Dambulla: Vanindu Hazaranga’s game-changing performance and skipper Dasun Shanaka’s scintillating performance helped Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by 14 runs to level the series 1-1 in the third and final T20I at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium on Sunday.
Chasing 161 runs, Pakistan scored 146 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in 20 overs. The visitors suffered an early setback as opener Sahibzada Farhan was dismissed by Eshan Malinga for nine runs off seven balls, including two fours.
Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha combined with Saim Ayub to hit back-to-back fours in the counter-attack to take the team past 50 in the fourth over.
However, Madisha Pathrana smashed a 12-ball 45 with 5 fours and 3 sixes to dismiss Agha and break the 51-run partnership.
The slump continued as Wanindu Hazaranga struck twice in his first over, Saim Ayub for a five-ball six and Usman Khan for a three-ball one as Pakistan reeled at 67-4 in 4.5 overs.
Khawaja Nafai and Mohammad Nawaz steadied the innings with a 49-run partnership that helped Pakistan cross the 100-run mark in the eighth over.
Hazaran scored 26 off 15 balls, including a four and a six, to take Nafain’s wicket, completing the stop on 116-5 in 9.1 overs.
He then continued Pakistan’s slump by dismissing Shatab Khan for three balls including a six.
Pathirana was dismissed again and Nawaz scored 28 off 15 balls with 2 fours and 2 sixes to clean bowl. With 20 runs needed in the last over and only two wickets in hand, Pakistan were stumped.
Faheem Ashraf was run out for a quick single and the green shirts managed just five runs in the final over, finishing on 147-8, with Mohammad Wasim Jr unbeaten on seven and Naseem Shah unbeaten on one.
For Sri Lanka, Hasaranga led the charge with figures of 4/35 from three overs, while Pathirana took two wickets and Malinga added one more.
Earlier, after being asked to bat first, Sri Lanka lost opener Padum Nisanga to a dugout in the first over to Naseem Shah.
Kamil Mishara was in action, scoring 20 off eight balls, including 3 fours and a six, before falling to Mohammad Wasim Jr., leaving the hosts 22-2 in 1.5 overs.
Dhananjaya de Silva and Gusal Mendis then steadied the innings and put on a 32-run partnership to take Sri Lanka past 50 in the fifth over.
De Silva scored 22 off 15 balls before being dismissed by Mohammad Nawaz on the first ball of the sixth over to make the score 54-3.
Sarith Achalanga was a good partner for Mendis as the pair crossed the 100-run mark in the ninth over.
However, the 46-run partnership came to an end as Wasim Jr dismissed Gusal Mendis for 30 off 16 balls. Faheem Ashraf then dismissed Asalanga for 21 off 13 balls and Sri Lanka were 102-5 in 9.1 overs.
Captain Dasun Shanaka and Lienake added late momentum, with Shanaka hitting 5 sixes and falling to Wasim Jr on 34 off 9 balls.
Lienake remained unbeaten on 22 off eight balls, including three fours and a six, while Vanindu Hazaranga remained unbeaten on one run.
For Pakistan, Wasim Jr finished with figures of 3-54 from three overs, while Naseem Shah, Mohammad Nawaz and Faheem Ashraf claimed a wicket each.