Sri Lanka fall from 81-1 to 114 all out as Pakistan lift title

RAWALPINDI, Pakistan, November 29 Saturday (ePRESS) – Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka by six wickets in the final of the Pakistan T20I Tri-Series on Saturday, chasing a modest target of 115 with calm control to end their Twenty20 year on a high.

Pakistan finished on 118-4 in 18.4 overs, sealing their 21st T20I win of 2025, the most they have achieved in any calendar year, surpassing their 20 victories in 2021.

Chasing 115, Pakistan made a smooth start, reaching 32-0 in the six-over powerplay. Sri Lanka introduced leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga in the seventh over hoping to break the stand.

The breakthrough came instead from young pacer Eshan Malinga, who produced a fiery 142.3 km/h delivery that shattered Sahibzada Farhan’s off stump. Pakistan were 46-1 in 7.3 overs.

Pakistan continued at a comfortable pace, reaching 71-1 after 10 overs.

Hasaranga struck soon after, trapping Saim Ayub lbw for 36 off 33, a key wicket as Ayub was scoring freely. Pakistan slipped to 75-2 in 11.3 overs.

At one point, Pakistan needed 37 from 46 balls with eight wickets in hand, keeping full control of the chase.

Sri Lanka introduced part time spinner Pavan Rathnayake, who bowled for the first time in his international career. The young leg-spinner struck immediately, removing Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha for 14, caught sharply by Dasun Shanaka at cover. Pakistan moved to 100-3 in 15.5 overs.

Ratnayake finished his first international over with 1 wicket for 3 runs, a memorable start.

He struck again in his next spell, removing Fakhar Zaman, once again held at cover by Shanaka. Pakistan were 104-4 in 17.1 overs, needing only 11 runs from 17 balls.

From there, they eased home, completing the chase with six wickets to spare to claim the Tri-Series title.

Earlier, Sri Lanka produced one of their most dramatic collapses of the year, being bowled out for 114 in 19.1 overs, losing nine wickets for just 30 runs after a powerful beginning.

Openers Pathum Nissanka and Kamil Mishara gave Sri Lanka a flying start. Nissanka struck a huge six off Shaheen Shah Afridi but was bowled the next ball, repeating the same mistake he made in the previous match.

Mishara, in excellent touch, counterattacked confidently, lifting Sri Lanka to 55-1 at the end of the powerplay, with Mishara on 31 off 20 and the in-form Kusal Mendis on 9.

Sri Lanka were strongly placed at 81-1 after 10 overs.

Mendis fell in the 11th over, caught at deep mid-off. Sri Lanka sent young Pavan Rathnayake to play his first international innings despite having already played two matches earlier.

Mishara continued to dominate, hitting four sixes and choosing his shots cleverly. But on 59 off 49 balls, he was dismissed by part-time left-armer Saim Ayub, thanks to a brilliant running catch by Babar Azam at long-off. Sri Lanka fell to 98-3 in 13.1 overs.

Sri Lanka reached 100-3 in 13.2 overs, but from there the innings unraveled.

Kusal Perera miscued a simple catch and was out for 1 (103-4).

Pavan Rathnayake fell to Babar Azam again, giving the Pakistan captain his third catch (104-5).

Janith Liyanage inside-edged left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz onto his stumps for a duck (105-6).

Hasaranga had his off stump uprooted for 5 as Sri Lanka slipped to 111-7.

Sri Lanka failed to hit a single boundary for nearly 10 overs (56 balls) as Pakistan’s spinners tightened their grip on the pitch.

Nawaz ended with outstanding figures of 3-17 in four overs, leading the spin charge.

Sri Lanka’s lower order folded quickly, and the side was bowled out for 114, a total well below par for a final.

The defeat came at a difficult time for fans back home, as Sri Lanka continues to battle its worst floods and landslides in years following the Ditwa Cyclone. The team’s dramatic collapse added to the disappointment on a tough day for many supporters.

T20I TRI-SERIES FINAL — SCOREBOARD

Sri Lanka – 114 all out (19.1 overs, RR: 5.94)

Batting

• Pathum Nissanka b Shaheen Afridi ………….. 11 (7, 1×4, 1×6)

• Kamil Mishara c Babar b Saim Ayub ………… 59 (47, 2×4, 4×6)

• Kusal Mendis † c Babar b Nawaz …………… 14 (18)

• Pavan Rathnayake c Babar b Abrar …………. 8 (11)

• Kusal Perera c Usman b Abrar ……………… 1 (6)

• Dasun Shanaka (c) b Shaheen ………………. 2 (7)

• Janith Liyanage b Nawaz …………………… 0 (2)

• Wanindu Hasaranga b Nawaz …………………. 5 (11)

• Dushmantha Chameera b Salman Mirza ………… 0 (3)

• Maheesh Theekshana c Usman b Shaheen ………. 1 (2)

• Eshan Malinga not out …………………….. 0 (1)

Extras: 13 (lb 8, w 5)
Total: 114 all out in 19.1 overs

Fall of wickets: 20, 84, 98, 103, 104, 105, 111, 111, 113, 114

---

Pakistan – 118/4 (18.4 overs, RR: 6.32)

Target: 115

Batting

• Sahibzada Farhan b Malinga ………………… 23 (22, 2×4, 1×6)

• Saim Ayub lbw b Hasaranga …………………. 36 (33, 6×4)

• Babar Azam not out ……………………….. 37 (34, 2×4, 1×6)

• Salman Agha (c) c Shanaka b Rathnayake ……… 14 (14)

• Fakhar Zaman c Shanaka b Rathnayake ………… 3 (5)

• Usman Khan † not out ………………………. 3 (4)

Extras: 2 (w 2)
Total: 118/4 in 18.4 overs

Did not bat: Nawaz, Faheem, Shaheen, Salman Mirza, Abrar

Fall of wickets: 46, 75, 98, 104

---

Sri Lanka Bowling

• Theekshana 4–0–22–0

• Chameera 3.4–0–21–0

• Shanaka 1–0–7–0

• Eshan Malinga 3–0–16–1

• Hasaranga 4–0–31–1

• Kamil Mishara 1–0–10–0

• Pavan Rathnayake 2–0–11–2

---

Pakistan Bowling

• Shaheen Afridi 3–0–18–3

• Salman Mirza 3.1–0–25–1

• Faheem Ashraf 1–0–11–0

• Abrar Ahmed 4–0–18–2

• Saim Ayub 4–0–17–1

• Mohammad Nawaz 4–0–17–3

•