Sadaqat and Imran Power Pakistan to Series-Clinching Win Over Sri Lanka

Maaz Sadaqat fell just short of a hundred, but Pakistan did not need it. A record home T20 total and a ruthless bowling display flattened Sri Lanka by 82 runs in Rawalpindi on Sunday, sealing the series with a game to spare.

Pakistan Smash a Record Home Total

Pakistan posted 215-3, their highest T20 total at home. The score beat the previous best of 208-3 against the West Indies in Karachi five years ago.

Sadaqat led the charge with a 51-ball 96. He hit seven sixes, which equals the most by a Pakistan batter in a T20 international, and six fours. He was dismissed off the final delivery of the innings, agonisingly short of three figures.

Farhan and Sadaqat Punish Sloppy Fielding

Sri Lanka’s fielding let them down badly. They put down three catches, and Pakistan’s batters made them pay.

Skipper Sahibzada Farhan hit 73 off 44 balls with five sixes and four fours. He was dropped on two and 11 before holing out to Dasun Shanaka in the 15th over. He and Sadaqat added 88 for the second wicket off just 49 balls.

Sadaqat Cuts Loose in the Closing Overs

Sadaqat was himself reprieved on 44, and he made Sri Lanka regret it. He added a rapid 72 off 31 balls for the third wicket with Hasan Nawaz, who finished on 19 not out.

The pair plundered 70 runs in the last five overs. That late surge pushed Pakistan well beyond what had looked like a strong total.

Mohammad Imran Rips Through Sri Lanka

Chasing 216, Sri Lanka never got going. Medium pacer Mohammad Imran took 3-11 and tore the heart out of the top order.

Wickets fell at regular intervals, and Sri Lanka finished on 133-7. It was Pakistan’s biggest T20 win over the tourists.

Late Resistance Comes Too Late

Maheesh Theekshana top-scored with an unbeaten 32, and Chamindu Wickramasinghe added 29. Both runs came once the game was already beyond reach.

Kamindu Mendis (23) and Sineth Jayawardena (22) were the only other Sri Lankan batters to reach double figures.

What the Captains Said

Farhan was pleased with the way his side attacked. “It’s a good win, and we are shaping up well,” he said.

“If we continue this way, we will end up scoring more than 200 every time, so we will play with the same intensity.”

Sri Lankan skipper Kusal Mendis pointed to the dropped catches. “We have done well in terms of fielding in the last few tournaments, but unfortunately we have not been up to the mark, and that’s why we have struggled,” he said.

Series Verdict and What Comes Next

Pakistan now lead 2-0 and cannot be caught. Sri Lanka must regroup quickly and fix their fielding.

The third and final match is on Tuesday. Pakistan will aim for a clean sweep, while Sri Lanka will hope to salvage some pride.