Pakistan completed a ruthless demolition of Sri Lanka at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on October 11, 2026, sealing the three-match T20I series with an emphatic 82-run victory in the second game. Powered by a blazing 169-run opening stand between Maaz Sadaqat and Sahibzada Farhan, Pakistan posted a towering 215 for 3 before their bowlers ripped through the visitors’ batting line-up to restrict them to 133 for 7.
Having won the first T20I on October 9 by four wickets, the Men in Green wrapped up the series 2-0 with a game to spare — their fifth successive T20I series triumph on home soil, and arguably the most dominant.
Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bowl first, a decision that quickly backfired as Pakistan’s openers turned Rawalpindi into a six-hitting festival.
A Record Night for Pakistan’s New Opening Pair
Maaz Sadaqat was the undisputed star of the evening. The young opener hammered 96 off just 51 deliveries, an innings laced with 6 fours and 7 sixes at a strike rate of 188.24. Sadaqat’s clean ball-striking left the Sri Lankan bowlers searching for answers, and he fell just four runs short of what would have been a richly deserved century.
At the other end, Sahibzada Farhan provided the perfect foil with 73 off 44 balls, decorated with 4 fours and 5 sixes. The pair raced to 169 for the opening wicket, laying a platform so solid that Pakistan could launch an all-out assault in the closing overs.
The acceleration was devastating. Pakistan plundered 156 runs in the last 12 overs, a scoring burst that underlined the squad’s aggressive new T20 approach. Fakhar Zaman chipped in with 22 off 17, while Hasan Nawaz finished unbeaten on 19 from just 9 balls to carry the total to 215 for 3 — a mountain Sri Lanka never looked like climbing.
Sri Lanka Collapse Under Scoreboard Pressure
Chasing 216 was always a daunting task, and Sri Lanka’s innings unravelled early. By the 11th over, the visitors had slumped to 64 for 5, with Pakistan’s new-ball attack and spinners sharing the damage.
Mohammad Imran was the pick of the bowlers, returning outstanding figures of 3 for 11, while Salman Mirza claimed 2 wickets to keep the pressure relentless. With the required rate climbing beyond reach, Sri Lanka’s resistance faded, and they closed on 133 for 7.
Maheesh Theekshana’s unbeaten 32 was the top score for the visitors — a statistic that tells its own story about the failure of their specialist batters on the night. None of Sri Lanka’s frontline batsmen could cope with the disciplined Pakistani attack on a surface that offered just enough assistance.
Turning Points
The match was effectively decided in the first ten overs of Pakistan’s innings. Sadaqat and Farhan’s opening stand meant Sri Lanka were always chasing the game, and the 156-run blitz in the final 12 overs removed any lingering doubt.
With the ball, the double strike that reduced Sri Lanka to 64 for 5 by the 11th over extinguished the contest. From that point, the only question was the margin of victory — and Pakistan’s bowlers were in no mood to be charitable.
What This Means for Pakistan Cricket
This series win carries real significance beyond the scoreline. Pakistan’s fifth consecutive home T20I series victory confirms that the team’s aggressive white-ball rebuild is delivering results. The emergence of Maaz Sadaqat as a genuine match-winner at the top of the order, alongside the consistency of Sahibzada Farhan, gives Pakistan a settled, fearsome opening combination.
Just as encouraging is the bowling depth. Mohammad Imran’s 3 for 11 on the night showed that Pakistan’s pace reserves are in fine health, while the collective discipline of the attack — conceding only 133 in a 216 chase — speaks to a well-drilled unit.
With major ICC events on the horizon, this kind of ruthless home form builds the momentum and confidence Pakistan will need against stronger opposition.
Series Context and What’s Next
Pakistan took the opener on October 9 by four wickets in a closer contest, making this 82-run thrashing in the second game a statement of intent. The third and final T20I becomes a dead rubber, but it offers Pakistan the chance to experiment — resting key players, testing bench strength, and giving fringe squad members an opportunity to stake their claims.
Sri Lanka, meanwhile, will be desperate to salvage pride and avoid a series whitewash. Their batting frailties were brutally exposed in Rawalpindi, and their think tank faces tough questions about selection and approach before the final game.
For now, though, the night belongs to Pakistan — and to Maaz Sadaqat, whose 96 announced him as the newest star of Pakistan cricket’s white-ball revolution.
