Sri Lanka win toss and bowl first in the second T20I at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday, as captain Kusal Mendis chose to chase under lights. Pakistan therefore bat first in a match that can seal the series. The hosts lead 1-0 after Friday’s opener at the same venue.
Mendis backed his bowlers to use the evening conditions first. Pakistan captain Sahibzada Farhan, in contrast, gets the chance to set a target on a fresh pitch. A home win tonight ends the series with a match to spare. A Sri Lanka win, meanwhile, takes the contest to a decider on Tuesday.
Sri Lanka win toss and bowl first: the playing XIs
Pakistan kept faith with the side that won the opener. Razaullah and Mohammad Imran, who both debuted on Friday, kept their places in the XI. Farhan’s appointment as captain for this series has so far brought one win from one match.
Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan (c), Fakhar Zaman, Maaz Sadaqat, Hasan Nawaz, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Khawaja Nafay, Mohammad Imran, Razaullah, Naseem Shah and Abrar Ahmed.
Sri Lanka: Kusal Mendis (c), Lahiru Udara, Kamil Mishara, Kamindu Mendis, Sahan Arachchige, Dasun Shanaka, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Eshan Malinga and Nuwan Thushara.
Sri Lanka continue without two senior players. Wanindu Hasaranga and Pathum Nissanka were ruled out of the series before it began. The tourists had arrived in Islamabad last week for a tour that also includes an ODI tri-series and two Tests.
How the series opener was won
Pakistan won the first T20I by four wickets on Friday. Sri Lanka posted 182 for eight after Lahiru Udara struck 91 off 55 balls. Naseem Shah took three for 36, while debutant Mohammad Imran claimed two for 21.
The chase then rested on the top order. Farhan led it with 89 off 53 balls, and Maaz Sadaqat added 50 off 29 deliveries. Fakhar Zaman chipped in with 21 off 13. Pakistan reached the target in 18.5 overs, with Theekshana and Malinga taking two wickets each for the visitors.
The series commentary panel had billed this as a close contest, and the opener matched that billing. Sri Lanka’s total was competitive, yet their bowlers could not defend it once Farhan settled.
Head-to-head and recent history
Pakistan hold the upper hand in this rivalry. They have won 19 of their 32 T20I meetings with Sri Lanka, while the islanders have won 13. Their most recent meeting before this series came in the Super Eights of the T20 World Cup earlier this year. Pakistan won that match by five runs.
However, Rawalpindi also carries a warning for the hosts. Sri Lanka swept the last bilateral T20I series played in Pakistan, winning 3-0 in 2019. Mendis and his side therefore know this ground can suit them.
Both teams also arrive with Asian Games medals behind them. Pakistan took silver in Japan earlier this month, losing the final to India. Sri Lanka took bronze after beating Bangladesh in the third-place match. On the women’s side, the tri-series in Faisalabad continued on Sunday, where Bangladesh handed Pakistan’s under-19 women a fourth defeat.
Geo Super’s toss report from Rawalpindi confirmed the two XIs before the start of play. After this series, both sides stay in Pakistan for the ODI tri-series, for which Sri Lanka have already named their squad.
The first innings will show whether Mendis read the conditions correctly. If Pakistan post a large total, Sri Lanka’s chase will test a batting order missing its two biggest names. If the visitors strike early, the series stays alive into Tuesday.
FAQ
Who won the toss in the second Pakistan vs Sri Lanka T20I?
Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis won the toss at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium and chose to bowl first. Pakistan therefore bat first in the second T20I.
What is the series score between Pakistan and Sri Lanka?
Pakistan lead the three-match series 1-0. They won the opener by four wickets on Friday, chasing 183 with seven balls to spare.
When is the third T20I between Pakistan and Sri Lanka?
The third and final T20I is scheduled for Tuesday, October 13, at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. It will act as the decider if Sri Lanka win the second match.
