Pakistan posted its second highest total in Twenty20 cricket and beat scrappy Sri Lanka by 82 runs on Sunday to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. Fast-improving Maaz Sadaqat (96) and captain Sahibzada Farhan (73) both profited from dropped catches to score second successive rapid half centuries in Pakistan’s 215-3. Pakistan’s highest-ever T20 score is 232-6 against England in 2021. He took 3-11 in four unchanged overs as Sri Lanka only managed 133-7 to lose its third successive T20 series away from home.
Pakistan pacer Mohammad Imran, playing in only his second T20, then did the damage with his incisive swing bowling.
Sri Lanka lost 2-1 in the West Indies and came to Pakistan after it was swept 3-0 by England.
“Batters need to take responsibility including me,” skipper Mendis said. “It was a batting pitch and we needed to score 200 runs at least … We have done well in terms of fielding in the last few tournaments but unfortunately we have not been up to the mark in the last two matches.” Sloppy Sri Lanka fielding in the power play allowed Farhan to accelerate the scoring with left-handed Sadaqat, who recently scored back-to-back centuries in the Caribbean Premier League.
Theekshana top-scored for his team with an unbeaten 32 off 26 balls and Chamindu Wickramasinghe made 29 off 24.
