Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, 1st T20I, Oct 9, 2026: commentary
| Sri Lanka | 182/8 | 20.0 ov |
|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | 187/6 | 18.5 ov |
Pakistan win by 4 wickets
Result
Pakistan win by 4 wickets
Player of the match
Sahibzada Farhan (Pakistan)
Sri Lanka Cricket · updated Sun, 11 Oct, 18:32
What the reporting says
Sahibzada Farhan will captain Pakistan's T20 side against Sri Lanka, with Shaheen Shah Afridi leading the ODI team.
All three T20Is, starting on the 9th with the others on the 11th and 13th, will be played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
A seven-match ODI tri-series with Sri Lanka, Pakistan and England starts on the 18th, split between Rawalpindi and Lahore.
Dhananjaya de Silva has quit as Sri Lanka Test captain but stays available for the two-Test series in Pakistan starting November 9 in Rawalpindi.
Selectors have not yet appointed a new Test captain.
Kusal Mendis, already white-ball captain after replacing Charith Asalanka, is a contender for the Test captaincy.
Facts taken from the stories linked beside them, each from a sentence in the original.
PAK 1ST
- 18.5
Over 19. 8 runs. Bowler: Eshan Malinga. Pakistan: 187/6(rr 9.84)
- 18.5
SIX! Eshan Malinga to Khawaja Nafay. Off cutter length ball, outside off stump on the front foot Slog, well timed in the air under control over long on for 6 runs. Pakistan secure a four-wicket victory over Sri Lanka, chasing down the target of 183 in just 18.5 overs. Sahibzada Farhan starred with a magnificent 89. Maaz Sadaqat provided excellent support with a quickfire 50, while Fakhar Zaman contributed 21. Sri Lanka fought hard, with Eshan Malinga and Maheesh Theekshana claiming two wickets each, but Pakistan's aggressive batting proved decisive. Farhan's outstanding innings anchored the chase and guided Pakistan to a memorable victory in a thrilling contest.
- 18.4
Eshan Malinga to Mohammad Imran Randhawa. Length ball, outside off stump on the back foot working, hit pad to point for 1 run, fielded by Mishara.
- 18.3
Eshan Malinga to Mohammad Imran Randhawa. Full toss, to leg on the front foot working, Played back to bowler for no runs.
- 18.2
OUT! Caught. Eshan Malinga to Shadab Khan. Back of a length, outside off stump on the front foot Slog, top edge in the air uncontrolled to deep backward square leg, caught by Thushara. Another one bites the dust.
- 18.1
Eshan Malinga to Khawaja Nafay. Full toss, outside off stump on the front foot driving, Played to mid off for 1 run, fielded by Chameera.
- 18.0
Over 18. 14 runs. Bowler: Nuwan Thushara. Pakistan: 179/5(rr 9.94)
- 17.6
Nuwan Thushara to Shadab Khan. Short, outside off stump on the back foot pulling, missed for no runs, fielded by Mendis.
- 17.5
OUT! Caught. Nuwan Thushara to Sahibzada Farhan. Full toss, outside off stump on the front foot Slog, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to deep mid wicket, caught by Arachchige. What a knock from the captain.
- 17.4
SIX! Nuwan Thushara to Sahibzada Farhan. Off cutter short, outside off stump on the back foot cutting, well timed in the air under control over deep cover for 6 runs.
- 17.3
FOUR! Nuwan Thushara to Sahibzada Farhan. Full toss, outside off stump on the front foot Slog, well timed in the air under control past deep backward square leg for 4 runs.
- 17.2
Nuwan Thushara to Sahibzada Farhan. Yorker, wide outside off stump moves in front cutting, Played to extra cover for no runs, fielded by Igalagamage.
- 17.1
FOUR! Nuwan Thushara to Sahibzada Farhan. Short, outside off stump on the back foot cutting, well timed in the air under control past deep point for 4 runs.
- 17.0
Over 17. 6 runs. Bowler: Dunith Wellalage. Pakistan: 165/4(rr 9.71)
- 16.6
Dunith Wellalage to Sahibzada Farhan. Stock length ball, outside off stump down the track Slog, mis-timed to deep mid wicket for 1 run, fielded by Mendis.
- 16.5
Dunith Wellalage to Sahibzada Farhan. Stock length ball, off stump on the back foot pushing, Played back to bowler for no runs.
- 16.4
Dunith Wellalage to Sahibzada Farhan. Stock length ball, outside off stump on the back foot driving, Played to short extra cover for no runs, fielded by Shanaka.
- 16.3
Dunith Wellalage to Sahibzada Farhan. Stock length ball, outside off stump on the back foot cutting, Played to deep point for 2 runs, fielded by Arachchige.
- 16.2
Dunith Wellalage to Khawaja Nafay. Stock length ball, outside off stump on the back foot working, Played to square leg for 1 run, fielded by Mishara.
- 16.1
Dunith Wellalage to Khawaja Nafay. Stock length ball, outside off stump on the back foot cutting, Played to deep backward point for 2 runs, fielded by Arachchige.
- 15.1
OUT! Bowled. Maheesh Theekshana to Saim Ayub. Off break length ball, outside off stump on the back foot driving, missed. Knocked him over.
- 14.1
OUT! Caught. Dushmantha Chameera to Hassan Nawaz. Reverse Swing-In length ball, down leg side on the back foot glancing, inside edge, caught by Mendis. Soft dismissal.
- 13.5
OUT! L.B.W. Maheesh Theekshana to Maaz Sadaqat. Off break length ball, outside off stump on the back foot driving, hit pad. Scintillating knock comes to an end.
- 5.1
OUT! Caught. Eshan Malinga to Fakhar Zaman. Back of a length, off stump on the back foot cutting, top edge, caught by Mendis. Edged and gone.
SLA 1ST
- 20.0
Over 20. 10 runs. Bowler: Razaullah. Sri Lanka: 182/8(rr 9.10)
- 19.6
Razaullah to Eshan Malinga. Reverse Swing-Out full toss, outside off stump on the front foot driving, mis-timed to extra cover for 1 run, shy attempt by Nawaz. That's the end of the first innings and Sri Lanka have posted a competitive 182, thanks to a sensational knock from Lahiru Udara, who smashed 91 of just 55 balls. Kamindu Mendis added valuable momentum with 23, while Dasun Shanaka contributed 18. For Pakistan, Mohammad Imran Randhawa impressed with two wickets, while Naseem Shah claimed three despite conceding 36 runs. Pakistan now face a challenging chase of 183, with Sri Lanka hoping their bowlers can defend this total successfully.
- 19.5
Razaullah to Dushmantha Chameera. Reverse Swing-In half volley, middle stump on the front foot driving, thick edge to backward point for 1 run, fielded by Khan.
- 19.4
No ball Razaullah to Eshan Malinga. Reverse Swing-In full toss, wide outside off stump on the back foot cutting, missed and it was a no ball, fielded by Nafay.
- 19.4
FREE HIT. FOUR! Razaullah to Dushmantha Chameera. Off cutter short, wide outside off stump on the back foot pulling, well timed in the air under control past long off for 4 runs.
- 19.3
Razaullah to Dushmantha Chameera. Reverse Swing-In back of a length, off stump backing away pulling, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to long on for 1 run, fielded by Randhawa.
- 19.2
Razaullah to Eshan Malinga. Off cutter short, down leg side on the back foot pulling, missed for 1 run, fielded by Nafay.
- 19.1
OUT! Caught & Bowled. Razaullah to Maheesh Theekshana. Off cutter short, wide outside off stump on the back foot pulling, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to silly mid on, caught by Ullah. Razaullah ticks his wicket column.
- 19.0
Over 19. 12 runs. Bowler: Naseem Shah. Sri Lanka: 172/7(rr 9.05)
- 18.6
OUT! Caught. Naseem Shah to Lahiru Udara. Reverse Swing-In half volley, off stump on the front foot Slog, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to long on, caught by Nawaz. End of an excellent knock.
- 18.5
FOUR! Naseem Shah to Lahiru Udara. Short, outside off stump on the back foot cutting, well timed in the air under control past third man for 4 runs.
- 18.4
Naseem Shah to Maheesh Theekshana. Reverse Swing-Out length ball, outside off stump on the back foot pushing, Played to point for 1 run, fielded by Ayub.
- 18.3
OUT! Bowled. Naseem Shah to Dunith Wellalage. Reverse Swing-In length ball, to leg moves in front Scoop, missed. Cleaned him up!
- 18.2
Naseem Shah to Lahiru Udara. Slower length ball, wide outside off stump on the back foot cutting, bottom edge for 1 run, fielded by Nafay.
- 18.1
Naseem Shah to Dunith Wellalage. Reverse Swing-Out length ball, middle stump on the back foot cutting, Played in the air under control to deep backward point for 1 run, fielded by Ayub.
- 18.1
Wide Naseem Shah to Dunith Wellalage. Reverse Swing-In half volley, wide down leg side backing away glancing, Missed (Leg Side) to fine leg for 5 runs.
- 18.0
Over 18. 10 runs. Bowler: Abrar Ahmed. Sri Lanka: 160/5(rr 8.89)
- 17.6
Abrar Ahmed to Lahiru Udara. Leg spinner half volley, outside off stump on the front foot driving, Played back to bowler for no runs.
- 17.5
Abrar Ahmed to Lahiru Udara. Leg spinner length ball, outside off stump on the front foot sweeping, top edge in the air uncontrolled to fine leg for 2 runs, fielded by Sadaqat.
- 17.4
FOUR! Abrar Ahmed to Lahiru Udara. Leg spinner length ball, wide outside off stump moves in front pulling, well timed in the air under control past fine leg for 4 runs.
- 15.5
OUT! Caught. Shadab Khan to Dasun Shanaka. Leg spinner length ball, wide outside off stump on the front foot driving, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to long off, caught by Zaman. Into safe hands.
- 10.1
OUT! Caught. Mohammad Imran Randhawa to Sahan Arachchige. Short, down leg side on the back foot cutting, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to backward point, caught by Khan. Good diving catch from Shadab.
- 9.4
OUT! Caught. Saim Ayub to Kamindu Mendis. Off break length ball, outside off stump on the front foot slog sweeping, top edge in the air uncontrolled to long off, caught by Zaman. Fakhar makes no mistake
- 3.3
OUT! Caught. Mohammad Imran Randhawa to Kamil Mishara. Out-swinging length ball, down leg side on the front foot Slog, top edge in the air uncontrolled to extra cover, caught by Zaman. Struggling knock comes to an end.
- 0.5
OUT! Caught. Naseem Shah to Kusal Mendis. Out-swinging length ball, wide outside off stump on the front foot driving, thick edge in the air uncontrolled to deep backward point, caught by Randhawa. Captain back to the hut.