Kusal Mendis Leads Sri Lanka to Consolation Win Over Pakistan in Third T20I
Kusal Mendis’ unbeaten 87 off 48 balls powered Sri Lanka to an eight-wicket victory over Pakistan in the third and final T20I in Rawalpindi. Chasing 169, Sri Lanka reached 172 for 2 in 17.1 overs, finishing with 17 balls to spare and avoiding a series whitewash. Pakistan had already secured the three-match series by winning the first two games, taking it 2-1.
Dasun Shanaka set up the visitors’ response with a disciplined spell of 3 for 21, helping restrict Pakistan to 168 for 8. Mendis then took charge of the chase, sharing an unbeaten 98-run partnership with Kamindu Mendis, who made 40 not out. The result offered Sri Lanka a timely boost after two heavy defeats, while Pakistan could still take confidence from their series success and Sahibzada Farhan’s consistent run of form.
Shanaka’s Three-Wicket Spell Checks Pakistan’s Momentum
Pakistan began aggressively after being sent in to bat, reaching 34 without loss in the first three overs. Farhan looked comfortable from the outset, continuing the form that had brought him two earlier half-centuries in the series. But Sri Lanka soon disrupted the hosts’ momentum through Eshan Malinga, who produced a double-wicket maiden.
Malinga struck with his first delivery, having Fakhar Zaman caught at cover, then removed Maaz Sadaqat for a duck three balls later. The rapid blows shifted pressure onto Pakistan’s middle order and gave Sri Lanka an opening to control the innings.
Farhan remained the key figure, rotating the strike and finding boundaries as wickets fell around him. Sri Lanka’s spin options proved important through the middle overs. Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, playing his first match of the series, claimed Hasan Nawaz when Kamindu held a sharp catch at long-on. Viyaskanth’s googly brought the breakthrough, and Shanaka followed with a decisive spell of slower deliveries.
Shanaka dismissed Khawaja Nafay, Mohammad Imran Randhawa and Abdul Samad across back-to-back overs, leaving Pakistan at 102 for 6 in the 14th. His variations took pace off the ball and made it harder for the batters to score freely. At that stage, Pakistan risked finishing well short of a competitive total.
Minhas and Farhan Rebuild the Innings
Arafat Minhas changed the shape of Pakistan’s innings with an unbeaten 34 from 20 balls. Batting at No. 8, he joined Farhan in a 66-run stand from 37 deliveries, injecting late acceleration and helping the hosts recover. The pair targeted the closing overs, taking 48 runs from the 17th, 18th and 19th overs.
Farhan finished with 76, his third consecutive fifty of the series. His performances earned him Player of the Series honours, reflecting his importance to Pakistan’s batting throughout the contest. Minhas also made a valuable contribution, turning a difficult position into a total that at least gave the bowlers something to defend.
Nuwan Thushara kept Sri Lanka’s task manageable with a tight final over, conceding only five runs. He removed Farhan, caught by Shanaka at cover, and then bowled Razaullah with a yorker. Pakistan ended on 168 for 8—a respectable recovery, though Sri Lanka’s later batting showed that the score was not enough to create sustained pressure.
Kusal Mendis Takes Control of the Chase
Sri Lanka made a brisk start, with Sineth Jayawardena scoring 14 in the opening over. Randhawa struck back in the second, trapping Lahiru Udara leg before wicket, but Jayawardena and Kusal Mendis quickly restored the visitors’ momentum. Their 59-run partnership from 41 balls kept the required rate under control and prevented Pakistan from building on the early wicket.
Jayawardena contributed 38 from 26 deliveries before Minhas had him caught at long-on in the eighth over. By then, however, Kusal was well established. He paced his innings carefully, combining clean boundary hitting with smart strike rotation, and reached his half-century from 33 balls.
Conditions also became more favourable for batting as dew settled on the ground, making it more difficult for Pakistan’s bowlers to grip and control the ball. Kusal was given a significant reprieve on 64 when Sufyan Moqim dropped him off his own bowling. The missed chance proved costly: Kusal remained unbeaten and continued to punish loose deliveries.
Kamindu joined him in the middle and played an assured supporting role, finishing on 40 not out. The pair’s unbroken 98-run stand from 55 balls turned the chase into a comfortable finish. Sri Lanka attacked at key moments, including an 18-run over against Razaullah and a 15-run over off Salman Mirza, leaving Pakistan with little opportunity to force a late twist.
What the Result Means for Both Teams
Although Pakistan won the series 2-1, Sri Lanka’s performance in the final match offered useful lessons ahead of future T20 assignments. Shanaka’s effective use of slower balls, Malinga’s early breakthroughs and the contribution from a returning Viyaskanth showed how varied bowling options can interrupt an aggressive start. With the bat, Kusal’s control of the chase demonstrated the value of building an innings without allowing the asking rate to become a concern.
For Pakistan, Farhan’s three straight fifties were a major positive, while Minhas showed that the lower order can add meaningful runs under pressure. The final defeat may prompt discussion about how Pakistan can protect a strong opening platform and respond when opponents take wickets in clusters. The dew factor also underlined the importance of setting a total that accounts for potentially easier batting conditions later in the match.
For fans considering a future cricket prediction, this game offers several useful signals—but not guarantees. Pakistan’s series victory reflects their strength across the first two matches, while Sri Lanka’s final performance highlights the impact of a settled top-order batter and adaptable bowling. Form, conditions, team selection and the toss can all shape a T20 outcome, so any prediction should weigh more than one result.
Third T20I: Match Summary
Pakistan: 168 for 8 in 20 overs (Sahibzada Farhan 76, Arafat Minhas 34 not out; Dasun Shanaka 3 for 21).
Sri Lanka: 172 for 2 in 17.1 overs (Kusal Mendis 87 not out, Kamindu Mendis 40 not out; Arafat Minhas 1 for 26, Mohammad Imran Randhawa 1 for 31).
Result: Sri Lanka won by eight wickets. Pakistan won the series 2-1, and Sahibzada Farhan was named Player of the Series.
