Shadab, Abrar, Sahibzada star as Pakistan beat Sri Lanka in first T20I

The all-rounder claimed two wickets, while Abrar secured three victims, limiting Sri Lanka to a meager total of 128 runs. Sahibzada Farhan’s half-century then enabled Pakistan to successfully chase down the target with 20 balls remaining. Shadab conceded just 25 runs in his four overs, taking both of his wickets in his opening over. He might have added a third wicket had a catch not been dropped later in the innings.

Bowling in the seventh over, after Mohammad Wasim and Salman Mirza each took a wicket, Shadab trapped Kusal Mendis lbw while he was sweeping and induced an inside edge from Dhananjaya de Silva, which was caught well by wicket-keeper Usman Khan. With Sri Lanka struggling at 59-4 by the halfway point, Abrar seized the opportunity to strike. The mystery spinner outsmarted Charith Asalanka with a googly, resulting in a catch behind, leaving Sri Lanka in a precarious position at 72-5 halfway through the 12th over.

The incoming Wanindu Hasaranga attempted a counterattack, hitting Abrar for a boundary in the 14th over. Liyanage contributed with a shot off Mohammad Nawaz through the covers before sending the left-arm spinner over long-on, bringing Sri Lanka to the 100-run mark.

Fortune favored Liyanage as an edge off his bat resulted in another boundary, contributing to 16 runs in the 15th over. Hasaranga targeted Abrar again, smashing him straight down the ground for another four, but eventually fell to Fakhar Zaman at deep cover, departing for 18 off 12 balls, which ended the only partnership that posed a threat to Pakistan. Liyanage (40 off 31) followed in the 18th over, finding Nawaz in the deep off Abrar (3-25) as he attempted to clear the long-on boundary. Salman Mirza (3-18) returned to dismiss Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka and the incoming Dushmantha Chameera, while Wasim (2-7) concluded the first innings.

In response, Pakistan launched an impressive series of attacking shots led by openers Saim Ayub and Sahibzada, reaching a score of 59-1 by the end of the powerplay, with Saim departing on the second-to-last ball of the sixth over. The left-handed batsman was bowled out by Theekshana after scoring 24 runs off 18 balls, which included three fours and a six — a lofted drive over cover. Meanwhile, Sahibzada showcased his power by hitting Chameera for sixes both down the ground and over square-leg.

Sahibzada continued his aggressive play, greeting Chameera’s return with a straight drive for four more runs before captain Salman Ali Agha, who had just come to the crease, danced down the pitch to hit Hasaranga’s leg-spin over his head for another boundary. The captain then pushed Theekshana for his second boundary in the following over, as Pakistan reached 92-1 by the halfway mark. However, he fell victim to a full toss from Hasaranga, getting caught at long-on for 16 runs off 10 balls.

Sahibzada (51 off 36) achieved his third half-century in five matches with a cut shot for three runs off Chameera in the 12th over, reaching the milestone in just 35 balls. Unfortunately, he was dismissed three balls later, caught by Shanaka at mid-off off Chameera. Pakistan faced another setback when Fakhar was stumped off Dhananjaya de Silva, leaving them needing 23 runs from 40 balls. However, the incoming Shadab (18 not out off 12) brought Pakistan closer to victory with consecutive boundaries — a square-drive and a pull off Chameera in the 15th over — before Pakistan crossed the finish line with 20 balls remaining.