SL vs PAK | Mirza, Abrar, and Farhan shine as Pakistan dominate Sri Lanka in clinical display

‌Pakistan started their three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka with a comfortable six-wicket win in Dambulla on Wednesday. Left-arm pacer Salman Mirza led a disciplined bowling attack from the visitors, while the leg-spinning duo of Abrar Ahmed and Shadab Khan picked up five wickets between them to bowl out the Lankans for a modest total. Meanwhile, opener Sahibzada Farhan scored a stroke-filled fifty to wrap up the chase with 20 balls to spare.

After opting to bowl at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Pakistan kept things tight on a two-paced surface. The pace duo of Mirza and Mohammad Wasim accounted for openers Kamil Mishara and Pathum Nissanka, respectively, inside four overs as the home side struggled to 35/2 at the end of the six-over powerplay. With skipper Salman Agha introducing spin and throwing the ball to Shadab immediately after the powerplay, the Lankans were in for further trouble. The leggie picked up two wickets in his first over, making a memorable return to international cricket after a gap of seven months. However, Janith Liyanage played a valuable knock to take the side past the 100-run mark and to a respectable score. He hit two fours and a six during his 31-ball 40, while also adding crucial partnerships with Charith Asalanka (18) and Wanindu Hasaranga (18). But Abrar accounted for the trio in his spell as the island nation was bowled out for just 128 with four balls to spare. The leg spinner finished with impressive figures of 3/25 in four overs, while Mirza had 3/18 in his four-over spell.

The chase started on a positive note with Farhan hitting boundaries off Nuwan Thushara in the last two balls of the first over. Saim Ayub took some motivation from his opening partner with a six off Maheesh Theekshana in the next over. The duo, then, plundered 19 runs off Thushara’s next over, with Farhan hoisting the pacer for back-to-back sixes. Though Ayub (24) perished in the penultimate ball of the last over in powerplay, the Men in Green ended the six-over on a high at 59/1. With Farhan and skipper consolidating the visitors’ position with a 35-run stand, the result was more or less anybody’s guess. However, a rush of blood cost the Pakistan skipper his wicket as he paid the price trying to take on Hasaranga in the 11th over. But Farhan continued to remain focused from the other end to complete his half-century in 35 balls an over later. But with the team crossing 100 and victory in sight, Farhan also departed after hitting four fours and two sixes in his 36-ball 51. However, Usman Khan and Shadab kept their cool to take the side past the finish line in the 17th over. The visitors ended at 129/4 to mark a winning start to their tour, while all the hosts’ bowlers except Thushara and Asalanka ended with a wicket apiece.