News Desk
Pakistan on Sunday took 2-0 unassailable lead in the three-match T20I series when they whipped Sri Lanka by 82 runs in their second show at the Pindi Stadium in Rawalpindi.
Pakistan rode on superb batting display from Maaz Sadaqat (96) and skipper Sahibzada Farhan (73) to pile-up 215-3 in the stipulated 20 overs. This is also a record total at this venue, eclipsing the previous 195-5 which Pakistan had scored against Zimbabwe on November 23, 2025.
Young pacer Imran Randhawa, who made his Test debut against England recently, then took 3-11 in four overs to restrict Sri Lanka to 133-7.
This is also the heaviest win from Pakistan against Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka were never in the run as they kept losing wickets at regular interval.
After Salman Mirza removed in-form Lahiru Udara (5) early, it was Imran Randhawa who put great pressure by picking up the wickets of Sineth Jayawardena (22), Kusal Mendis (9) and Sahan Arachchige (0) in quick succession to break the back of the visitors. Saim Aub then had Dasun Shanaka (9) before Shadab got rid of Kamindu Mendis (23) to leave Sri Lanka gasping at 74-6.
Chamindu Wickramasinghe resisted with 24-ball 29 before falling to Salman Mirza. Maheesh Theekshana remained top-scorer with 32 not out which featured four fours.
Imran was ably backed by his new ball partner Salman Mirza with 2-28.
Earlier Maaz Sadqat and skipper Sahibzada Farhan did a glorious job to enable Pakistan post a big total on a batting track.
Maaz and Farhan shared 88 runs off 48 balls for the second wicket stand to take the hosts to a decent total in the end. Farhan was dropped on 12 when he skied one early in the innings. However, he capitalised on the opportunity and went on to hit his second successive fifty of the series. He brought in his fifty off 31 balls and hammered five sixes and four fours in his commanding 44-ball 73.
Earlier, he, along with Fakhar Zaman provided a rapid start to the hosts, sharing 55 off 35 balls for the opening stand. Fakhar fell for 17-ball 22 with four fours to off-spinner Maheesh Theekshana. Maaz, who brought in his second successive fifty off 30 balls, then went after the ball and played some superb strokes. He also hit Theekshana for three glorious sixes in one over which yielded 22 runs.
He along with Hasan Nawaz scored a rapid 72 runs for the third wicket partnership to take Pakistan to a huge total. Maaz hammered seven sixes and six fours in his gallant 51-ball 96.
He lost his wicket off the final ball of the innings when he went for a big hit in a bid to complete his century but was held in the deep. Hasan Nawaz remained not out on nine-ball 19 with one six and one four. Pakistan scored 46 in the power-play, were 90-1 in ten overs, reached 145-2 in 15 and made 70 runs in the final five overs.
Theekshana remained the most expensive bowler as he finished with 1-55 in his quota of four overs. Eshan Malinga (1-41) and Dasun Shanaka (1-30) were the other successful bowlers.
Earlier, Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bowl first. Pakistan made one change, bringing in Salman Mirza in place of Razaullah who had made his T20I debut in the previous game at the same venue. Sri Lanka made two changes. The third and final game is scheduled for Tuesday at the same venue.