Kusal Mendis 87* denies Pakistan sweep as Sri Lanka win 3rd T20, hosts take series 2-1

Sri Lanka had been outplayed in the first two games. Then, with the pressure off and the series already gone, they produced their best all-round performance of the tour. Captain Kusal Mendis led from the front with a commanding unbeaten 87 as Sri Lanka chased down 169 with eight wickets in hand in the final T20 at Rawalpindi.

The result denied Pakistan a 3-0 clean sweep. But the hosts had already done the hard work, winning the first game by four wickets and then crushing Sri Lanka by 82 runs in the second. The Pakistan Sri Lanka T20 series finished 2-1 in favour of the home side, with skipper Sahibzada Farhan named man of the series.

How the Pakistan Sri Lanka T20 series finale played out

Sri Lanka won their third straight toss of the series and asked Pakistan to bat first. The decision paid off early. Pakistan lost openers Fakhar Zaman and Maaz Sadaqat cheaply in the fourth over to slip to 34 for two.

Fakhar did manage a landmark moment before falling for 12, becoming the first Pakistani batter to reach 100 sixes in T20 internationals. He was gone soon after though, and Pakistan kept wobbling. Hasan Nawaz added 33 with captain Farhan for the third wicket before departing for 16.

Sri Lanka tightened the screws in the middle overs. Dasun Shanaka ripped through the middle order, removing Khawaja Nafay, Mohammad Imran and Abdul Samad as Pakistan slumped to 102 for six in the 14th over. At that stage, the hosts looked in real trouble.

Farhan and Arafat Minhas then staged a rescue act. The pair added 66 for the seventh wicket, with Minhas striking two fours and two sixes in an unbeaten 34 off just 20 balls. Farhan fell on the penultimate delivery of the innings for 76 off 47, completing his third successive half-century of the series.

Pakistan closed on 168 for eight. Shanaka finished with three for 21, while Nuwan Thushara and Eshan Malinga took two wickets each.

Kusal Mendis masterclass denies Pakistan clean sweep

Mendis had scores of 1 and 9 in the first two matches. In the final game, he looked like a different batter. The Sri Lankan captain batted with calm authority, finishing 87 not out off 48 balls with four sixes and nine boundaries.

The chase began with a hiccup. Mohammad Imran struck with his first ball to remove Lahiru Udara lbw. But Sineth Jayawardena counter-attacked in the power play, smashing 38 off 26 balls with five fours and two sixes before Arafat Minhas ended his stay.

From 74 for two, Sri Lanka never looked back. Mendis and Kamindu Mendis shut the door on Pakistan's bowling attack with an unbroken 98-run stand for the third wicket. Kamindu finished 40 not out off 27 balls.

Sri Lanka reached 172 for two in 17.1 overs, winning with 17 balls to spare. It was a polished chase and a fitting way to end a difficult tour. Mendis was named man of the match.

After the game, the Sri Lankan captain credited his bowlers for the turnaround. He said the bowling had let them down in the first two games but was disciplined this time, keeping Pakistan to a gettable total.

Pakistan had rested frontline bowlers Naseem Shah and Abrar Ahmed for the dead rubber, along with spin all-rounders Shadab Khan and Saim Ayub. Farhan admitted the total was not enough and said the team would analyse the batting performance before the next assignment.

Sahibzada Farhan's big series earns him the top honour

Despite the defeat, it was a series to remember for Sahibzada Farhan. The Pakistan skipper piled up 238 runs across the three matches, the most ever by a batter from a Full Member nation in a three-match T20I series.

Three fifties in three games told the story. Farhan was the anchor of Pakistan's batting throughout, leading the side confidently in what was his first series as captain at home. His 76 in the finale was his third consecutive half-century.

The man-of-the-series award was a straightforward call. Farhan edged out team-mates and opposition players with a level of consistency few have matched in T20 internationals. At 81 career sixes in T20Is, he is now closing in on the hundred club himself.

Farhan's form has become one of the stories of the season. His aggressive but controlled batting at the top has given Pakistan a new gear, and the leadership role appears to be bringing the best out of him.

The skipper also had warm words for the opposition after the match. He accepted that Sri Lanka were the better team on the night and took responsibility for the batting display falling short of a winning total.

What the series result means before the ODI tri-series

Both sides now turn their attention to a bigger challenge. Pakistan and Sri Lanka will be joined by England for an ODI tri-series starting on Sunday in Rawalpindi.

Pakistan will take confidence from the series win despite the final-game stumble. Winning 2-1 with a young squad and rested bowlers in the decider suggests depth is building. The second match was particularly encouraging, when Pakistan posted 215, their second-highest T20 total ever.

Sri Lanka, meanwhile, will carry momentum from the consolation win. Mendis finally delivering a captain's innings is a major positive. Shanaka's three-wicket haul showed their attack can compete when the plans come together.

For the hosts, there are still questions. The middle order collapsed in the decider, with none of the top seven besides Farhan passing 16. Fakhar's milestone was the other bright spot, putting him ahead of Mohammad Rizwan's 95 sixes on the all-time Pakistan list.

The tri-series will test both teams in the 50-over format. Pakistan's home advantage will count for plenty. Sri Lanka will hope their Rawalpindi win was the start of a turnaround, not just a one-off.

Either way, the Pakistan Sri Lanka T20 series delivered plenty of entertainment. Three games, three tosses won by Mendis, one record-breaking batting display, and a series win that keeps Pakistan's home momentum rolling.

Frequently asked questions

What was the score in the third T20 between Pakistan and Sri Lanka?

Pakistan posted 168 for eight in their 20 overs, with captain Sahibzada Farhan scoring 76 off 47 balls. Sri Lanka chased the 169-run target in 17.1 overs, finishing on 172 for two. Kusal Mendis was unbeaten on 87 and won the man-of-the-match award.

Who won the Pakistan Sri Lanka T20 series in 2026?

Pakistan won the three-match series 2-1. The hosts won the first game by four wickets and the second by a crushing 82 runs. Sri Lanka avoided a clean sweep with their eight-wicket win in the final match at Rawalpindi.

Who was named man of the series?

Pakistan captain Sahibzada Farhan was named man of the series. He scored 238 runs across the three matches, the most ever by a Full Member batter in a three-match T20I series. He hit three consecutive half-centuries during the series.

Where was the third T20 played?

The third and final T20 was played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. All three matches of the series were held in Rawalpindi. The venue will also host the ODI tri-series involving Pakistan, Sri Lanka and England starting on Sunday.

What record did Fakhar Zaman set during the match?

Fakhar Zaman became the first Pakistani batter to hit 100 sixes in T20 internationals. He leads Pakistan's all-time list ahead of Mohammad Rizwan on 95, Sahibzada Farhan on 81, Babar Azam on 80 and Mohammad Hafeez on 76.