Farhan marks captaincy debut with 89 as Pakistan chase down Sri Lanka

Sahibzada Farhan made a memorable start to his tenure as Pakistan’s T20I captain, blasting 89 from 53 balls as the hosts chased Sri Lanka’s 182 for 8 to win the opening match by four wickets in Rawalpindi. Pakistan reached 187 for 6 with seven balls to spare, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Farhan struck 10 fours and four sixes, while Maaz Sadaqat supplied a maiden T20I half-century, scoring 50 from 29 deliveries. The pair added 92 in 53 balls after Pakistan’s opening stand had put the chase on an attacking course. Sadaqat reached fifty in 28 balls before Maheesh Theekshana trapped him lbw; Farhan continued to attack and brought the target within reach before falling to Nuwan Thushara. Khawaja Nafay settled the finish with a six after Eshan Malinga dismissed Shadab Khan.

Udara anchors Sri Lanka’s innings

Earlier, Lahiru Udara’s 91 from 55 balls lifted Sri Lanka to 182 for 8. His innings included 11 fours and a six, and he built useful stands with Kamindu Mendis, who made 23, and Dasun Shanaka, who scored 18. Udara reached his half-century from 32 balls before Naseem Shah dismissed him in the closing overs.

Naseem took 3 for 36 and Mohammad Imran Randhawa claimed 2 for 21 as Pakistan kept Sri Lanka to a chaseable total. Pakistan’s reply was driven by Farhan and Sadaqat’s boundary-filled partnership, with the captain’s innings ensuring his first match in charge ended in a series lead.

The remaining two matches of the series are scheduled for Rawalpindi on Sunday and next Tuesday.