The Green Shirts clinched the Pakistan T20I Tri-Nations Series 2025/26 trophy, securing an assertive six-wicket triumph against the Lions in the concluding match at Rawalpindi Cricket Ground this past Saturday. After a favorable coin flip, the decision to field resulted in the Lankan side being restricted to a mere 114 runs in 19.1 overs by the Pakistani bowling attack, setting the stage for a successful chase completed in 18.4 overs. The combined efforts of Saim Ayub, both with bat and ball, together with Mohammad Nawaz‘s penetrative bowling, proved to be pivotal factors in this crucial evening game played under bright stadium lights.
Mohammad Nawaz’s remarkable performance dismantles the Sri Lankan batting order
The Sri Lankan batting lineup surged to 56 for 1 in the initial six overs, propelled by Kamil Mishara‘s aggressive innings of 59 runs from 47 deliveries, which included two boundaries and four towering sixes, after Pathum Nissanka‘s quick 11-run contribution was cut short by Shaheen Shah Afridi. The game’s trajectory altered significantly following the mid-innings break at 81 for 1 after 10 overs, marked by Mohammad Nawaz‘s dominant spell of four overs, conceding just 17 runs while capturing 3 crucial wickets, dismissing Kusal Mendis (14), Janith Liyanage (0), and Wanindu Hasaranga (5), thus instigating a batting collapse.
The final eight wickets fell at the cost of only 30 runs, with the rate of dismissals escalating rapidly from 84 for 2 (10.3 overs) to an all-out score of 114—Pavan Rathnayake (8) and Kusal Perera (1) fell victim to Abrar Ahmed, Dasun Shanaka (2) was taken by Shaheen, and the tail-enders were cleaned up by Salman Mirza and Shaheen, who ended with figures of 3 for 18. Nawaz’s parsimonious economy rate of 4.25 runs per over and his astute utilization of spin exploited the Rawalpindi pitch conditions, while Ayub provided support with 1 for 17, including a catch of Mishara off his own bowling. Thirteen extra runs were added, but the Pakistani team’s unified endeavors successfully kept Sri Lanka under the 120-run mark.
Saim Ayub’s explosive innings steers Pakistan to a decisive victory
In pursuit of 115 runs, Pakistan cautiously advanced through the powerplay overs, reaching 32 for 0, before Eshan Malinga made a breakthrough, dismissing Sahibzada Farhan (23 off 22) with the score at 46 for 1 in 7.3 overs. Ayub then unleashed an aggressive innings, scoring 36 runs off 33 balls—comprising six boundaries—to elevate the score to 50 in 7.5 overs and 71 for 1 by the 10-over mid-innings interval. His dismissal, lbw to Wanindu Hasaranga at 75 for 2 (11.3 overs), brought Babar Azam (37 not out off 34, including two boundaries and a six) to the crease, who then stabilized the innings amidst a successful Decision Review System (DRS) challenge. Pavan Rathnayake retaliated with a spell of 2 for 11, claiming the wickets of Salman Agha (14 off 14) at 98 for 3 (15.3 overs) and Fakhar Zaman (3 off 5) at 104 for 4 (17.1 overs), but Babar, along with Usman Khan (3 not out), calmly concluded the chase and guided the hosts to victory with 8 balls remaining, reaching 118/4.
