10/09/2026 12:17:00
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10/09 12:16 CDT Farhan and Sadaqat half-centuries lead Pakistan to victory over
Sri Lanka in 1st T20
Farhan and Sadaqat half-centuries lead Pakistan to victory over Sri Lanka in
1st T20
By RIZWAN ALI
AP Sports Writer
RAWALPINDI, Pakistan (AP) --- Sahibzada Farhan celebrated his elevation to the
Pakistan Twenty20 captaincy with a 52-ball 89 as Sri Lanka was beaten by four
wickets on Friday.
Farhan carried Pakistan to 187-6 in 18.5 overs as he smashed 10 fours and four
sixes. Maaz Sadaqat smacked 50 off just 29 balls and Pakistan took a 1-0 lead
in the three-match series.
Opening batter Lahiru Udara's 91 gave Sri Lanka a fighting total of 182-8
against a new-look Pakistan pace attack that featured debutants Mohammad Imran
and Razaullah.
Rawalpindi will also host the remaining two games on Sunday and next Tuesday.
Farhan and Sadaqat star in chase
The opening pair of Farhan and Fakhar Zaman (21) didn't allow the Sri Lanka
pacers to settle down in the powerplay as they combined for 54 off 31 balls.
Tall fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera's two overs in the powerplay went for 32
runs.
Sadaqat struck two sixes and a four in the first four deliveries he faced
against Eshan Malinga and settled the chase in the brisk stand of 92 off 53
balls with Farhan.
Sadaqat completed his maiden T20 half-century off just 28 balls before he fell
on the next ball, trapped lbw by Maheesh Theekshana (2-36).
Sri Lanka hit back briefly when Chameera grabbed his 100th T20 wicket by having
Hasan Nawaz caught behind down the leg side and Theekshana clean-bowled Saim
Ayub on 8 by a delivery that kept low.
When Farhan, who counterattacked Theekshana with a six and three fours in one
over, finally holed out to a spectacular diving catch by Sahan Arachchige at
midwicket, Pakistan was only three runs from victory.
Udara propels Sri Lanka
Udara, playing in his fifth T20, struck 11 fours and a six in his 55-ball knock
before he fell in the penultimate over.
Naseem Shah (3-36), recalled to the T20 squad after Pakistan left out Shaheen
Afridi and Mohammad Haris, gave Pakistan a strong start when he dismissed
captain Kusal Mendis on 1 in the first over.
Kamil Mishara struggled in the powerplay and gave Fakhar Zaman one of his three
catches and his wicket to Pakistan's stand-out bowler Imran, who picked up 2-21
on debut.
But Udara revived Sri Lanka by putting on 60 runs with Kamindu Mendis (23)
against the spinners and another 57 runs with Dasun Shanaka (18).
Udara completed his half-century off 32 balls and was caught in the deep in
Shah's final over as Sri Lanka hit 66 runs in the final six overs.
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