Dambulla (Web Desk): Sri Lanka drew level in the three-match T20I series after beating Pakistan in a rain-affected decider at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Chasing a revised target of 161, Pakistan could only reach 146 for eight in their allotted 20 overs.
Their pursuit got off to a disappointing start when Sahibzada Farhan was removed for nine from seven balls, having struck two boundaries, as Eshan Malinga made the early breakthrough. Salman Ali Agha then walked in and, together with Saim Ayub, launched a quick counter-attack, taking the score beyond 50 in the fourth over with a flurry of boundaries.
The momentum was halted when Matheesha Pathirana dismissed Agha for a blistering 45 off just 12 deliveries, which included five fours and three sixes, leaving Pakistan at 60 for two in 3.4 overs.
The innings continued to unravel when Wanindu Hasaranga struck twice in his first over, removing Ayub for six and Usman Khan for one to reduce Pakistan to 67 for four in 4.5 overs.
Khawaja Nafay and Mohammad Nawaz then tried to steady the chase, putting on 49 runs and lifting the total past 100 in the eighth over.
Hasaranga returned to break the stand by dismissing Nafay for 26 off 15 balls, which featured a four and a six, making it 116 for five in 9.1 overs.
He followed that up by sending back Shadab Khan for six off three balls as Pakistan’s problems deepened.
Pathirana added to the pressure by bowling Nawaz for 28 off 15 balls, an innings that included two fours and two sixes.
With 20 runs needed from the final over and only two wickets left, Pakistan were left with a tough task. Faheem Ashraf was run out while attempting a quick single, and just five runs came from the last over, leaving Pakistan on 146 for eight, with Mohammad Wasim Jr on seven not out and Naseem Shah on one.
Hasaranga led Sri Lanka’s bowling effort with four wickets for 35 in three overs, while Pathirana took two and Malinga chipped in with one.
Earlier, Sri Lanka had posted 160 for six in a match shortened to 12 overs per side after rain delayed the start by around two hours. Pakistan won the toss and chose to field. The hosts suffered an immediate setback when Pathum Nissanka was dismissed for a duck by Naseem Shah in the opening over. Kamil Mishara played an attacking cameo of 20 off eight balls, striking three fours and a six, before Mohammad Wasim Jr sent him back, leaving Sri Lanka at 22 for two in 1.5 overs.
Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis then rebuilt with a 32-run partnership that carried the score beyond 50 in the fifth over. De Silva was out for 22 off 15 balls to Mohammad Nawaz on the first delivery of the sixth over, making it 54 for three. Mendis continued to score freely with Charith Asalanka, and the pair took Sri Lanka past 100 in the ninth over.
Wasim Jr broke their 46-run stand by dismissing Mendis for 30 off 16 balls, and Faheem Ashraf soon removed Asalanka for 21 off 13 balls, leaving Sri Lanka at 102 for five in 9.1 overs.
Dasun Shanaka and Janith Liyanage then provided the late surge. Shanaka smashed five sixes during a rapid 34 from nine balls before falling to Wasim Jr. Liyanage remained unbeaten on 22 from eight deliveries, hitting three fours and a six, while Wanindu Hasaranga stayed not out on one as Sri Lanka finished on 160 for six.
For Pakistan, Wasim Jr returned figures of three for 54 in three overs, while Naseem Shah, Mohammad Nawaz and Faheem Ashraf picked up one wicket each.