay is beaten for pace and fails to glove it cleanly. The ball bursts through his grasp and grazes the side of his forehead before rolling behind.

Review lost! Pitches it up, a touch fuller, around leg and middle. Sineth fails to connect his flick and wears on the front pad before it rolls toward the leg side, and the batter gets across for a leg bye. Razaullah is very confident with his appeal, but Farhan hesitates to take it, but eventually, he does with 3 seconds on the timer. The UltraEdge shows no bat involvement and the Ball Tracking detects that the ball is pitching outside leg.

Review time. Sahibzada Farhan has paid heed to the enthusiasm shown by Razaullah. It seemed to have pitched outside leg, and the Ball Tracking confirms the suspicion. Pakistan burn an early review.

Razaullah has been brought into the attack.

Good length, around off, Kusal Mendis dabs it to point.

Nice and full, on middle, Sineth Jayawardena nudges it to mid-wicket and gets across.

A little bit fuller than the previous one, pitching it just outside off and slanting it away. Sineth Jayawardena skips down the track and misses the punch.

Short of a length, angling across. Sineth Jayawardena swings and misses.

Short, outside off, Kusal Mendis steers it toward the right of the short third fielder, who dives to make the stop, keeping the batters down to one.

The Lankan skipper, Kusal Mendis walks in at number 3.

OUT! LBW! That is a beauty from Mohammad Imran. It seems he has brought his form from the previous match. Pitching it on a good length, outside off, nipping in sharply. Lahiru Udara hangs back and looks to block it, but it sneaks past the inside edge and wears on the pad. Appeal goes round and up goes the finger of the umpire. Udara is happy to walk off, despite his partner trying to convince him otherwise. Well, well, he might be regretting that decision now, as the impact on Ball Tracking is outside off stump and a review would have saved Lahiru.

A bright start for Sri Lanka. Mohammad Imran will share the attack.

Short of a length, around off, Sineth Jayawardena makes a leave at it.

FOUR! Off the outside edge now! Just a shade behind the length, outside off. Sineth Jayawardena yet again frees his arms to slash it over cover, but the ball catches the outside edge before it flies through short third for a boundary.

SIX! BANG! Sineth Jayawardena is not going to hold back. Good length, on middle and leg. Sineth Jayawardena opens his stance and whacks it over deep mid-wicket for a massive six. A ball boy shows good technique to take the catch beyond the ropes and stays away from the advertising boards.

FOUR! Oh, the sound from the bat was so sweet! Back of a length, well outside off. Sineth Jayawardena skips down the track and slaps it off the middle of the bat and it sails over the cover region for a boundary.

Just a shade behind the good length, around off, Sineth Jayawardena opens the face of the bat and pushes it to cover-point.

Off the mark straightaway! Pitches it full, on off. Lahiru Udara leans on it and pushes it toward the right of mid off for a single.

OUT! CLEANED HIM UP! Two in two by Nuwan Thushara to close out the innings. Pakistan finish on 168/8. Razaullah shows his cards early as he walks across to the off side and exposes all three stumps. Thushara fires in a yorker right at the base of the middle stump. Razaullah has a swipe but is beaten for pace on the inside edge and hears the death rattle.

Razaullah walks out to face the first ball.

OUT! CAUGHT! End of a top knock by the Pakistan skipper. Nuwan Thushara stays full, on off and middle. Farhan has a heave across the line but skies it a long way up towards cover. Dasun Shanaka is quick to call for the catch and runs forward. He settles under the skier and pouches it safely.

Gets the yorker in, on middle. Minhas ekes out an inside edge onto the pads. The ball rolls beside the strip on the off side and the batters sneak in a quick single.

Full and on off. Farhan has a swing at it and ends up slicing it off the outer half over extra cover for one.

The partnership moves to 64, this is now the highest 7th-wicket stand for Pakistan in T20Is, according to the on-air commentators. On leg, Minhas works it in front of square on the leg side for a run.

A teaser for Sahan Arachchige. Full marks for the effort. Thushara takes pace off, full in length, on middle. Minhas swipes it away towards deep mid-wicket, where Arachchige charges in off the ropes and dives. He goes for the catch with only his left hand but can't cling on. Two runs taken.

Nuwan Thushara to close out the innings. Can Pakistan reach 180?

Slower bumper, over off. Minhas drags it in the air behind square leg. Another good over for the home side, 15 runs off it. 48 runs off the last 18 balls.

FOUR! Scythed away. Slower one, very full, outside off. Minhas gets the width to cash in and he slaps it past point. The fielder in the deep sprints to his right and flings himself at the ball but it stays out of his reach.

Slips in the yorker, on off and middle. Arafat Minhas digs it out down the deck.

SIX! Incredible shot. Fernando bowls it on a back of a length, slower one, on off. Minhas waits for the ball to arrive and stands tall, smacking it over long off for a biggie. 43 runs off the last 15 balls.

Swing and a miss! Near the tramline, on a length. Arafat has a swipe across the line but fails to connect.

FOUR! Hit hard and wide enough. Pakistan go past 150 and the 50-run stand also comes up. Yorker gone wrong, it comes out as a low full toss, on off. Minhas reaches out and slams it past extra cover, well to the right of the long off fielder.

Binura Fernando to bowl the 19th over.

SIX! Sent into the crowd! Drags the length back and the pace is taken off, on middle. Farhan clears the front leg and mows it over cow corner for half a dozen. 19 runs off the over, 33 off the last 2.

SIX! Just over! Malinga goes searching for the yorker, on middle. Sahibzada Farhan hangs deep in the crease and lofts it towards long off. Kamindu Mendis is not entirely on the fence and leaps to take the catch over his head with his right hand, but the ball sails over his head and drops beyond the ropes. Had Mendis been on the fence he was in with a chance there.

Nails the yorker, on off. Sahibzada shuffles across and jams it out to extra cover.

Wide! Slower, short ball, too high, outside off. Farhan lets it go.

FOUR! Well dug out by Farhan. Malinga does not quite manage to get it full enough for the yorker, on middle. Farhan goes deep in the crease and manages to get under the ball, carving it between cover and mid off for a boundary.

Full and at the pads. Arafat clips it through mid-wicket for one.

Low full toss, wide on off. Farhan reaches out and spanks it towards extra cover, where the fielder tumbles to his right and ends up parrying it away from the mid off fielder. Single taken.

Eshan Malinga (3-1-19-2) comes back for his final over.

Another well-executed yorker, on middle. Sahibzada digs it out to long on for a run. A productive over for Pakistan, 14 runs off it.

Gets the yorker in at the toes. Farhan flicks it to the left of deep square leg for two runs more. 13 runs off the over with a ball to go.

Spears it in full, on middle. Farhan chips it back over the bowler's head and collects a couple as the long off fielder tidies up.

At pace, on the shorter side. Minhas swings it away towards deep mid-wicket. The ball bobbles in the hands of the fielder in the deep but he keeps the batters down to one.

Attempts the yorker but it ends up being a low full toss, on middle. Minhas makes room and drills it to the right of long off for a brace.

SIX! High and handsome. A boundary after 15 balls for Pakistan. Off-cutter, a bit too full, on middle. Minhas picks the slower one, hangs low and clubs it over deep mid-wicket for half a dozen.

Just behind the yorker length, on middle. Arafat Minhas clips it to mid-wicket and gets a single.

Much fuller, just outside off, Sahibzada Farhan pushes it to cover and gets a single.

Short again, outside off, Farhan lets it travel to the keeper.

Short of a length, around off, Arafat Minhas pulls it across to deep mid-wicket for one.

Short, outside off, Arafat Minhas pulls it across to deep mid-wicket for one.

FIFTY FOR FARHAN! An innings full of grit and resilience, and he has shown the world why he has been appointed as the new T20I skipper. Slower yorker, on middle, Sahibzada Farhan clips it to square leg and gets a couple of runs to bring up his third fifty-plus score of the series.

Good running! Pitches it much fuller, on middle. Arafat Minhas nudges it toward the left of the long on fielder. Pushes hard for the first run and gets the second with ease.

Back of a length, outside off, Arafat Minhas slaps it from the inner part of his bat to cover.

Bowled on a back of a length, on off. Farhan looks to whip it away but gets an outside edge and it goes down to deep third for one.

Going away, on a length. Minhas angles it wide of point for a single.

Bye. Dug in short, pace taken off. Farhan lets it go. The ball bounces in front of the keeper and deflects off his pads. It rolls to the off side and allows a bye.

Full and on middle. Farhan drives it wide of long on. A fumble in the deep allows the batters to pick up the second run with ease.

Eshan Malinga returns to the attack.

Across off, on a good length. Minhas taps it down towards cover-point.

Oh my word! A massive let-off as Sri Lanka miss a run-out chance. Dasun pitches it fuller, outside the off stump. Arafat Minhas drives on the up towards extra cover and immediately calls for the run. Farhan responds initially before aborting, leaving Minhas stranded halfway down the pitch. The extra cover fielder moves to his left, and with both batters at the bowling end, all he needed to do was just throw it on the bounce towards the onrushing keeper. Instead, he fires in a powerful throw. Kusal Mendis can't gather it cleanly, and the short third fielder can't pick the ball up in one go, allowing Minhas enough time to get home safely.

Sahibzada Farhan continues to lose partners. Arafat Minhas is the new man in.

OUT! IN THE AIR AND TAKEN! The slower short ball tactic has worked out really well for Dasun Shanaka. Keeping the line around off. Samad moves across to target the leg side with a pull shot, but the ball holds up in the surface and catches him high on the bat. The ball flies flat towards deep mid-wicket and Lahiru Udara slides forward to pouch the catch safely.

SIX! Up, up and over! Just a shade behind the good length, on middle and leg. Abrar Ahmed covers the stumps and whacks it over deep square leg for half a dozen.

On a length, around middle and leg. Abdul Samad shuffles across and punches it back to the bowler.

Slower and fuller, on off. Abdul Samad chips it in front of the mid off fielder. Farhan sets off for a single, before being sent back.

Much fuller, around off, Abdul Samad drives it to long off for one.

FOUR! Nicely played! Full-length delivery, outside off. Abdul Samad shuffles across and flicks it through mid-wicket for four runs.

Short of a length, on off and middle, Abdul Samad dabs it down the deck.

Quicker and tighter line, on the off stump. Abdul chops it down to point.

FOUR! Nicely done. Fractionally short and equally wide. Samad waits for the ball to arrive and cuts it late behind point for a boundary.

Pushed through, short and on off. Farhan flat bats it down to long on for a run.

Pace taken off, floated up, on off. Samad leans across and dabs it to point.

Half the side back in the hut. Abdul Samad makes his way out to bat.

OUT! CAUGHT! Pakistan lose another. On a length, on middle and leg, Randhawa backs away, clears his front leg and launches it towards wide long on but he gets it high on the bat. The ball floats down the throat of Chamindu Wickramasinghe in the long on region, who reverse-cups it cleanly.

Much fuller, outside off, slower one, Mohammad Imran looks to jam it away but yet again misses the connection.

Short, on middle, Mohammad Imran looks to upper cut but misses.

Overthrows! Yorker, on middle, Sahibzada Farhan clips it to the vacant square leg region and hustles back for the second. The fielder in the deep backward square leg region charges toward the ball and throws at the bowler's end. However, the throw is way wide of the stumps and rolls away to sweeper cover. Another run taken.

On a length, at the stumps, Mohammad Imran heaves it to deep mid-wicket for one.

Fuller, on middle, Sahibzada Farhan eases it back to the bowler.

FOUR! Just over the fielder in the deep! Pitches it fuller, flatter trajectory, on off. Farhan gets down on one knee and slog sweeps it toward deep mid-wicket. Eshan Malinga is stationed well in front of the boundary ropes. He gets back a couple of steps and leaps up high, but the ball flies just over his fingertips and bounces in front of the boundary cushion for four runs. A massive misjudgment by Malinga, and that is a chance missed.

On the fuller side, around off, Mohammad Imran drives it to long off and gets across.

Flatter and much fuller, on off, Sahibzada Farhan flicks it to mid on for one.

Short again, around off and middle. Mohammad Imran pulls it from the inner part of his bat wide of mid-wicket for one.

Short, on off, defended by Mohammad Imran.

Banged in short, on off. Imran swivels and pulls it on the bounce to deep mid-wicket. Just a single.

Slanting in at the hips. Imran tucks it in front of square on the leg side and comes charging back for the second run.

In and around the off stump, on a good length. Imran chops it down towards point.

Drinks Break! This is simply the best of the Sri Lankan side, and they will be thinking - Where was this performance in their last two matches, especially, the way they are fielding is simply magnificent. They have converted every chance, and their bowlers have been disciplined. As for Pakistan, it will be a task for skipper Sahibzada Farhan to anchor the innings from here. Mohammad Imran is the new man in at the crease, replacing Khawaja Nafay.

OUT! CAUGHT! Sri Lanka have been sharp in the field tonight and this is another good catch. Shanaka hurls it full, on off, getting the ball to curve away slightly. Khawaja gives the bowler the charge and has a swing at but ends up getting too close to the ball. One hand comes off the bat handle, and he slices it off the outer half to backward point, where Sahan Arachchige dives forward and holds onto it.

Pitches it up, on middle. Farhan eases it to long on and rotates the strike.

Delivers it on a good length, around off. Khawaja nudges it past mid-wicket and crosses over.

Just three runs and a wicket from the over. A massive one for the visitors. Now, Dasun Shanaka joins the attack.

Flighted up, on off. Khawaja drives it to long off and retains the strike with a single. A wicket and just 3 runs off it. No boundaries for Pakistan since the end of the Powerplay.

Short and on off, that is cut away through point for a single.

Nearly went to hand! Dropped short by Viyaskanth, on off. Nafay pushes out in front of his body to work it down the ground. The ball stays out of the reach of Viyaskanth as it goes well to his right. A single is taken as the ball rolls to long on.

On a length, on off. Nafay guides it to point.

Khawaja Nafay is the new man in.

OUT! CAUGHT! A well-judged catch by Kamindu Mendis. Having strung a couple of quiet overs, Sri Lanka have their breakthrough. Flighted delivery, on middle and leg. This is in the hitting arc for Nawaz, who makes room and collapses his back knee to go down the ground. He does not quite get hold of it and hits it towards long on, where Mendis times his leap to perfection and tries to balance himself on his left leg after completing the catch. He takes a step further towards the boundary cushions but manages to put the brakes on and prevent himself from coming in contact with the fence. The third umpire is satisfied that it is a clean effort, and Nawaz is given the marching orders. Pakistan are now 3 down for 67.

An outstanding grab from Kamindu Mendis, but the third umpire is checking whether he made contact with the boundary cushion after completing the catch. After multiple replays, the verdict comes through, and OUT flashes on the big screen!

Bowls the googly at 96.1 kph, on a good length, on middle. Hasan pushes it back to the bowler.

Floated up, on off. Hasan drives it towards extra cover, where the fielder gets low to his left but can't make a clean stop, allowing a single.

Called a wide but that is a good option by Thushara. Digs it in short, too high, over middle. Nawaz thinks about taking it on but then bails out.

Takes pace off, on a good length, on off. Farhan knocks it to long on and rotates the strike.  So far, so good from Thushara. Can he finish well?

Banged into the deck, on off. Hasan hangs back but is rushed on the pull and the ball also gets big on him. Mistimes it off the splice of the bat towards mid-wicket for a run.

Another off-pace delivery, fuller and on middle. Farhan punches it back past the bowler. They think about the second but the long off fielder gets rid of the ball quickly and keeps the batters down to one.

Pace off and into the wicket, over middle. Hasan gets his hands high and pulls it through square leg for a run.

Spears it in very full, at the toes. Farhan squeezes it out in front of square on the leg side for one.

A bit of a drag down, on middle. Farhan hammers the pull but it goes straight to deep mid-wicket. Just a single. Tidy start by Viyaskanth.

Fuller and on off. Sahibzada punches it to cover.

Serves the googly, on a good length, there is a bit of extra bounce. Farhan hops back to stab it down.

Floated up, on middle. Hasan strokes it to long on and gets to the other end.

Around the pads, on a length. Hasan clips it to mid-wicket.

Skidding through, short and on off. Farhan punches it to long off for one.

End of the Powerplay! Pakistan have lost two wickets, but have done well to post 57 runs on the board. Now, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth joins the attack, replacing Binura Fernando.

Malinga gets away with it. This is a full toss at the sticks. Nawaz is taken aback and can only pat it back to the bowler. 13 runs off the final over of the Powerplay. At the end of 6 overs, Pakistan are 57/2.

On the shorter side, too straight, at the hips. Nawaz hops and nurdles it behind square leg for a couple of runs.

FOUR! Lovely shot. Overpitched by Malinga, angled in towards the off stump. Nawaz leans into the drive and threads it through the gap between cover and mid off for a four.

Full and straight at the sticks. Farhan knocks it wide of extra cover and hurries to the other end.

Very full, on middle. Hasan wrists it wide of mid-wicket and scampers through for a quick single. The 50 is up for Pakistan.

FOUR! Easy pickings. Malinga goes searching for the yorker but ends up dishing out a low full toss on the pads. Nawaz helps it to the left of short fine leg and picks up his first boundary.

Wide. Wayward by Malinga. Dug in short, but down leg. Hasan lets it pass.

FOUR! Just a mere push! Pitches it up, fuller in length, around off, slower once again. Sahibzada Farhan first goes deep into the crease and then pushes through the line, toward the right of mid off for a boundary.

FOUR! SHOT! Change of pace, a touch fuller, around middle and off. Sahibzada Farhan rocks back and punches it wide of point for the boundary.

Back of a length, outside off, Hasan Nawaz steers it through point and gets across.

Another slower one from Fernando, trying to keep the pressure on the batters. Hasan Nawaz gets behind the line and taps it back to the bowler.

Back of a length, around off, angling away. Hasan Nawaz gets behind the line and dabs it down.

Slower one to start, on a good length, around off, Sahibzada Farhan punches it to cover-point for one.

Hard length, outside off, Hasan Nawaz dances down the track and has a slog across the line but gets beaten on the outside edge. A double-wicket maiden by Malinga, superb stuff.

On a length, angling in, Hasan Nawaz misses his flick. The ball brushes his thigh on its way to the keeper.

Just what the doctor ordered for Sri Lanka after a quick start from Pakistan. Hasan Nawaz walks out to bat.

OUT! CAUGHT! Not the best of deliveries from Malinga, but it feels like today is his night. He tries to nail a yorker, at the base of the middle stump, but ends up spilling a low full toss. Maaz Sadaqat swings his bat to flick it away toward mid-wicket, but the ball catches the top edge and loops toward mid off, where Chamindu Wickramasinghe takes a well-composed catch. The man in form, Maaz Sadaqat, has to depart without opening his account.

Halt! One of the Zing bails at the batting end has malfunctioned again, and the fourth umpire has brought out a replacement.

A flash and a miss! Bumper now from Malinga, angling across the left-hander. Maaz Sadaqat looks to cut it away but fails to connect.

Nails the yorker, around off. Maaz Sadaqat is beaten for pace and fails to squeeze it out.

Maaz Sadaqat is in at number 3. His 51-ball 96 in the previous game earned him the Player of the Match award.

OUT! TAKEN! Eshan Malinga strikes on the very first ball, and yet again, after a promising start, Fakhar Zaman fails to kick on. Hits the deck hard, does Malinga, angling away across the off stump. Fakhar attempts to swipe it away on the leg side, but gets it off the top edge. The ball loops up toward the cover region, where Lahiru Udara positions himself comfortably to complete a neat catch.

Eshan Malinga comes into the attack as the first change.

On the fuller side, around off, Sahibzada Farhan pushes it to cover.

Fuller, on leg, Fakhar Zaman clips it to short fine leg for one.

SIX! Into the crowd! Just a shade behind the fuller length, pitching it just outside off and angling in sharply. Fakhar Zaman opens his stance and swats it over deep mid-wicket for half a dozen.

Full, outside off, Sahibzada Farhan drives it to cover for a single.

SIX! BANG! There comes the first biggie of the game. Short of a length, over off. Sahibzada Farhan gets on his back foot, fixes his eyes on the ball and dispatches it over deep mid-wicket for a biggie.

On the fuller side, angling in, around middle and leg. Fakhar Zaman looks to whip it away, but misses and wears on the thigh pad before it rolls toward the off side. Leg bye taken.

FOUR! Oh, beautiful from the skipper of Pakistan! Nuwan pitches it up, fuller, pitching around the leg stump, shaping in. Sahibzada Farhan makes room and uses his bottom hand to loft it over the mid off fielder for another boundary.

Fuller, around middle, Sahibzada Farhan dabs it to cover.

FOUR! The fireworks have already started! Fires it on a good length now, at the off stump. Sahibzada Farhan clears his front foot and smashes it over the head of the bowler for another boundary.

A touch fuller, at the stumps, Sahibzada Farhan eases it to mid on.

FOUR! Streaky! Thushara bangs into the deck, outside off, and gets some extra bounce. Sahibzada Farhan frees his arms to drill it up and over the cover region, but gets nicked off the outside edge, and the ball races away to the left of the deep third fielder for four runs.

Back of a length, pitching around middle, nipping in. Fakhar Zaman fails to clip it away and takes a blow on his thigh pad. The ball rolls toward the off side and the batter gets across for a leg bye.

Nuwan Thushara will operate from the other end.

Hits the deck hard, does Fernando, just outside off. Sahibzada Farhan makes room while charging down the track to heave it away, but gets beaten on the top edge.

Just a shade behind the good length, around off, Sahibzada Farhan dabs it to cover.

Pitches it up, fuller, on off, Fakhar Zaman taps it to mid on and gets across for a single.

FOUR! Off the mark with a quality shot! Back of a length, around off. Fakhar Zaman charges down the track and hammers a pull through mid-wicket for four runs.

Direct hit at the bowler's end, but the batter is safe! On a nagging length, around off, Sahibzada Farhan pats it to mid off and sets off for a quick single. Dasun Shanaka does well to hit the bull's-eye at the non-striker's end, but the third umpire sees that Farhan is well inside the crease.

A dot delivery to start with! Binura Fernando comes from over the wicket and bowls on a good length, pitching it just outside off and shaping it away. Sahibzada Farhan makes a leave.

We are all set for the action to commence. Kusal Mendis leads his men out to the middle. It will be the left-hand, right-hand combination of Fakhar Zaman and Sahibzada Farhan to open the innings for Pakistan. Binura Fernando has the new ball in hand and is ready to steam in. There is a brief delay due to a malfunctioning Zing bails at the bowling end, but that has now been sorted, and we are ready to go!

The skipper of Pakistan - Sahibzada Farhan shares that they would have bowled first as well, but having batted first in the last game, it should not be much of an issue. He adds that back-to-back wins, coupled with contributions from across the team, have lifted the players' confidence. Farhan feels the middle order has not been tested enough yet and would like Hasan Nawaz and Abdul Samad to get an opportunity to showcase their abilities. Informs that they have made four changes, with Razaullah, Arafat Minhas, Sufyan Moqim and Abdul Samad coming into the side.

The captain of Sri Lanka - Kusal Mendis explains that their inability to make the most of the Powerplay in the first two games has made things difficult in the middle overs. He acknowledges that the team has not been at its best in the field either, despite having a strong fielding unit and a good record in recent tournaments. He hopes they can put that right in this game. Informs that they have made one change, with Vijayakanth Viyaskanth replacing Maheesh Theekshana.

Sri Lanka (Playing XI) - Lahiru Udara, Sineth Jayawardena, Kusal Mendis (C/WK), Kamindu Mendis, Sahan Arachchige, Dasun Shanaka, Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth (In for Maheesh Theekshana), Eshan Malinga, Binura Fernando, and Nuwan Thushara.

Pakistan (Playing XI) - Fakhar Zaman, Sahibzada Farhan (C), Maaz Sadaqat, Hasan Nawaz, Abdul Samad (In for Saim Ayub), Khawaja Nafay (WK), Arafat Minhas (In for Shadab Khan), Mohammad Imran, Razaullah (In for Naseem Shah), Salman Mirza, and Sufyan Moqim (In for Abrar Ahmed).

TOSS - The coin lands in favour of Kusal Mendis for the third game in a row. Sri Lanka elect to BOWL first.

One final time - The weather looks decent, though the radar is hinting at a slight chance of a shower. Apart from that, the stage is set for the final act of this T20I series. So, who are you backing to prevail tonight? Stay tuned as the toss is coming up shortly.

The toss story so far - Sri Lanka have won the toss in both matches, but the decisions tell two very different tales. In the first match, they chose to bat on a flat, true surface that promised runs. By the second, they had seen how heavy the dew gets later in the evening, so they chose to bowl in the second. Unfortunately, the plan came unstuck in the execution in both encounters, as their bowlers struggled with line and length, and on a belter of a pitch, discipline is everything. Pakistan made them pay. The big question tonight is whether Sri Lanka can raise their game with both bat and ball, and finally turn a win at the toss into a win on the field.

Greetings, folks - Hello and a very warm welcome to everyone joining us for the third and final match of this T20I series. On paper, this one is a dead rubber. Pakistan have already sealed the three-match T20I series, and tonight's result will have no bearing on the series outcome. But don’t be fooled. Dead rubbers have a way of telling their own stories, and tonight’s has plenty to say. Sri Lanka are desperate to avoid a whitewash and salvage some pride, while Pakistan’s new captain is chasing the perfect finish to his first series in charge. Motivation? There’s no shortage on either side.

... MATCH DAY ...

Series settled and whitewash on the line - Pakistan have already wrapped up the trophy, so now it’s all about pride and a clean sweep. The hosts have sparked into life under a new-look setup, with Sahibzada Farhan leading from the front and a fearless young batting group playing with real freedom. Sri Lanka, led by Kusal Mendis, arrive with talent and little to show for it. They have found a way into both games and then let them slip. They have nothing left to lose and one last chance to salvage something before the Tests and the ODI tri-series. Pakistan run riot in Rawalpindi - The second T20I turned into a run-fest. Pakistan posted their second-highest total in T20 cricket and beat Sri Lanka by 82 runs to take an unassailable 2-0 lead. Maaz Sadaqat blazed 96 off 51 balls to push the total to 215, and Farhan’s 73 handed him his first series win as captain. The chase never got going. Salman Mirza removed Lahiru Udara in the first over, and Sri Lanka crumbled to 133/7. Mohammad Imran finished with 3/11.Where each side can improve - Pakistan have looked the sharper side, but the series opener showed a soft spot - they had Sri Lanka at 83/4, only for Dasun Shanaka and Lahiru Udara to add a 57-run stand off 34 balls and lift the visitors to 140 after 16 overs. Closing out an innings once the opposition is on the ropes, particularly at the death, is the one area Pakistan still need to tighten. Their batting also leans heavily on Sahibzada Farhan and Maaz Sadaqat, so a deeper contribution from the middle order would make them harder to stop. Sri Lanka’s problems start at the top. They lost Kusal Mendis inside the first over of the opener and were 18/2 after four overs. In the second game, they slipped to 49/4 in the eighth over and were 74/6 after 11.5 overs, so their reliance on one or two big hitters to rescue them has run out. Mendis admitted as much, saying his batters needed to take responsibility and that the side had not been up to the mark in the field. To win the game, Sri Lanka need to survive the powerplay with wickets in hand, tighten their lengths on a flat Rawalpindi surface, and back their bowlers to stop leaking 200-plus totals. History made at Home - That 215/3 was not just big. It was Pakistan’s highest T20I total on home soil and the highest against the Lankans. The ground that hosted it is hosting this decider too, and with the surface rewarding stroke-makers, Sri Lanka’s bowlers will need answers fast. Head-to-head snapshot - Pakistan held a 20-12 edge over Sri Lanka in T20Is as of January 2026 and have padded it with two more wins this series. Sri Lanka have occasionally upset them, most recently in January, so a dead rubber in Rawalpindi may suit a side playing without pressure. Team form (Last 5 completed T20Is, recent first) - PAK - WWLWW | SL - LLWLL What to expect - Expect Pakistan to rotate a few players with the series safe, and Sri Lanka to throw caution aside. With a flat pitch and a short boundary history, another high-scoring game looks likely. Sri Lanka’s best hope is for Shanaka and the middle order to fire, and for their bowlers to land the early blow that has eluded them so far. For Pakistan? They just need to repeat whatever they have done so far.