Sahibzada Farhan hits dazzling 89 as Pakistan down Sri Lanka in first T20I

Sahibzada Farhan hits dazzling 89 as Pakistan down Sri Lanka in first T20I.

Key points

• Dawn Sport Published October 9, 2026 Updated October 9, 2026 10: 59pm.
• Earlier, Sri Lanka had posted 182-8 after winning the toss and electing to bat, with Lahiru Udara anchoring the innings through a superb 91 off 55 balls.
• While Maaz Sadaqat smashed a maiden T20I half-century to put Pakistan firmly on course for victory, farhan struck 10 fours and four sixes in his 53-ball knock.
• The hosts created a flying start to the 183-run chase, with Farhan and Fakhar Zaman adding 54 for the opening wicket.
• The batter struck 11 fours and a six, lifting Sri Lanka from 83-4 after Pakistan's bowlers had created early inroads.

Dawn Sport Published October 9, 2026 Updated October 9, 2026 10: 59pm. Join our Whatsapp Channel.

Sahibzada Farhan marked his first match as Pakistan's full-time Twenty20 International captain with a commanding 89 as the hosts chased down Sri Lanka's 182-8 to secure a four-wicket victory with seven balls to spare in the opening match of the three-game series at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Friday.

While Maaz Sadaqat smashed a maiden T20I half-century to put Pakistan firmly on course for victory, farhan struck 10 fours and four sixes in his 53-ball knock. Their 92-run second-wicket partnership proved decisive as Pakistan reached 187-6 in 18.5 overs.

In practice, the hosts created a flying start to the 183-run chase, with Farhan and Fakhar Zaman adding 54 for the opening wicket. Fakhar struck four boundaries in his 13-ball 21 before falling to Eshan Malinga in the final over of the powerplay, by which time Pakistan had raced to 70-1.

Maaz immediately maintained the momentum, taking advantage of loose deliveries to punish the Sri Lankan bowlers. He swept Maheesh Theekshana past fine leg for four before Farhan introduced the spinner for six as Pakistan crossed the 100-run mark in the 10th over.

Meanwhile, the left-hander continued to attack, smashing Dunith Wellalage over long-on for six before Farhan brought up his half-century off 33 balls. Maaz reached his maiden T20I fifty off just 21 deliveries in the 13th over, striking four fours and three sixes in an innings that offered Pakistan control of the chase.

Farhan then took Theekshana apart in the 14th over, sweeping him over long-on for six before adding two more boundaries. The spinner, nevertheless, concluded Maaz's 29-ball knock of 50 by trapping him leg-before, leaving Pakistan at 146-2.

Sri Lanka briefly threatened to turn the contest around as Hasan Nawaz was caught behind off Dushmantha Chameera for one and Theekshana bowled Saim Ayub for eight in successive overs. Pakistan slipped to 156-4, but Farhan remained the key to the chase.

After two quieter overs, the captain attacked Nuwan Thushara in the 18th, striking a boundary through square leg before launching a low full toss over extra cover for six. His innings concluded at 89 when he was caught by Sahan Arachchige in the deep off the next delivery, with Pakistan needing just four runs for victory.

Shadab Khan fell for a duck, caught off Malinga, but Khawaja Nafay ensured there was no late drama. As Pakistan reached their target in 18.5 overs, he finished unbeaten on 12 off seven balls, including a six over long-on. Mohammad Imran remained not out on nought.

In practice, the batter struck 11 fours and a six, lifting Sri Lanka from 83-4 after Pakistan's bowlers had created early inroads. While debutant Mohammad Imran dismissed Kamil Mishara for six, naseem Shah removed captain Kusal Mendis for one in the opening over.

Udara then joined Kamindu Mendis in a counterattack that brought 60 runs for the third wicket. Kamindu created 23 off 18 balls, hitting four boundaries, before falling to Saim, caught by Fakhar at long-off. Two balls afterwards, Sahan Arachchige departed for one after Shadab took a fine catch at point off Imran.

Undeterred, Udara brought up his maiden T20I half-century off 32 balls and continued to score freely. Dasun Shanaka contributed 18 off 15 balls, including two sixes, before Fakhar caught him off Shadab with Sri Lanka at 140-5.

Udara survived a missed chance on 77 when spinner Abrar Ahmed misjudged a high catch, but his innings concluded nine runs short of a century when Naseem had him caught by Hasan at long-on in the final ball of the 19th over.

While Imran asserted 2-21, naseem finished with 3-36 from four overs. Razaullah took his maiden T20I wicket in the final over, dismissing Theekshana for one, before Dushmantha Chameera struck a boundary off a free hit to support Sri Lanka finish on 182-8.

Despite Udara's effort, Pakistan's aggressive top-order batting proved decisive. While Sri Lanka were left to rue their inability to stem the scoring during the middle overs, farhan's captain's knock and Maaz's rapid half-century offered the hosts a winning start to the series.

For now, sahibzada Farhan hits dazzling 89 as Pakistan down Sri Lanka in first remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.