LAHORE: Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 36 runs and clutched the T20 series by 3-0 in the final match of the series on Sunday evening.
Pakistan while bating first, build 180 runs to fight the game. Chasing 181 runs, Sri Lankan batsmen went to pavilion early without giving a constructive partnership.
Pakistan’s side Shoaib Malik hop the score adding 51 runs just off 24 balls while Umar Amin contributed 45 off 37.
Aamir in his first match on historical ground took four wickets while Fahim Ashraf an emerging player got two wickets.
From the Sri Lankan side Dausan Shanka showed a resistance and added 54 off 36 but Sri Lanka restricted to 144-9 in 20 overs.
The Pakistani bowlers seemed to be fully committed to strike early Sri Lankan batsmen, as chasing 181 score, Sri Lanka lose four wickets for 69 score.
Sri Lanka lost its first wicket when Munaweera was dismissed on Muhammad Aamir’s second bowl of the first over.
Second wicket collapsed when wicket-keeper batsman Samarawickrama gave an easy catch to Babar Azam on Imad Wasim’s bowl.
Third wicket fell down of the visiting team by Hafeez which charged the crowd in support of Pakistan. The dismissed batsman was Gunathilaka.
Sri Lanka won the toss for the third and final Twenty20 International match, being hat Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, and opted to field first against Pakistan.
Pakistan was off to a stable start, scoring 70 runs in the first 10 overs with the loss of just one wicket. Fakhar Zaman was bowled for 31.
Umar Amin is not out on 42 and is joined by Babar Azam at the crease. Earlier, Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to field first.
Courtesy fiery innings of Shoaib Malik, Sri Lanka requires 181- run to win the final match of the three-T20I series at Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday.
Malik hit 51 off 24 balls. He smashed five fours and two sixes in his inning.
Cricket Comes to Pakistan
Gaddafi Stadium is beholding the return of top-flight cricket after an absence of eight years, as Pakistan and Sri Lanka face off each other at the final T20I tonight.
Gaddafi Stadium is hosting its sixth international T20 game tonight. Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium is all set to observe a historic match as Pakistan takes on Sri Lanka for the final T20I on Sunday.
Pakistan already lead the T20I series 2-0, after beating Sri Lanka by seven wickets in the opening game and winning a last-ball thriller in the second T20I.
Skipper Sarfraz Ahmed confirmed that Umar Amin and Muhammad Aamir will play today – replacing Ahmad Shahzad and Usman Khan Shinwari respectively.
Pakistan Sets A Target of 181 Runs
Pakistan already lead the T20I series 2-0, after beating Sri Lanka by seven wickets in the opening game and winning a last-ball thriller in the second T20I. Today’s match, however, is much more than just a game of cricket.
The event marks the homecoming of top-level international cricket as Sri Lanka become the first major cricket team to visit Pakistan since they were targeted in a deadly ambush in 2009 — with attack survivors among those returning to the scene.
Heightened Security for the Match
Thousands of security personnel have been posted on duty across the heart of Lahore to guard and secure routes heading towards the Gaddafi stadium and intelligence and air surveillance will be continuously done until the match ends later tonight.
However some Sri Lankan players and officials, including their head coach, choose to stay out of the T20 fixture, Asanka Gurusinha and Hashan Tillakaratne, who came under the terrorist attack in 2009 and are now Sri Lanka´s team manager and batting coach, are participating the squad and were able to arrive at Gaddafi Stadium under heavy security.
“It’s a historic moment,” PCB chairman Najam Sethi told AFP on Friday. “With improved security we hope fully fledged international cricket will return to Pakistan in the next two years.”
Young bowling sensation Usman Khan Shinwari is said to be suffering from a side strain which has made his inclusion in today’s playing XI doubtful, sources close to the matter said.
Fellow pacer Mohammad Amir, recovered from an injury he picked during the Test series against Sri Lanka, is likely to fill in for Shinwari.
Current members of the Pakistan squad, along with former greats, politicians and fans extended a warm welcome to the Sri Lankan team, which reached Lahore from UAE overnight.
Pakistan and Sri Lanka Team Photo:
Prior to tonight’s game, Lahore was fortunate enough to host this year´s Pakistan Super League final and the Independence Cup series between Pakistan and World XI last month.
Pakistan: Sarfraz Ahmed (c & wk), Fakhar Zaman, Ahmed Shehzad, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Hafeez, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Aamer Yamin, Mohammad Amir, Rumman Raees, Usman Shinwari, Umar Amin
Sri Lanka: Thisara Perera (c), Dilshan Munaweera, Danushka Gunathilaka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Ashan Priyanjan, Mahela Udawatte, Dasun Shanaka, Sachith Pathirana, Vikum Sanjaya, Lahiru Gamage, Seekkuge Prasanna, Vishwa Fernando, Isuru Udana, Jeffrey Vandersay and Chathuranga de Silva, Minod Bhanuka.
