Kusal Mendis Blitz Powers Sri Lanka to Eight-Wicket Rout of Pakistan

Kusal’s unbeaten 87 and Kamindu’s 40 steer visitors home with 17 balls to spare after Shanaka’s three-wicket haul restricts Pakistan to 168-8

Hamid Khan Wazir

RAWALPINDI: Kusal Mendis smashed an unbeaten 87 off 48 balls as Sri Lanka crushed Pakistan by eight wickets in the third T20 International on Tuesday, chasing down a 169-run target with 17 balls to spare after a commanding batting display at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

Mendis anchored the successful chase with a commanding innings featuring nine fours and four sixes, while Kamindu Mendis provided excellent support with an unbeaten 40 off 27 balls as Sri Lanka reached 172-2 in 17.1 overs to seal the match.

The victory was built on an aggressive batting display that kept Pakistan’s bowlers under pressure throughout the chase. After Lahiru Udara fell for one in the second over, Sineth Jayawardena joined Kusal Mendis to stabilise the innings and launch a strong counterattack.

Jayawardena scored 38 off 26 deliveries, including five fours and two sixes, before falling to Arafat Minhas with Sri Lanka at 74-2 in 8 overs. However, Pakistan failed to make further inroads as Kusal Mendis and Kamindu Mendis combined for an unbroken partnership to take Sri Lanka comfortably past the target. Kusal maintained a strike rate of 181.25, while Kamindu struck four boundaries to finish the chase in style.

Earlier, Pakistan posted 168-8 in their allotted 20 overs after captain Sahibzada Farhan top-scored with an impressive 76 off 47 balls. His innings included seven fours and three sixes, providing the foundation for Pakistan’s total despite regular wickets at the other end.

Fakhar Zaman made a brisk 12 off seven deliveries, but Pakistan suffered an early setback when Maaz Sadaqat was dismissed for a duck. Hasan Nawaz contributed 16 off 17 balls, while Khawaja Nafay managed just three and Mohammad Imran scored six.

Pakistan slipped to 102-6 in the 14th over, leaving Farhan and the lower order with the task of rebuilding the innings. Farhan eventually fell to Nuwan Thushara in the final over, ending Pakistan’s hopes of a late surge.

Arafat Minhas provided a valuable late contribution, remaining unbeaten on 34 off 20 balls with two fours and two sixes. Abdul Samad also added a quick 15 off 10 deliveries.

For Sri Lanka, captain Dasun Shanaka was the standout bowler, claiming three wickets for 21 runs in four overs. Eshan Malinga and Nuwan Thushara picked up two wickets apiece, while Vijayakanth Viyaskanth took one wicket for 23 runs.

Pakistan struggled to contain Sri Lanka’s batting response, with none of their bowlers able to claim more than one wicket. Mohammad Imran and Arafat Minhas took one wicket each, while the remaining bowlers went wicketless.

Sri Lanka’s clinical chase overshadowed Farhan’s impressive half-century and Minhas’s late hitting, as the visitors produced a dominant all-round performance to win the third T20I.