Kusal Mendis led Sri Lanka to a strong consolation victory in the third and final T20I against Pakistan at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. The visitors chased down a 169-run target with eight wickets in hand and 17 balls remaining, though Pakistan still secured the series 2-1 after winning the first two matches.
Sri Lanka began their chase steadily but lost opener Lahiru Udara early when Mohammad Imran Randhawa trapped him lbw for just one run. Captain Kusal Mendis walked in at number three and quickly steadied the innings. Together with opener Sineth Jayawardena, he built a solid 59-run partnership for the second wicket. Jayawardena played an aggressive knock of 38 off 26 balls, hitting five fours and two sixes, before Arafat Minhas dismissed him on the last ball of the eighth over.
After that breakthrough, Kusal Mendis joined forces with Kamindu Mendis. The pair batted with complete control and added an unbeaten 92-run stand that carried Sri Lanka to victory. Kusal remained not out on a brilliant 87 off just 48 deliveries, featuring nine fours and four sixes. Kamindu supported him well with an unbeaten 40 off 27 balls, including four boundaries. For Pakistan, only Imran and Minhas managed to take a wicket each.
Earlier, Pakistan posted 168 for eight after being put in to bat. Captain Sahibzada Farhan top-scored with a fighting 76 off 47 balls, striking seven fours and three sixes. The innings started brightly with Fakhar Zaman and Farhan adding 34 runs in the first three overs. However, Eshan Malinga struck twice in the fourth over, removing Fakhar for 12 and Maaz Sadaqat for a duck. Hasan Nawaz and Farhan then added 33 before further wickets fell. Dasun Shanaka claimed three important scalps, including Khawaja Nafay, Mohammad Imran and Abdul Samad, reducing Pakistan to 102 for six.
Farhan and Arafat Minhas then staged a late recovery with a rapid 66-run partnership. Minhas remained not out on 34 off 20 balls. Nuwan Thushara dismissed Farhan on the penultimate delivery and cleaned up Razaullah on the final ball. Shanaka finished as the pick of the bowlers with three wickets for 21 runs, while Malinga and Thushara took two each.
