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Sri Lanka pulled off a determined 14-run win against Pakistan in the third T20 at a rain-affected Dambulla on Sunday, easing concerns over their batting and levelling the three-match series at 1–1.
The series served as crucial preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup, especially for Pakistan, who will play all their tournament fixtures in Sri Lanka due to ongoing political tensions with India. Pakistan had claimed the first match by six wickets, while the second encounter was abandoned because of rain.
“We had some worries about our batting, and I’m happy we corrected those issues today,” said Wanindu Hasaranga, who finished the night with both the Player of the Match and Player of the Series awards.
“Our bowlers handled the conditions well too. With the wet ball it wasn’t easy, but we kept it wide and slowed things down to make them take the risks.”
Hasaranga’s four-wicket haul also saw him reach the milestone of 150 T20I wickets.
In the shortened contest of 12 overs per side, Sri Lanka posted a strong 160 before restricting Pakistan to 146 for 8.
After being dismissed inside 20 overs in the first match, Sri Lanka needed a confident batting display—and they delivered. The top order set the tempo, and the middle order provided the late surge.
Kusal Mendis made the most of the Powerplay with a blistering 30 off 16, while Dhananjaya de Silva (22 off 15) and Charith Asalanka (21 off 13) kept the runs flowing.
Captain Dasun Shanaka then took charge, smashing 34 from only nine balls, including five huge sixes. His explosive stand with Janith Liyanage added 52 runs in just 15 balls, turning the momentum sharply toward Sri Lanka.
Pakistan replied aggressively, reaching 50 in only 19 balls, with skipper Salman Agha blasting 45 off 12—five fours and three sixes included. But once Sri Lanka spread the field, the hosts tightened their grip and pushed the required rate out of reach.
“It was an enjoyable game,” Agha said afterward. “We gave away too many runs, though our batting showed good intent. We fell just short. Playing in conditions similar to what we’ll face in the World Cup is valuable for us.”
