Pakistan eye series whitewash against Sri Lanka in third T20I
The hosts have already secured the three-match series by winning the first two games. They now have a chance to complete a 3-0 whitewash.
Pakistan head into the final match with strong momentum after defeating Sri Lanka by 82 runs in the second T20I at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday night. The victory has put the home side in a strong position. However, Sri Lanka will be looking to avoid another defeat and end the series with a win.
Maaz Sadaqat shines with 96 runs
Pakistan’s victory in the second T20I was built on an impressive batting performance led by young batter Maaz Sadaqat.
Sadaqat scored 96 runs off just 51 balls, narrowly missing out on a century. His innings helped Pakistan post a strong total and put pressure on the Sri Lankan bowling attack. His performance was one of the main highlights of the match. He scored at a brisk pace and helped Pakistan maintain a high run rate throughout the innings.
Pakistan finished their 20 overs at 215 for three wickets. According to the supplied match report, it was the team’s second-highest total in T20 International cricket. The total gave Sri Lanka a challenging target of 216 runs to win the match.
Sahibzada Farhan adds a valuable half-century
Pakistan captain Sahibzada Farhan also played an important role in the team’s batting performance. Farhan scored a half-century, supporting Sadaqat as Pakistan built a challenging total. Their contributions helped the hosts maintain pressure on Sri Lanka throughout the innings.
Pakistan’s total of 215 for three reflected the team’s strong batting display. The side lost only three wickets in its 20 overs, allowing it to maintain a high scoring rate. The total ultimately proved too difficult for Sri Lanka to chase.
Sri Lanka fall short in 216-run chase
Sri Lanka struggled to keep up with the required run rate during their reply. The visitors finished on 133 for seven in 20 overs, falling well short of the target. Pakistan secured an 82-run victory to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.
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Sri Lanka needed a strong batting performance to challenge Pakistan’s total. However, the required scoring rate continued to rise as the innings progressed. The defeat ended Sri Lanka’s hopes of winning the series. Their remaining objective is to win the final match and avoid a complete whitewash.
Sri Lanka train as Pakistan take rest
Ahead of the third T20I, Sri Lanka’s players held a practice session at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Pakistan, meanwhile, opted to rest before the final fixture.
The teams’ preparations followed Pakistan’s convincing win in the second match. The hosts will now look to maintain their form and finish the series without a defeat. For Sri Lanka, the final game offers an opportunity to respond after two consecutive losses and end the T20I series on a positive note.
