Rawalpindi, November 27, 2025: Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan by six runs in a thrilling T20I tri-series clash on Thursday, securing their place in the final. The exciting encounter saw Sri Lanka post a competitive 184/5 in their 20 overs, with Pakistan falling short at 178/7 while chasing.
Sri Lanka Innings:
Batting first, Sri Lanka started aggressively, racing to 58/1 in the Powerplay. Kamil Mishara starred with a crucial fifty, while Kusal Mendis and Janith Liyanage contributed important runs. Despite a slowdown in the latter stages, Pakistan bowlers Salman Mirza and Abrar Ahmed restricted the final overs to 47 runs, but Sri Lanka still managed a competitive total of 184.
Pakistan Response:
Chasing 185, Pakistan stumbled early at 43/4 in the Powerplay. A resilient partnership between Usman Khan (33) and Salman Agha (63 off 44 balls) revived hopes. Mohammad Nawaz’s blistering 26 off 17 balls provided late momentum, but Pakistan ultimately fell six runs short.
Player of the Match:
Dushmantha Chameera was named Player of the Match for his brilliant bowling spell, taking 4/20. Shanaka praised Chameera, along with Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana, for their key contributions in restricting Pakistan. Chameera said, “The plan was to bowl straight, wicket to wicket. After dew made batting easier, yorkers helped secure the win.”
Captains’ Reactions:
Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka expressed pride in his team’s resilience, highlighting Mishara’s fifty and contributions from Mendis and Liyanage. Pakistan skipper Salman Agha acknowledged early struggles and praised his team’s fightback, though admitted he wished they could have finished the game.
Looking Ahead:
Sri Lanka will face Pakistan again in the tri-series final on November 29 at the same venue. The final is scheduled to start at 6:30 pm IST (1:00 pm GMT), promising another thrilling contest for fans.
This match was a nail-biting contest, with swings in momentum and key performances that kept fans on the edge of their seats, ultimately setting the stage for an exciting final.