Pakistan Started their T20 World Cup preparations in great style, marching to a comfortable six-wicket win Sri Lanka In the first T20I at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium on Wednesday.
Opting to bowl first amid overcast skies, the visitors bowled disciplinedly to bowl out the hosts for a modest score of 128 runs. In reply, a flamboyant half-century Sahebzada Farhan This ensured that Pakistan chased down the target with 20 balls to spare and took a 1–0 lead in the three-match series.
Shadab Khan, Abrar Ahmed bowled brilliantly
After being invited to bat, the Sri Lankan innings never really gained momentum. Pakistan’s new ball pair salman mirza And Mohammad Wasim Jr Made the initial strikes by removing the opening batsmen kamil mishara And Pathum Nissanka Left the hosts at 16/2 inside the powerplay.
Whereas Zenith Lianaz Having offered some resistance with a struggling inning of 40 off 31 balls, he lacked support from the other end. The middle order collapsed in front of the spin variety of Abrar Ahmed (3/25) and return Shadab Khan (2/25). A last-order collapse saw Sri Lanka lose their last five wickets for just 22 runs and were eventually all out for 128 runs in 19.2 overs.
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Sahibzada Farhan got angry while chasing
This match marked the successful return of all-rounder Shadab, who was adjudged Player of the Match. Shadab, playing his first international match after shoulder surgery, performed quickly with the ball and took important wickets in the middle overs. He later contributed an unbeaten 18 runs to help the team win and proved his fitness and form ahead of the major tournament next month.
Sri Lanka needed early wickets while defending a small score, but Pakistan’s openers had other ideas. Farhan counter-attacked and scored 51 runs (4 fours, 2 sixes) in just 36 balls. Despite this, their aggressive intent in the powerplay ended the contest early Mahesh Theekshana (1/31) and Wanindu Hasaranga (1/17) Taking a consolation wicket.
Although Pakistan lost a few wickets early in the middle, the required run rate was never an issue. Shadab and Osman Khan (7*) completed the medically in the 17th over.
Pakistan won the first T20 match by 6 wickets#SLvsPAK #shadabkhan pic.twitter.com/R9dovhCT31
– CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) 8 January 2026
Also read: Sri Lanka vs Pakistan 2025, T20I Series: Schedule, Squad, Broadcast and Live Streaming Details
