- Scorecard is available here; Action images are available here for free download and editorial use
Rawalpindi, 29 November 2025: Pakistan triumphed over Sri Lanka by six wickets to win the seven-match Tri-nation T20I series as they chased the 115-run target with eight balls to spare here at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday night.
Apart from the last league game, Pakistan bagged four wins in the series and took their total wins in T20Is to 21 in the ongoing year – the most triumphs recorded by Pakistan in a year since playing its first game in August 2006.
Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan (23, 22b, 2x4s, 1x6) provided Pakistan a steady start with a 46-run opening stand before Eshan Malinga drew first blood for Sri Lanka in eighth over. Saim departed in the 12th over after scoring 36 off 33 balls, which included six fours.
Babar saw off the chase with an unbeaten knock of 37 involving two fours and a solitary six facing 34 balls. Sri Lanka’s Pavan Rathnayake dismissed Salman Ali Agha (14, 14b, 2x4s) and Fakhar Zaman in 16th and 18th over in a late resurgence with the ball but in vain.
Earlier, Sri Lanka’s innings collapsed in a spectacular manner as they were asked to bat first and slipped from 98-2 to 114 all out as Pakistan’s spin trio of Mohammad Nawaz (3-17), Abrar Ahmed (2-18) and Saim Ayub (1-17) returned combined figures of 6-52.
Shaheen Shah Afridi castled Pathum Nissanka for 11 in the third over to give Pakistan the first breakthrough before Kamil Mishara and Kusal Mendis stitched a 47-ball 64-run stand.
Mishara threatened to lay the base for a big total for Sri Lanka too as he struck four sixes and two fours during his 47-ball stay at the crease. Player of the match and series, Mohammad Nawaz – who also finished with 10-102 in the series - began Sri Lanka’s 9-30 collapse with the wicket of Mendis in 11th over.
Sri Lanka’s slump was so swift that none of the batters from four to 11 entered double figures or managed even a single boundary as they folded for 114 in 19.1 overs. Babar claimed three catches in the field and overtook the record of most catches by a fielder for Pakistan in the format (60) overtaking Fakhar Zaman’s 57.
On the pace front, Shaheen – playing only the second game of the series – returned figures of 3-1-18-3, while Mohammad Salman Mirza picked up one wicket.
Scores in brief:
Tri-nation T20I series – Final – Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by six wickets at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium
Sri Lanka 114 all out, 19.1 overs (Kamil Mishara 59; Mohammad Nawaz 3-17, Shaheen Shah Afridi 3-18, Abrar Ahmed 2-18)
Pakistan 118-4, 18.4 overs (Babar Azam 37 not out, Saim Ayub 36, Sahibzada Farhan 23; Pavan Rathnayake 2-11)
Player of the match and series – Mohammad Nawaz (Pakistan)
Series schedule: (All matches at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium; All matches to begin at 6pm PKT)
18 November – Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by five wickets
20 November – Zimbabwe beat Sri Lanka by 67 runs
22 November – Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by seven wickets
23 November – Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by 69 runs
25 November – Sri Lanka beat Zimbabwe by nine wickets
27 November – Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by six runs
29 November – Final – Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by six wickets
