Dambulla: Opener Sahibzada Farhan’s blistering half-century led Pakistan to a resounding six-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the first T20I of the three-match series at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium on Wednesday.
The green shirts team came into the field with a simple target of 129 runs to win with 4 wickets and 20 balls to spare.
Mahish Deekshana was cleaned up with the final delivery of the batting powerplay as the visitors put on a blistering 59 with their opening pair of Farhan and Saim Ayub.
Ayub scored 24 runs off 18 balls with 3 fours and a six and was the notable run scorer for the Green Shirts.
Farhan then put on another crucial partnership for Pakistan – a 25-run stand for the second wicket with captain Salman Ali Agha, before both were dismissed in subsequent overs to reduce the total to 101/3.
The right-handed opener scored 51 off 36 balls with 4 fours and 2 sixes, while Agha scored 16 off 11 balls with 2 fours to top Pakistan’s tally.
Another setback in Pakistan’s chase came when Fakhar Zaman, who sent back Dhananjaya de Silva on stumps in the 14th over after scoring 5 runs off 10 balls.
With 23 runs still needed, wicketkeeper-batsman Usman Khan and experienced all-rounder Shadab Khan batted sensibly to form a match-winning partnership to guide Pakistan over the line in the 17th over.
Shadab scored an unbeaten 18 off 12 balls while Usman scored 7 off 13 balls.
Vanindu Hazaran, Dushmantha Sameera, Deekshana and De Silva can take one wicket each for Sri Lanka.
Earlier, Pakistan skipper Agha’s decision to field first paid off as his side’s bowling left the home team all out for 128 in 19.2 overs.
Sri Lanka began to unravel their innings as they lost both openers Kamil Mishara (nil) and Pathum Nissanga within 15 runs in the batting powerplay.
Wicketkeeper batsman Gusal Mendis (14) and de Silva (10) tried to stabilize the innings by adding 22 runs for the third wicket before both were dismissed in quick succession as the total fell to 38/4 in 6.5 overs.
Following a succession of dismissals, Janith Lienake came out to bat at No.6 and took control of Sri Lanka’s batting campaign with a valiant performance.
Batting all-rounder Sarith Asalanga and 18-year-old Vanindu Hazaran put on two crucial partnerships before finally succumbing to Abrar Ahmed in the 18th over.
He scored 40 off 31 balls with 2 fours and a six.
Left-arm pacer Salman Mirza added to Sri Lanka’s woes in the last over, dismissing their skipper Dasun Shanaka (12) and Taylor Sameera (nil) to put Pakistan in a commanding position.
Mohammad Wasim Jr dealt the final blow to Sri Lanka when he caught number 10 Mahesh Deekshana off the second delivery of the last over.
Abrar Ahmed and Salman jointly led Pakistan’s bowling charge with three wickets each, followed by Shadab and Wasim Jr with two wickets each.
The six-wicket win gave Pakistan a 1-0 lead in the three-match series against Sri Lanka, with the second match scheduled to be played at the same venue on Friday.