Pakistan created history with their series-clinching victory over Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi on Sunday, powered by a superb innings of 96 from young left-hander Maaz Sadaqat. Pakistan posted a massive 215/3, and a mature bowling performance then restricted Sri Lanka to 133/7 in reply.
The total is the highest Pakistan have ever posted in men’s T20Is on home soil. It is also their second-best overall, behind only the 232/6 they managed against England in Nottingham in 2021.
Pakistan’s 13 sixes were also the equal second-most they have hit in any individual men’s T20I. They fell just two short of their overall best of 15, set against Ireland in Dublin in 2024.
A New-Look Side Shows Promise
The win bodes well for the new-look side under the captaincy of Sahibzada Farhan. The next generation of Pakistan stars showed plenty of positive signs despite the absence of experienced players such as Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi and Mohammad Rizwan.
“It’s a good win and we are shaping up well,” Farhan said after the match.
“We have been a different T20I side in 2026 as our six-hitting ratio has improved and our batters are scoring at more than 150.
“If we continue this way we will end up scoring more than 200 every time, so we will play with the same intensity.”
Farhan and Sadaqat Lead the Charge
Pakistan’s top-order batter Sahibzada Farhan contributed 73 runs at the top of the order. The right-hander put on 55 for the first wicket alongside Fakhar Zaman (22), then added a stand of 88 with Sadaqat as the hosts kept scoring at will.
Farhan has already rewritten the record books this year. He scored 383 runs in the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, the most by any player in the tournament’s men’s history.
For Sadaqat, it was an eye-catching performance in just his 10th international appearance. The 21-year-old cleared the rope seven times. He was dismissed on the final ball of Pakistan’s innings while attempting to reach his century. The innings was his second consecutive half-century, following his score of 50 in the series opener.
“I was trying to make the most of my form,” Sadaqat said.
“I had belief in myself that I can hit the ball…I play with positive intent and pick my balls to hit boundaries.”
Sri Lanka Struggle in Reply
Only four Sri Lanka batters reached double figures during the run chase. Skipper Kusal Mendis expressed disappointment with the efforts of his batting group.
“Batters need to take responsibility including me,” Mendis said.
“It was a batting pitch and we needed to score 200 runs at least…we have done well in terms of fielding in the last few tournaments but unfortunately we have not been up to the mark in the last two matches.”
Series Results So Far
Pakistan won the first T20I in Rawalpindi on October 9 by four wickets. They won the second T20I, also in Rawalpindi, on October 11 by 82 runs. The third T20I was scheduled for October 13 in Rawalpindi.
