Rawalpindi, October 13,2026: Captain Kusal Mendis struck an unbeaten 87 to guide Sri Lanka to an eight-wicket victory over Pakistan in the third and final T20 International at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, as the hosts clinched the three-match series 2-1.
Chasing a target of 169, Sri Lanka reached 169 for two in 17.1 overs, with an unbeaten 92-run partnership between Kusal and Kamindu Mendis sealing a comfortable victory for the visitors.
Sri Lanka suffered an early setback when Mohammad Imran Randhawa trapped opener Lahiru Udara lbw for one in the second over, leaving the visitors at 15 for one.
Kusal joined opener Sineth Jayawardena at the crease, and the pair launched a strong recovery with a brisk 59-run partnership for the second wicket. Arafat Minhas eventually broke the stand on the final delivery of the eighth over, dismissing Jayawardena for 38 off 26 balls, including five fours and two sixes.
Kamindu then joined his captain, and the two batters maintained the scoring rate to take Sri Lanka home without further damage. Kusal finished unbeaten on 87 off 48 deliveries, hitting nine fours and four sixes, while Kamindu contributed 40 not out from 27 balls, including four boundaries.
Imran and Minhas claimed one wicket each for Pakistan.
Earlier, Pakistan posted 168 for eight after being put into bat, with captain Sahibzada Farhan leading the scoring with a rapid 76.
Farhan and Fakhar Zaman gave the hosts an encouraging start, adding 34 runs in three overs. However, Eshan Malinga struck twice in the fourth over, dismissing Fakhar for 12 and in-form Maaz Sadaqat for a duck.
Hasan Nawaz joined Farhan and contributed 16 off 17 deliveries before falling to Vijayakanth Viyaskanth in the ninth over, with Pakistan losing further ground when Dasun Shanaka dismissed wicketkeeper-batter Khawaja Nafay for three.
Shanaka then struck twice more in successive overs, removing Mohammad Imran for six and Abdul Samad for 15 to leave Pakistan struggling at 102 for six.
Farhan and emerging all-rounder Arafat Minhas revived the innings with a blistering 66-run partnership for the seventh wicket. The stand ended when Farhan fell to Nuwan Thushara on the penultimate delivery of the innings.
Farhan’s 47-ball knock featured seven fours and three sixes. Minhas remained unbeaten on 34 off 20 deliveries, striking two fours and two sixes.
Thushara claimed another wicket on the final ball, bowling Razaullah for a duck as Pakistan finished below the 170-run mark.
Shanaka was Sri Lanka’s leading bowler, taking three wickets for 21 runs in four overs. Malinga and Thushara claimed two wickets apiece, while Viyaskanth took one.
Despite the defeat in the final match, Pakistan won the series 2-1.
