An excellent performance by the bowlers, well supported by batsmen Saim Ayub and Babar Azam, led Pakistan to a comfortable six-wicket victory against Sri Lanka in the final of the tri-nation series at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday.
Chasing a modest 115 for victory, the hosts returned home in 18.4 overs thanks to Saim (36 off 33 balls).
Babar (37 not out off 34) played an exquisite cut shot through pacer Dushmantha Chameera to score a boundary and complete a deserved victory.
Mohammad Nawaz won the Man of the Match and Player of the Series awards.
“Being up to par when the team requires it is very important,” he said in the post-match presentation.
“I plan with the coaches and try to keep it simple because as a player you don’t have many options. So I try to read the game and bowl accordingly.
Talking about his batting, he said: “I try to see what the situation demands: build a partnership or attack. So I try to play accordingly.”
Earlier, Pakistan’s bowlers made a spectacular comeback to dismiss Sri Lanka for a paltry 114.
After being sent in to bat, the Dasun Shanaka-led tourists dominated proceedings in the first half of their innings, reaching a solid 81-1 in 10 overs before facing a dramatic collapse.
Spinners Mohammad Nawaz (3-17), Abrar Ahmed (2-18) and Saim Ayub Ayub (1-17) controlled Sri Lanka’s progress while fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi (3-18 in three overs) cleared the tail.
The Sri Lankans were finally bowled out in 19.1 overs when pacer Salman Mirza cleaned up Dushmantha Chameera.
TEAMS
Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Salman Agha (C), Fakhar Zaman, Usman Khan (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Salman Mirza, Abrar Ahmed
Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis (wk), Kusal Perera, Janith Liyanage, Dasun Shanaka (C), Pavan Rathnayake, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Eshan Malinga
