Sahibzada Farhan 80* Powers Pakistan to 7-Wicket Thrashing of Sri Lanka
Pakistan made it two wins from two in the T20 Tri-Series with a crushing seven-wicket victory over Sri Lanka at Rawalpindi on Saturday night. Opener Sahibzada Farhan smashed a career-best unbeaten 80 off just 45 balls, guiding the hosts to a comfortable chase of 129 in only 15.3 overs.
The win continues Pakistan’s dominance on home soil after they whitewashed Sri Lanka 3-0 in the preceding ODI series. For the Islanders, it’s now four straight losses on this tour – including a humiliating defeat to Zimbabwe earlier in the week.
Nawaz and Spinners Choke Sri Lanka to 128-7
Dasun Shanaka won the toss and chose to bat first, hoping to set a competitive total. Early signs were promising – Kamil Mishara smashed 22 off 12 balls and Sri Lanka raced to 44-2 in the powerplay.
But once the spinners came on, the innings fell apart. Left-arm orthodox Mohammad Nawaz was the wrecker-in-chief, taking 3-16 in four overs, including two wickets in two balls. He clean-bowled Kusal Perera with a sharp arm-ball and then rattled Shanaka’s leg stump with another beauty.
Two wickets in two deliveries – pure spin magic!
Leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed chipped in with a wicket, and a brilliant juggling catch by Mohammad Wasim Jr at deep mid-wicket sent Kamindu Mendis packing. Janith Liyanage fought hard with an unbeaten 41 off 38 balls, but tight death bowling from Wasim and Salman Mirza meant Sri Lanka managed only 37 runs in the last five overs.
Sahibzada Farhan – The One-Man Army in Chase
Chasing 129, Pakistan got off to a flying start. Saim Ayub (20) smashed three boundaries early on, but it was Sahibzada Farhan who turned the game into a one-sided affair.
The 29-year-old opener attacked from ball one – lofting Hasaranga for a straight four, pulling Chameera for six, and then hammering Vijayakanth Viyaskanth for back-to-back four and six. He brought up his fifty in just 33 balls and never looked back.
• 6 fours
• 6 sixes
• Strike rate: 177.77
• Highest T20 score (previous best: 74)
Even when Dushmantha Chameera removed Babar Azam (16) and captain Salman Ali Agha off consecutive balls, there was no panic. Farhan calmly smoked a straight six off Eshan Malinga to seal the victory with 27 balls to spare.
What Went Wrong for Sri Lanka?
Captain Dasun Shanaka didn’t hide his disappointment: “We aren’t a team that should perform like this. We’re better than this. Since arriving in Pakistan, we’ve struggled to find rhythm on these pitches.”
The batting collapse in the middle overs and inability to accelerate at the death have been recurring themes. After being bowled out for 95 against Zimbabwe, another sub-par total has left Sri Lanka staring at an early exit from the tri-series.
Key Takeaways from the Match
- Sahibzada Farhan has announced himself as a serious T20 powerhouse
- Mohammad Nawaz is back to his best – deadly in the middle overs
- Pakistan’s spin attack looks world-class at home
- Sri Lanka’s batting woes continue – urgent fixes needed
- Rawalpindi crowd treated to a six-hitting masterclass
What’s Next?
Pakistan will face Zimbabwe in their final league game on Sunday, knowing a win will almost certainly seal their place in the tri-series final. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, need a miracle (and a big win over Zimbabwe) to have any chance of progressing.
One thing is clear: the Men in Green are peaking at the perfect time on home soil. With the Champions Trophy just months away, performances like this will send a strong message to the rest of the world.
Pakistan cricket is alive, kicking, and hitting sixes for fun!
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s ODI Future: BCCI VP Rajiv Shukla Slams Farewell Rumors