Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan by 13 runs in the third and final T20I match played at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on Wednesday.
Sri Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka won the toss and decided to bat first. Danushka Gunathilka and Sadeera Samarawickrama got visitors off to a flying start adding 24 runs. Mohammad Aamir got the breakthrough for Pakistan dismissing Gunathilaka. Soon after Imad Wasim proved his worth getting wicket of other opener Samarawickrama cheaply. The debutant Oshada Fernando showed his intent right from word go. The hero of last match Rajapaksa was dismissed cheaply by Mohammad Aamir. At the end of 6 overs, Sri Lanka were 44 for 3.
After the power play overs, Fernando continued his fluent stroke play and put pressure on the Pakistani bowling line up. Angelo Perera was brilliantly run out by Iftikhar Ahmed. Fernando continued to play with positive intent and reached his fifty off just 33 balls. On the other hand, Dasun Shanaka struggled to score runs at quick pace. Shanaka and Fernando added 76 runs for the 5th wicket. Shanaka was brilliantly caught by Fakhar Zaman for 12. Pakistani bowlers did a great job to restrict Sri Lanka at 147 for 7 in 20 overs. Fernando remained not out on 78.
Chasing the target of 148 runs to win, it was a horrendous start for Pakistan as Fakhar Zaman was dismissed off very first ball by Kasun Rajitha. Haris Sohail playing his first match of the series played with good intent while Babar Azam struggled to score runs. At the end of 6 overs, Pakistan were 35 for 1.
After the power play overs, Babar and Haris Sohail continued to play with cautious approach. Kumara made the breakthrough for Sri Lanka dismissing Babar for 27 off 32 balls. Babar and Haris added 76 runs for the 2nd wicket. The left-handed Haris reached his fifty off 46 balls. Sarfaraz Ahmed coming at number 4 could not score at quick pace. Hasaranga did the damage by picking wickets of Haris, Imad Wasim and Sarfaraz Ahmed to put pressure on Pakistani batting line up. Iftikhar and Wahab Riaz scored quick fire runs but fell short of the target. Pakistan ended on 134 for 6 in 20 overs.
Hasaranga was named the man of the match for his 3 for 21 and Man of the series award.
Sri Lanka 147 for 7 in 20 overs (Fernando 78*, Mohammad Aamir 3/27) beat Pakistan 134 for 6 in 20 overs ( Haris Sohail 52, Hasranaga 3/21) by 13 runs.
It was a remarkable series for the young Sri Lanka side who whitewashed the number 1 ranked T20I side Pakistan in their own den.
