A clinical all-round performance saw Pakistan register a six-wicket win and take a 1–0 lead in the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka in Dambulla.
Salman Agha asked Sri Lanka to bat first after winning the toss. Dhananjaya de Silva made a comeback to T20Is after a gap of 18 months, having last featured at the 2024 T20 World Cup in the West Indies. Charith Asalanka returned to the side after missing the Tri Series in Pakistan. For the visitors, Shadab Khan also came back into the XI after a 7-month break.
The hosts were reduced to 38 for 4 in 6.5 overs, with none of the top four able to make a meaningful contribution. Janith Liyanage attempted to revive the innings, adding 34 runs with Asalanka and a further 38 with Wanindu Hasaranga.
Asalanka and Hasaranga contributed 18 apiece as Sri Lanka slipped to 110 for 6 with more than four overs remaining. The last four wickets then fell for just one run, with the home side bowled out for 128 in 19.2 overs. Liyanage top-scored with a 31-ball 40.
Salman Mirza was the pick of the Pakistan bowlers with figures of 3 for 18. Abrar Ahmed also claimed three wickets, while Mohammad Wasim and Shadab Khan shared the remaining four.
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In reply, Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub provided a brisk start, bringing up the fifty in just 4.1 overs, with Nuwan Thushara conceding 31 runs in his first two overs. Ayub was then bowled for 24 by Maheesh Theekshana in the final over of the powerplay.
Skipper Salman Agha batted at No. 3 and guided Pakistan close to the 100-run mark before holding out to long-on off Hasaranga in the 11th over. Farhan completed a 35-ball fifty before being dismissed by Dushmantha Chameera in the following over.
On his return, de Silva made an immediate impact with the ball, having Fakhar Zaman stumped. With not enough runs on the board, Pakistan eased to a comfortable victory with 20 balls to spare.
The second T20I will be played on Friday, 9th January at the same venue.
Result
| Batsmen | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pathum Nissanka | c Mohammad Nawaz b Mohammad Wasim Jnr | 12 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 109.09 |
| Kamil Mishara | c Agha Salman b Salman Mirza | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Kusal Mendis | lbw b Shadab Khan | 14 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 93.33 |
| Dhananjaya de Silva | c Usman Khan b Shadab Khan | 10 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Charith Asalanka | c Usman Khan b Abrar Ahmed | 18 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 120.00 |
| Janith Liyanage | c Mohammad Nawaz b Abrar Ahmed | 40 | 31 | 2 | 1 | 129.03 |
| Wanindu Hasaranga | c Fakhar Zaman b Abrar Ahmed | 18 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 150.00 |
| Dasun Shanaka | c Faheem Ashraf b Salman Mirza | 12 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 133.33 |
| Dushmantha Chameera | c Shadab Khan b Salman Mirza | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Maheesh Theekshana | c & b | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 |
| Nuwan Thushara | c & b | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Extras | 3 (b 0 , lb 3 , nb 0, w 0, pen 0) |
| Total | 128/11 (19.2 Overs, RR: 6.62) |
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salman Mirza | 4 | 0 | 18 | 3 | 4.50 | |
| Mohammad Wasim Jnr | 2.2 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 3.18 | |
| Faheem Ashraf | 1 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 10.00 | |
| Shadab Khan | 4 | 0 | 25 | 2 | 6.25 | |
| Mohammad Nawaz | 4 | 0 | 40 | 0 | 10.00 | |
| Abrar Ahmed | 4 | 0 | 25 | 3 | 6.25 | |
| Batsmen | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sahibzada Farhan | c Dasun Shanaka b Dushmantha Chameera | 51 | 36 | 4 | 2 | 141.67 |
| Saim Ayub | b Maheesh Theekshana | 24 | 18 | 3 | 1 | 133.33 |
| Agha Salman | c Pathum Nissanka b Wanindu Hasaranga | 16 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 145.45 |
| Fakhar Zaman | st Kusal Mendis b Dhananjaya de Silva | 5 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Usman Khan | not out | 7 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 53.85 |
| Shadab Khan | not out | 18 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 150.00 |
| Extras | 8 (b 0 , lb 5 , nb 0, w 3, pen 0) |
| Total | 129/4 (16.4 Overs, RR: 7.74) |
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nuwan Thushara | 2 | 0 | 31 | 0 | 15.50 | |
| Maheesh Theekshana | 4 | 0 | 31 | 1 | 7.75 | |
| Dushmantha Chameera | 4 | 0 | 16 | 1 | 4.00 | |
| Wanindu Hasaranga | 4 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 3.25 | |
| Dhananjaya de Silva | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 2.00 | |
| Charith Asalanka | 0.4 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 17.50 | |
