RAWALPINDI – Nawaz lit up Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium with stunning 3-wicket haul that dismantled Sri Lanka’s middle order and helped Pakistan restrict the visitors to a below-par 128/7 in the third match of the T20I tri-series.
Sri Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka gambled by choosing to bat first—but the move backfired almost instantly. The innings started with spark as Kamil Mishara launched an early assault, cracking two fours and two sixes in a blazing 12-ball 22. However, his fireworks were short-lived. Faheem Ashraf broke through in the fourth over, halting the momentum and giving Pakistan their first breakthrough.
Just 13 balls later, Sri Lanka stumbled again. Kusal Mendis, attempting a risky run, fell to a sharp effort from Mohammad Wasim Jr, who nailed a direct hit to send the batter back for just three. The scoreboard now read 38/2 in 5.4 overs, and Pakistan tightened their grip.
Pathum Nissanka (17) and Kusal Perera tried to steady the innings with a cautious 22-run stand. But Abrar Ahmed shattered the partnership the moment he came on to bowl the ninth over, removing Perera with a perfectly pitched delivery on his very first ball.
What followed was a collapse that Sri Lanka never recovered from.
Nissanka’s dismissal opened the floodgates, and Nawaz stepped in to take charge. The left-arm spinner ripped through the middle order with three wickets in quick succession—two of them in the same over—leaving Sri Lanka reeling at 86/6 by the 13.3-over mark.
Amid the chaos, Janith Liyanage stood tall. Displaying grit and calm under pressure, he anchored the innings beautifully and built a 35-run stand with Wanindu Hasaranga. But the support didn’t last long—Hasaranga fell for a 12-ball 11 in the penultimate over.
Liyanage remained unbeaten, top-scoring with a composed 40 off 37 balls, hitting three boundaries and a six, but with little assistance at the other end, Sri Lanka could never truly recover.
For Pakistan, Nawaz was the undisputed star of the innings, finishing with exceptional figures of 3/16 from his four overs. Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, and Salman Mirza chipped in with one wicket each, keeping Sri Lanka’s scoring in check throughout.
More updates to follow…
