Pakistan secured an unassailable 2-0 lead in their three-match Twenty20 series against Sri Lanka on Sunday, cruising to an 82-run victory in Rawalpindi on the back of an imposing total of 215-3.
The total was Pakistan's second-highest score in T20 international cricket, behind only their 232-6 against England in 2021. Sri Lanka opted to field first after winning the toss, but let their opponents off the hook through sloppy fielding.
Captain Sahibzada Farhan, who scored 73 with five sixes and four fours, was dropped at mid-wicket by Maheesh Theekshana off Binura Fernando and again on 11 by Sineth Jayawardene. Maaz Sadaqat also capitalized on an error when Nuwan Thushara dropped a return catch with the batter on 44. Sadaqat went on to blast seven sixes and six fours in a 51-ball knock of 96 before falling to Eshan Malinga on the final ball of the innings.
"I was trying to make the most of my form," Sadaqat said. "I had belief in myself that I can hit the ball … I play with positive intent and pick my balls to hit boundaries."
Sri Lanka's pursuit faltered almost immediately. Salman Mirza, brought in for his first match of the series, had Lahiru Udara caught behind in the opening over. Mohammad Imran then tore through the top order in his second T20 appearance, taking 3-11 in four unchanged overs. He dismissed Jayawardene for 22, captain Kusal Mendis for nine and Sahan Arachchige for zero to leave Sri Lanka reeling at 49-4 in the eighth over.
The visitors never recovered, finishing on 133-7. Theekshana was their top scorer with an unbeaten 32 from 26 deliveries, while Chamindu Wickramasinghe contributed 29 from 24 balls. The result handed Sri Lanka their third consecutive away T20 series defeat, following a 2-1 loss in the West Indies and a 3-0 sweep against England.
"Batters need to take responsibility including me," Mendis said. "It was a batting pitch and we needed to score 200 runs at least … We have done well in terms of fielding in the last few tournaments but unfortunately we have not been up to the mark in the last two matches."
Rawalpindi will host the third and final T20 on Tuesday. England will subsequently join Pakistan and Sri Lanka for an ODI tri-series starting next Sunday.
