PAK vs SL: Mendis, Shanaka help Sri Lanka prevent Pakistan from securing a clean sweep

Kusal Mendis produced a commanding unbeaten half-century as Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by eight wickets in the third T20I on Tuesday, preventing the hosts from completing a clean sweep.

After managing scores of 1 and 9 in the first two matches, the Sri Lankan captain responded with an unbeaten 87 off just 48 deliveries. His knock took the visitors to 172/2 in 17.1 overs, a better all-round performance.

Earlier, Pakistan captain Sahibzada Farhan top scored with 76 off 47 balls to help his team to 168/8. Mendis won his third toss in a row and opted to bowl first, which paid off as Sri Lanka restricted the hosts before comfortably chasing down the target.

Pakistan won the opener by four wickets before recording a dominant 82-run victory in the second T20I. The hosts amassed 215 in the contest, their second-highest total in the format, but Sri Lanka found a response in the series finale.

The two sides will now turn their attention to the ODI tri-series involving England starting in Rawalpindi on Sunday.

After clinching the series, Pakistan left out several key players for the T20I final, including fast bowler Naseem Shah, spinner Abrar Ahmed and spin-bowling all-rounders Shadab Khan and Saim Ayub.

Sri Lanka started aggressively despite losing Lahira Udara in the first delivery of Mohammad Imran’s spell. Sineth Jayawardena attacked Pakistan’s fast bowlers during the power over, scoring 38 to give the visitors an early boost.

Udara had an opportunity to challenge the lbw decision on the field but opted against the review. TV footage subsequently showed that Imran’s delivery ended up outside the off-stump.

Jayawardene’s innings ended when he was stretched to long-on during a busy over by Arafat Minhas. The over also saw goalkeeper Khawaj Nafay miss an opportunity while Minhas injured his little finger after dropping a difficult return.

When Jayawardena was dismissed, Kusal Mendis took up the chase. He found an able partner in Kamindu Mendis, who remained unbeaten on 40 off 27 balls. The pair put together an unbeaten stand of 98 runs off just 55 deliveries to take Sri Lanka to the brink of victory.

The partnership was dominated by Kusal Mendis who hit nine fours and four sixes in a scintillating display of power hitting. Pakistan’s bowlers struggled to maintain their length, allowing the visitors to keep the required run rate in check throughout the chase.

Razaullah, who was featuring in only his second T20 match, proved costly as he conceded 37 runs from just 19 deliveries. Salman Mirza also struggled to keep the score down and finished with figures of 0/40 from his three overs.

Earlier, former Sri Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka produced a key spell in the middle overs as he claimed three wickets for 21 runs to prevent Pakistan from building a commanding unit.

Sri Lanka’s bowlers struck early when Eshan Malinga dismissed Maaz Sadaqat for a three-ball duck. Fakhar Zaman, who scored 12, had already fallen to the first delivery of the fast bowler’s spell after being caught at short third.

Spinner Vijayakanth Viyaskanth complemented Shanak’s efforts with a disciplined spell of 1/23. The duo kept Pakistan under pressure through the middle overs as the hosts slipped to 102/6 in the 14th over, with Farhan getting limited strike opportunities.

Minhas provided some late resistance with an unbeaten 34, although he survived a run-out chance from the first delivery he faced. Mendis failed to collect the ball cleanly at the striker’s end, leaving the bat in the crease.

Farhan then stepped up in the dying overs, helping Pakistan pile up 59 runs in the last five overs to take their total to 168/8.

Nuwan Thushara struck twice in the last two deliveries of the innings to stop Pakistan’s late onslaught. Farhan’s innings ended when he fielded Shanak in the circle before Razaullah dived around his legs off the last ball.

Despite Farhan’s struggling half-century, Pakistan’s total proved insufficient as Kusal Mendis guided Sri Lanka to a comprehensive victory and ensured the visitors avoided a series fade-out.

– The end