If it’s not Imesha Dulani getting you, it’ll be another top-order Sri Lankan batter. Pakistan would do well not to forget that anytime soon. After losing the ODI series 2-1, Pakistan have now done so in the T20I leg as well, with a game to spare.
Chamari Athapaththu and Sanjana Kavindi paired up to steer their side to victory in a successful chase under lights.
Pakistan do a 1st T20I repeat
In Dambulla, a 160-run target is enough to pose a serious threat in the second innings. But Pakistan have been reminded twice in this series that their job is only half done after setting a par target. Muneeba Ali and Shawaal Zulfiqar once again gave the side a brilliant start. The run rate was hovering around 10 per over until the 10-over mark. But following Muneeba’s dismissal and Shawaal following suit shortly after, the scoring rate dropped.
The middle order did manage to play a few brisk cameos but without a player anchoring the batting, Pakistan could only set a 176-run target.
Athapaththu and Kavindi too brutal for Pakistan
Like Pakistan, Sri Lanka did not have any struggle up front. They did lose the last game’s centurion Imesha Dulani in the second over but Athapaththu and 17-year-old Kavindi made sure it did not hurt them. Quick runs were scored and the powerplay was utilised to the fullest, and within the blink of an eye, the hosts had crossed 100 runs before the 10-over mark.
Even after the pair departed, the rest of the Sri Lankan batters did not repeat their mistakes from the last game. The scoring rate was kept near 10 until the end as Sri Lanka chased down the target in 17.4 overs.
Sri Lanka won the game by six wickets and all Pakistan can salvage now is a consolation win in the final T20I.
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