Rawalpindi, October 9,2026: Blistering half-centuries from captain Sahibzada Farhan and Maaz Sadaqat guided Pakistan to a comfortable four-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the opening match of the three-game T20 International series at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Friday.
Chasing a target of 183, Pakistan reached 183 for six with seven balls to spare to take a 1-0 lead in the series. The second match will be played at the same venue on Sunday.
Pakistan made a flying start to the chase as the new opening pair of Fakhar Zaman and Farhan added 54 runs in five overs.
Eshan Malinga provided Sri Lanka with their first breakthrough on the opening ball of the sixth over, dismissing Zaman for 21 off 13 deliveries, including four boundaries.
Maaz Sadaqat joined Farhan at the crease and maintained the momentum with a match-defining 92-run partnership for the second wicket. Both batters reached their half-centuries as Pakistan strengthened their position in the chase.
The stand ended in the 14th over when Maheesh Theekshana trapped Sadaqat lbw for 50 off 29 balls, an innings featuring four fours and three sixes.
Pakistan then lost Hasan Nawaz for one and Saim Ayub for eight in successive overs, slipping to 156 for four. However, Farhan continued his aggressive approach, bringing Pakistan within touching distance of victory.
The captain scored a commanding 89 off 53 deliveries, hitting 10 fours and four sixes, before Nuwan Thushara dismissed him in the 18th over.
Sri Lanka struck again when Malinga removed experienced all-rounder Shadab Khan for a duck on the second ball of the penultimate over. Wicketkeeper-batter Khawaja Nafay, however, kept his composure and sealed the victory by dispatching the fifth delivery of the over for six. He remained unbeaten on 12.
For Sri Lanka, Theekshana and Malinga claimed two wickets each, while Dushmantha Chameera and Thushara took one apiece.
Earlier, Sri Lanka posted 182 for eight after being put in to bat, with opener Lahiru Udara top-scoring with a superb 91 off 55 balls, including 11 fours and a six.
The visitors suffered an early setback when captain Kusal Mendis fell for one in the first over. Debutant Muhammad Imran struck again in the fourth over, dismissing Kamil Mishara for six to leave Sri Lanka at 18 for two.
Udara and Kamindu Mendis then rebuilt the innings with a 60-run partnership for the third wicket. Saim Ayub broke the stand in the 10th over, removing Kamindu for 23 off 18 balls, while Imran dismissed Sahan Arachchige for one in the following over.
Udara subsequently combined with Dasun Shanaka for a rapid 57-run partnership off 28 deliveries. Shanaka scored 18 off 15 balls, including two sixes, before Shadab Khan dismissed him in the 16th over.
Udara added 27 runs for the sixth wicket with Dunith Wellalage, who scored five, before Naseem Shah removed both batters in an eventful penultimate over.
Debutant Razaullah claimed his maiden T20I wicket on the first ball of the final over, dismissing Maheesh Theekshana for one with a caught-and-bowled effort. Sri Lanka finished on 182 for eight after adding 10 runs in the final over.
Naseem led Pakistan’s bowling attack with three wickets for 36 runs in four overs. Imran claimed two wickets, while Saim, Shadab and Razaullah took one each.
Pakistan will look to extend their advantage in Sunday’s second T20I as Sri Lanka seek to level the series.
