Kusal Mendis delivered a commanding unbeaten 87 off 48 balls to steer Sri Lanka to an eight-wicket victory in the third and final T20I in Rawalpindi. The win allowed the tourists to avoid a series whitewash after Pakistan had secured the first two matches. Pakistan finished with a total of 168 for 8, but Sri Lanka chased the target down in 17.1 overs. Despite the loss, Pakistan captain Sahibzada Farhan was named Player of the Series for his consistent form, having struck his third consecutive fifty in the final game. His third straight fifty, and was named Player of the Series as Pakistan sealed it 2-1, pakistan captain Sahibzada Farhan made 76.
Pakistan initially looked threatening, racing to 34 without loss inside three overs. However, Eshan Malinga shifted the momentum with a double-wicket maiden, removing Fakhar Zaman caught at cover and trapping Maaz Sadaqat for a duck. Vijayakanth Viyaskanth and Dasun Shanaka then took control during the middle overs. Viyaskanth dismissed Hasan Nawaz, while Shanaka proved lethal with his slower deliveries, removing Khawaja Nafay, Mohammad Imran Randhawa, and Abdul Samad in successive overs to leave Pakistan struggling at 102 for 6 by the 14th.
A late surge from Arafat Minhas provided a rescue act for the hosts. Minhas contributed an unbeaten 34 off 20 balls and partnered with Farhan to add 66 runs off 37 deliveries. The pair accelerated during the 17th, 18th, and 19th overs, adding 48 runs to the total. Nuwan Thushara eventually curtailed the scoring in the final over, claiming the wickets of Farhan—who finished with 76—and Razaullah, while conceding only five runs.
Sri Lanka’s reply began aggressively with Sineth Jayawardena hitting 14 in the first over. Although Mohammad Imran Randhawa dismissed Lahiru Udara, Jayawardena and Kusal Mendis stabilized the innings with a 59-run partnership. Following Jayawardena’s exit for 38 off 26 balls, Kusal Mendis and Kamindu Mendis took charge. Helped by heavy dew, Kusal reached his half-century in 33 balls. Despite being dropped on 64 by Sufyan Moqim, Kusal remained firm to share an unbroken 98-run stand with Kamindu, who finished on 40 not out, securing the series’ final game with 17 balls remaining. Dasun Shanaka’s 3 for 21 helped restrict Pakistan to 168 for 8 before Kusal Mendis and Kamindu Mendis (40 not out) finished the chase with 17 balls to spare. Randhawa trapped Lahiru Udara lbw in the second but Jayawardena (38 off 26) and Kusal added 59 off 41 balls before Minhas had Jayawardena caught at long-on in the eighth over.
