A bizarre run-out mix-up and a costly fielding error grabbed attention during the third and final T20I between Sri Lanka and Pakistan in Rawalpindi. Sri Lanka missed a golden opportunity to run out Arafat Minhas after he and Sahibzada Farhan ended up at the same end during Pakistan's innings.
Sri Lanka secured an eight-wicket consolation win over Pakistan at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi on Tuesday, October 13. Captain Kusal Mendis led the chase with an unbeaten 87 runs off 48 balls, as the visitors reached the 169-run target in 17.1 overs to avoid a series whitewash.
Sri Lanka's Fielding Blunder Gives Arafat Minhas a Second Chance
Arafat Minhas got an unexpected reprieve. In the 14th over, Minhas set off for a quick single after pushing the ball towards extra cover, but Farhan initially responded before abandoning the run. Both batters ended up at the non-striker's end, leaving the striker's end exposed.
Sri Lankan fielder Sineth Jayawardene collected the ball and threw it towards the wicketkeeper's end. However, Kusal Mendis failed to collect the wayward throw. Minhas turned back and made his ground safely. Sri Lanka wasted a straightforward run-out opportunity as the ball escaped the wicketkeeper.
Minhas made the most of the reprieve, finishing unbeaten on 34 off just 20 balls. He struck two sixes and two fours to help Pakistan recover from a middle-order collapse and post a competitive total.
Sahibzada Farhan's 76 Keeps Pakistan in the Fight
Pakistan lost wickets at regular intervals after being asked to bat first. Eshan Malinga provided Sri Lanka with an early advantage by dismissing Fakhar Zaman and Maaz Sadaqat in the same over. Fakhar departed for 12, while Maaz, who had scored half-centuries in the previous two matches, fell for a duck.
Leg-spinner Vijayakanth Viyaskanth then removed Hasan Nawaz for 16 before Dasun Shanaka dismissed Khawaja Nafay for three. Shanaka struck twice more, sending back Mohammad Imran Randhawa for six and Abdul Samad for 15, leaving Pakistan struggling at 107/6 in the 15th over.
Farhan held the innings together, scoring 76 off 47 balls with seven fours and three sixes. He brought up his 13th career half-century off 34 deliveries and added 66 runs for the seventh wicket with Minhas. Their partnership helped Pakistan finish at 168/8 in 20 overs.
Shanaka was Sri Lanka's leading bowler, taking 3/31 in four overs. Malinga and Nuwan Thushara claimed two wickets each, while Viyaskanth picked up one.
Kusal Mendis Powers Sri Lanka to an Eight-Wicket Win
Sri Lanka lost Lahiru Udara for one early in the chase, but Kusal Mendis quickly took control. The captain struck nine fours and four sixes in his unbeaten 87 off 48 balls, putting Sri Lanka on course for a comfortable victory.
Mendis added 59 runs for the second wicket with Sineth Jayawardene, who scored 38 off 26 deliveries, including five fours and two sixes. After Jayawardene's dismissal, Mendis and Kamindu Mendis sealed the chase with an unbeaten 98-run partnership for the third wicket.
Kamindu finished on 40 not out off 27 balls, hitting four fours as Sri Lanka reached 169/2 in 17.1 overs. Mohammad Imran and Arafat Minhas took one wicket each for Pakistan.
Pakistan made four changes for the final match, bringing in Sufiyan Moqim, Abdul Samad, Razaullah, and Minhas, while resting Shadab Khan, Saim Ayub, Naseem Shah, and Abrar Ahmed. Pakistan had won the first match by four wickets after chasing 183 and claimed the second by 82 runs to secure the series.
Also read: BCCI postpones IPL stakeholders' meeting due to PM Modi's Asian Games ceremony
