An unbeaten 87 off 48 balls from Kusal Mendis inspired Sri Lanka to an eight-wicket victory over Pakistan in the third and final T20 International in Rawalpindi on Tuesday, as the visitors ended the series on a positive note after conceding the series 2-0.

Sri Lanka chased down Pakistan’s total of 168 for eight with 17 balls to spare, reaching 172 for two in 17.1 overs in a commanding response led by their captain.

Mendis struck seven fours and three sixes in an assured innings, growing in confidence as the chase progressed before finishing unbeaten alongside Kamindu Mendis, who contributed an unbeaten 40 off 27 deliveries.

The victory provided some relief for Sri Lanka after disappointing performances in the first two matches, with the batting and bowling units delivering a more complete performance in the series finale.

Shanaka, Viyaskanth lead disciplined bowling effort

Sri Lanka’s bowlers laid the foundation for the victory by restricting Pakistan to 168 for eight after the hosts were sent in to bat.

Sahibzada Farhan once again posed the biggest threat, scoring 76 off 47 balls with seven fours and three sixes. However, Sri Lanka did a far better job of containing Pakistan’s other batters, with Arafat Minhas contributing 34 off 20 deliveries.

Eshan Malinga made an immediate impact by removing Fakhar Zaman and Maaz Sadaqat in a double-wicket maiden over, giving Sri Lanka an early breakthrough.

Farhan continued to attack, but Sri Lanka tightened their grip through the middle overs, with leg-spinner Vijayakanth Viyaskanth producing an economical spell of one for 23 from four overs.

Viyaskanth, brought into the side in place of Maheesh Theekshana, restricted Pakistan’s scoring with disciplined lines and controlled variations, creating pressure at the other end.

Dasun Shanaka capitalised with an impressive three for 21, using changes of pace and length to frustrate the Pakistan batters. Malinga and Nuwan Thushara claimed two wickets each to complete an effective collective effort.

Despite Farhan’s half-century, Pakistan struggled to build substantial partnerships, allowing Sri Lanka to keep the target within reach.

Kusal takes charge after early setback

Sri Lanka’s chase suffered an early setback when Lahiru Udara was dismissed by Imran Randhawa. However, the visitors quickly recovered as Kusal and young batter Sineth Jayawardena put together a valuable partnership.

Jayawardena scored 38 off 26 balls, striking five fours and two sixes to give the innings momentum. His positive approach helped Sri Lanka maintain the required scoring rate while allowing Kusal to settle before accelerating.

The pair added 59 runs before Jayawardena departed, bringing Kamindu Mendis to the crease.

Kamindu then combined effectively with his captain, rotating the strike and finding the boundary when opportunities arose. Their unbeaten 98-run partnership ensured there would be no late drama, with Sri Lanka completing the chase comfortably.

Kusal finished with a strike rate of more than 180, producing the kind of commanding innings Sri Lanka had been missing during the opening two matches.

Kamindu’s contribution was equally valuable, with his ability to keep the scoreboard moving complementing Kusal’s attacking stroke play.

Encouraging signs despite series defeat

Although Sri Lanka lost the three-match series 2-1, the final T20I offered several encouraging signs as the team continues its preparations for future international assignments.

Kusal’s return to form was particularly significant after his early dismissals in the first two matches had contributed to Sri Lanka’s batting struggles. As captain, his innings demonstrated the importance of a senior batter taking responsibility in a run chase.

The performances of Kamindu and Jayawardena also provided reasons for optimism. Jayawardena, who earned his opportunity following an impressive domestic T20 season, showed attacking intent, while Kamindu demonstrated his ability to complement an established batter in a successful partnership.

Viyaskanth’s economical spell was another positive, strengthening his case for further opportunities at international level. Shanaka, meanwhile, delivered a timely reminder of his value with the ball.

Sri Lanka head coach Gary Kirsten has described the T20 side as being in an exploratory phase ahead of the next T20 World Cup, which remains two years away. The final match offered a glimpse of the potential available, although consistency across an entire series remains an important challenge.

For Pakistan, Farhan continued his impressive run with the bat, but the lack of substantial contributions from the rest of the batting order proved costly. Their bowlers were unable to make sufficient inroads after Udara’s early dismissal, allowing Sri Lanka to dictate the chase.

Sri Lanka will take confidence from the comprehensive victory, but the series defeat underlined the work still required. The challenge now is to build on the final-match performance and translate individual contributions into consistent results.

Match result: Sri Lanka won by eight wickets
Series result: Pakistan won 2-1

Scores

Pakistan 168/8 in 20 overs (Sahibzada Farhan 76, Arafat Minhas 34; Dasun Shanaka 3/21).

Sri Lanka 172/2 in 17.1 overs (Kusal Mendis 87*, Kamindu Mendis 40*, Sineth Jayawardena 38; Imran Randhawa 1/31).

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