So a very happy Salman Ali Agha there, and understandably so. Pakistan are looking as good as they have in a very long time, and they likely can't wait to get out there and play again. They won't have to wait long though, with Pakistan taking on Zimbabwe tomorrow. Be sure to join us for that, but until then, on behalf of Danyal and the rest of the team, this is Madushka signing out.
Salman Ali Agha: "It was a complete game, we were very good with both bat and ball. We started really well in all three departments and that's what we look for. We had the luxury of Nawaz and Faheem as allrounders, who can bat and take wickets as well. We always look for bench strength and now we have bowlers sitting on the bench, like Wasim Jr. who can put up these kinds of performances. That's what we always wanted, having a perfect bench. Salman was a bench kind of a bowler a few series back and now he's becoming a front line bowler as well, it is something I wanted to have but now it's tough making a playing XI. [Farhan?] We always wanted to start well, and he's someone who if he bats for three, four overs, he can bat like that. He can take the game away from any opposition. We're very close to having a perfect playing XI, and giving chances to fringe players, who are coming in and chipping in."
Dasun Shanaka: "We aren't a team that should perform like this, we're better than this. We feel very bad today, but looking forward to the other two games. The intent was not there, we're losing wickets in clusters. Since we arrived here we have struggled to find rhythm batting in these pitches. We need to work on that a bit, but I'm sure we're a better team than this."
Player of the Match goes to Mohammed Nawaz for his match turning figures of 3 for 16. Speaking to the broadcaster he spoke about the natural variation, and using more revs to utilise it. He also emphasised on keeping the right lengths.
Time for the post match presentation...
Jawad: "Only if Sri Lanka scored 20-30 more runs, we could have seen a century tonight"
It's a game that will give Pakistan immense confidence after their narrow win over Zimbabwe, and puts them one foot in the final owing to a health net run rate. As for Sri Lanka, it's been muddled thinking with bat and ball - something highlighted by the constant chopping and changing of lineups. They need to find solutions, and fast.
8.58pm Sahibzada Farhan then ends on 80 off 45, his highest ever total in T20Is as Pakistan brush aside a completely out of sorts Sri Lanka to complete a comprehensive win. Saim Ayub struck 20 during a 47-run opening stand, but after that no other Pakistan batter apart from Farhan came to the fore - but they didn't need to, such was Farhan's complete control on proceedings. The target itself was straightforward after Pakistan had restricted Sri Lanka to 128 for 7, following a solid allround display in the field and with the ball.
7 to win, potentially the final over of this game.
END OF OVER:15 | 5 Runs | PAK: 122/3 (7 runs required from 30 balls, RR: 8.13, RRR: 1.40)
- Usman Khan4 (5b)
- Sahibzada Farhan76 (44b)
- Vijayakanth Viyaskanth4-0-28-0
- Dushmantha Chameera3-0-29-2
END OF OVER:14 | 10 Runs 2 Wkts | PAK: 117/3 (12 runs required from 36 balls, RR: 8.35, RRR: 2.00)
- Usman Khan1 (1b)
- Sahibzada Farhan74 (42b)
- Dushmantha Chameera3-0-29-2
- Wanindu Hasaranga4-0-28-0
Two wickets in the over, paralleling Nawaz's earlier in the day at the same stage. Usually this could signal a shift in momentum but really this game is done and dusted.
Chameera on a hat-trick...
Agha Salman lbw b Chameera 0 (1m 1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0
touheed: "something surprised me, farhan avg 44 and 41 in fc and list a. pretty impressive. "
asad: "its farhan's night in RWP"
Babar Azam b Chameera 16 (33m 22b 0x4 1x6) SR: 72.72
Haris: "This last six is a Kohli-like six from SF"
faran: "Farhan needs to improve his strike rotation. He is often seen ball watching his strokes. He ran only one after that six saved by Nissanka." --- Just enjoy the show, Faran.
END OF OVER:13 | 15 Runs | PAK: 107/1 (22 runs required from 42 balls, RR: 8.23, RRR: 3.14)
- Babar Azam16 (21b)
- Sahibzada Farhan65 (39b)
- Wanindu Hasaranga4-0-28-0
- Dasun Shanaka2-0-14-1
