Rawalpindi, November 29, 2025: Pakistan clinched the T20I tri-series title with a six-wicket victory over Sri Lanka at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday.
Chasing a modest target of 115, Pakistan got off to a solid start as openers Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan added 46 runs for the first wicket. Farhan scored 23 off 22 balls, including a four and a six, before pacer Eshan Malinga broke the partnership.
Babar Azam then joined Saim at the crease, steering Pakistan past the 50-run mark by the eighth over. Saim fell for 36 off 33 balls (six fours) as Wanindu Hasaranga struck, leaving Pakistan at 75-2 in 11.3 overs.
Captain Salman Ali Agha and Babar forged a crucial partnership, but Agha was dismissed for 14 off 14 balls by Pavan Rathnayake, who soon removed Fakhar Zaman for three, reducing Pakistan to 104-4 in 17.1 overs.
Despite the mid-innings wobble, Pakistan comfortably reached the target in the 19th over. Babar Azam remained unbeaten on 37 off 34 balls, including two fours and a six, while Usman Khan contributed three runs to seal the victory.
Batting first, Sri Lanka started steadily, with openers Pathum Nissanka and Kamil Mishara adding 20 runs. Shaheen Afridi struck early, dismissing Nissanka for 11 off 7 balls.
Mishara and skipper Kusal Mendis added a 50-run stand for the second wicket, but Mendis fell cheaply for 14 off 18 balls, leaving Sri Lanka at 84-2 in 10.3 overs.
Mishara played a determined innings, scoring his third T20I fifty (59 off 47 balls), hitting two fours and four sixes. However, Sri Lanka’s innings collapsed in the latter overs.
Abrar Ahmed dismissed Kusal Perera and Pavan Rathnayake, while Mohammad Nawaz removed Janith Liyanage and Wanindu Hasaranga. Shaheen Afridi struck twice more, taking the wickets of Dasun Shanaka and Maheesh Theekshana, leaving Sri Lanka at 113-9 in 18.5 overs.
The innings ended in the final over when Salman Mirza dismissed Dushmantha Chameera for a duck, with Sri Lanka all out for 114.
For Pakistan, Shaheen Afridi and Mohammad Nawaz were the pick of the bowlers with three wickets each. Abrar Ahmed claimed two, while Salman Mirza and Saim Ayub took one wicket apiece.
Mohammad Nawaz was declared Player of the Match as well as of Player of the Tournament.
