Pakistan crushed Sri Lanka by 82 runs in the second T20I in Rawalpindi to take an unassailable 2-0 lead. Maaz Sadaqat’s 96 off 51 balls and Sahibzada Farhan’s 73 powered 215 for 3, and Imran Randhawa took 3 for 11 as Sri Lanka finished on 133 for 7.
Rawalpindi: Maaz Sadaqat missed a century by four runs and Pakistan lost nothing by it. His 96 off 51 balls drove a 215-run total that Sri Lanka never threatened, and with two wins from two, Pakistan took the three-match series with a match to spare.
Farhan and Sadaqat take control
Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bowl, and Pakistan made the decision look costly. Farhan, named captain for this series, shared 55 for the first wicket with Fakhar Zaman, who made 22 off 17 before Maheesh Theekshana removed him in the seventh over. Sadaqat then joined Farhan and the pair added 88. Farhan made 73 off 44 balls, with four fours and five sixes, and fell in the 15th over with Pakistan on 143 for 2.
Sadaqat carried on. He hit six fours and seven sixes in his 96 and was caught at deep cover off the final ball of the innings, bowled by Eshan Malinga. Hasan Nawaz finished unbeaten on 19 off 9 balls as Pakistan reached 215 for 3. It followed the pair’s fifties in the opening T20I.
Randhawa breaks the chase
Sri Lanka needed 216 and lost momentum quickly. Lahiru Udara fell for 5 to Salman Mirza, and Sineth Jayawardena was out at the end of the powerplay with Sri Lanka 35 for 2. Randhawa then took over. He dismissed Jayawardena for 22, Kusal Mendis for 9 and Sahan Arachchige for 0, and finished with 3 for 11 from four overs.
Saim Ayub removed Dasun Shanaka for 9 and Shadab Khan dismissed Kamindu Mendis for 23. Chamindu Wickramasinghe made 29 before Mirza removed him, and Mirza ended with 2 wickets. Theekshana’s unbeaten 32 off 26 balls delayed the defeat, but Sri Lanka closed on 133 for 7.
What it means for the series
Pakistan lead 2-0 in the three-match series, which has already been decided. The third and final T20I is on Tuesday, with Sri Lanka looking for a consolation win and Pakistan for a clean sweep.
Result: Pakistan 215/3 in 20 overs (Maaz Sadaqat 96 off 51, Sahibzada Farhan 73 off 44, Fakhar Zaman 22, Hasan Nawaz 19* off 9) beat Sri Lanka 133/7 in 20 overs (Maheesh Theekshana 32* off 26, Chamindu Wickramasinghe 29; Imran Randhawa 3/11, Salman Mirza 2 wickets) by 82 runs. Player of the Match: Maaz Sadaqat. Pakistan lead the series 2-0.
