Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by 8 wickets in third T20I to avoid whitewash

Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by eight wickets in the third T20 international at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, chasing down a target of 169 with 17 balls to spare to avoid a series whitewash.

The visitors reached 172-2 in 17.1 overs after a match-winning partnership between Kusal Mendis and Kamindu Mendis, who added an unbeaten 98 runs for the third wicket.

Kusal top-scored with an unbeaten 87 off 48 balls, hitting nine fours and four sixes. Kamindu remained not out on 40 from 27 deliveries, including four boundaries.

Earlier, Sineth Jayawardena gave Sri Lanka a brisk start with 38 off 26 balls, striking five fours and two sixes. Opener Lahiru Udara was dismissed for one.

Mohammad Imran and Arafat Minhas took a wicket each for Pakistan, but the bowlers were unable to contain the visitors’ chase.

Batting first, Pakistan posted 168-8 in their allotted 20 overs, with captain Sahibzada Farhan leading the innings with 76 off 47 balls. His knock included seven fours and three sixes.

Arafat Minhas was the next highest scorer with 34 off 20 deliveries, including two fours and two sixes. Hasan Nawaz made 16, Abdul Samad scored 15 and Fakhar Zaman contributed 12. Mohammad Imran and wicketkeeper Khawaja Nafay added six and three runs, respectively.

Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka led the bowling attack with figures of 3-21 in four overs. Eshan Malinga and Nuwan Thushara took two wickets each, while Vijayakanth Viyaskanth claimed one.