Sri Lanka avoid whitewash as Mendis' 87 beats PakistanSports

The chase began with an early wobble when Lahiru Udara was trapped leg-before by Imran Randhawa for one in the second over. But Sineth Jayawardena counter-attacked brilliantly, smashing 38 off 26 balls to swing the momentum. Jayawardena and Kusal added a brisk 59-run stand and took Sri Lanka to 59 for one at the end of the powerplay, their best return of the series, before Jayawardena fell. From there, the two Mendises took complete control, denying Pakistan any further breakthroughs.

<h2>Farhan&#8217;s fighting fifty</h2> Earlier, asked to bat first, Pakistan posted 168 for eight, built around captain Sahibzada Farhan&#8217;s fluent 76 off 47 balls — his third consecutive half-century of the series. Pakistan raced to 34 without loss in three overs, but Eshan Malinga turned the innings with a double-wicket maiden in the fourth over, removing Fakhar Zaman for 12 and Maaz Sadaqat for a duck. Dasun Shanaka then tightened the screws in the middle overs, finishing with three for 21 as Pakistan slipped to 102 for six. Arafat Minhas rescued the innings with an unbeaten 34 off 20 balls at number eight, adding a crucial 66-run stand for the seventh wicket with Farhan, before Nuwan Thushara dismissed both set batters in the final over. Thushara and Malinga took two wickets apiece, while Vijayakanth Viyaskanth claimed one on his series debut.

Pakistan made four changes for the final match, resting Shadab Khan, Saim Ayub, Naseem Shah and Abrar Ahmed while handing chances to Sufiyan Muqeem, Abdul Samad, Razaullah and Arafat Minhas. Sri Lanka also adjusted their side for the series finale.

Mendis credited disciplined bowling for the turnaround. &#8220;We didn&#8217;t bowl well in the first two games but today our bowling was disciplined and we kept them to a gettable total,&#8221; he said. Farhan admitted Pakistan needed to reflect on the defeat despite taking the series, saying the total of 168 was simply not enough on the night.

<h2>Series wrapped up</h2> Pakistan had won the opening two encounters in Rawalpindi to clinch the series, sealing it with an 82-run victory in the second match. The consolation win at least gave the visitors something to take home after a difficult tour, while Farhan was named Player of the Series for his consistent batting across the three games.