Shadab Khan’s all-round performance of 2-25 with the ball and an unbeaten 18 off 12 balls with the bat helped Pakistan to a six-wicket win while chasing 129 in the first T20I against Sri Lanka at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium on Wednesday night.
The second and third T20I will be played on 9 and 11 January at the same venue.
Opting to bowl first, Pakistan were provided with an early breakthrough as Mohammad Salman Mirza dismissed Kamil Mishara in the third over of the innings. Mohammad Wasim Jnr then got rid of Pathum Nissanka(12, 12, 2x4s) in the next over, leaving the hosts 15-2 after 3.2 overs.
Making his return to international cricket after a injury, Shadab struck twice in his very first over, getting the scalps of Kusal Mendis (14, 15b, 2x4s) and Dhananjaya de Silva (10, 10b, 1×4) in space of three deliveries as the scoreboard read 38-4 after 6.5 overs.
Charith Asalanka (18, 15b, 1×6) and top-scorer Janith Liyanage (40, 31b, 2x4s, 1×6) then put on 34 runs for the fifth wicket before Abrar struck in the 12th over to leave Sri Lanka 72-5. Liyanage then stitched another 38-run alliance with Wanindu Hasaranga (18, 12b,3x4s) to lift his side to 110 before Abrar removed the latter in the 16th over.
Abrar (3-25) picked up his final wicket in the 18th over to dismiss Liyanage as the scoreboard read 127-7. Salman Mirza and Mohammad Wasim Jnr cleaned up the tail as the hosts lost their last four wickets for just two runs, getting bowled out on 128 after 19.2 overs.
Salman Mirza (4-0-18-3) and Abrar shared six wickets between them, while Shadab (4-0-25-2) and Wasim Jnr (2.2-0-7-2) picked up two wickets apiece.
In pursuit of the 129-run target, Pakistan’s opening batters Saim Ayub (24, 18b, 3x4s, 1×6) and Sahibzada Farhan gave their side a strong start with a 59-run partnership in 5.4 overs before the former was dismissed, bowled off Maheesh Theekshana (4-0-31-1).
Farhan and skipper Salman Ali Agha (16) then put on another 35 runs for the second wicket as Pakistan found themselves 93-1 at halfway stage.
Wanindu Hasaranga provided his side with the second breakthrough by getting rid of Agha on the second delivery of the 11th over.
Farhan brought up his eighth T20 half-century off 35 balls, comprising four fours and two sixes, before he was removed in the 12th over as the scoreboard read 101-3.
Shadab’s unbeaten 18 off 12 balls including three fours ensured that hosts cruised to victory in 16.4 overs with six wickets in hand.
For Sri Lanka, Hasaranga and Dhananjaya picked up one wicket apiece.
Scores in brief:
Match 1 of 3: Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by six wickets at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium
Sri Lanka 128 all out, 19.2 overs (Janith Liyanage 40; Mohammad Salman Mirza 3-18, Abrar Ahmed 3-25, Mohammad Wasim Jnr 2-7, Shadab Khan 2-25)
Pakistan 129-4, 16.4 overs (Sahibzada Farhan 51, Saim Ayub 24, Shadab Khan 18 not out; Dhananjaya de Silva 1-4, Wanindu Hasaranga 1-17)
Player of the match: Shadab Khan (Pakistan)
Series schedule: (All matches at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium; All matches to begin at 6.30pm PKT)
7 January – Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by six wickets
9 January – Pakistan v Sri Lanka
