Sri Lanka has secured its place in the T20I tri-series final after defeating Pakistan by six runs in a closely contested final league stage match. The game also saw Pakistan’s Babar Azam register a notable, albeit undesirable, record in the shortest format of the game.
Chasing Sri Lanka’s imposing total of 184, Pakistan’s innings began with a significant setback, losing four wickets for just 43 runs. However, captain Salman Ali Agha played a captain’s knock, remaining unbeaten on 63, and forged a crucial partnership with Usman Khan to steer the team towards the target. Despite their efforts, Pakistan ultimately fell short by six runs.
Babar Azam’s brief stay at the crease ended with a second-ball duck, marking his tenth T20I duck for Pakistan. This unfortunate record is now shared with Umar Akmal and Saim Ayub. Azam’s form throughout the tournament has been a concern, with just 90 runs in four games at an average of 22.5. This follows a recent resurgence with the bat in ODIs against the same opposition, highlighting a concerning lack of consistency.
Sri Lanka’s formidable score was powered by Kamil Mishara’s aggressive 76 off 48 balls, which included six boundaries and three maximums. Pakistan’s batting order faced early pressure, but Agha’s resilient innings provided a strong foundation for the chase. The home side left too many runs to score in the final overs, ultimately costing them the match.
Despite this league stage loss, Pakistan had already secured their spot in the final. The championship match will see them face Sri Lanka once more on Saturday, November 29.