Game of authority against lost pride at Dambulla today
The third and final T20 International between Sri Lanka and Pakistan at Dambulla has been thrust into must-win territory for the hosts after persistent rain washed out the second game without a ball being bowled.
With Pakistan holding a 1-0 lead following a comprehensive 6-wicket win in the opener, Sri Lanka must respond swiftly if they are to avoid another deflating series defeat on home soil. That opening match followed a worrying script that has become all too familiar for Sri Lanka. A fragile batting display saw them bundled out for 128, once again exposing a top order that continues to shuffle without delivering consistent returns.
Frequent changes at the top, combined with a lack of clarity in roles, have resulted in repeated collapses against quality opposition, an unsettling trend with a T20 World Cup fast approaching.
As Sri Lanka stand on the doorstep of another global tournament, instability remains their constant companion. A change in captaincy has yet to bring immediate calm, and while the raw materials of a competitive T20 side are present, cohesion is not. There are undeniable strengths, Dushmantha Chameera’s pace and Wanindu Hasaranga’s guile remain genuine match-winners. Yet the support cast has wavered, and the margin for error has become uncomfortably thin.
Pakistan, by contrast, appear settled and assured. Head Coach Mike Hesson described their performance in the first T20I as “very clinical”, and it was difficult to argue otherwise. Their bowlers dismantled Sri Lanka with discipline and intent, before the top order chased efficiently to seal victory. Minor lapses in catching aside, Pakistan ticked almost every box.
What makes their dominance more impressive is the absence of key players such as Babar Azam, currently plying his trade in the Big Bash League. Even without their marquee names, Pakistan have looked at ease in Sri Lankan conditions, raising the sense that this tour could prove an important marker ahead of the World Cup.
One of the key battles will centre around Sahibzada Farhan. Fresh from topping the run charts in last month’s Tri-Series with 191 runs at a strike rate of 147, Farhan continued his form with a fluent 51 off 36 in the opener. His dismantling of Nuwan Thushara’s round-arm seam has left Sri Lanka pondering their bowling combination, especially as early breakthroughs are essential to easing pressure on their brittle batting unit.
For Sri Lanka, Kamil Mishara remains a player of promise despite a forgettable duck in the first match. Having scored 169 runs at a healthy strike rate in Pakistan last month, impactful contributions in this game, and the upcoming England series, could be decisive for his international future.
The Dambulla surface is expected to assist spin once again, though weather interruptions are unlikely to be decisive this time. Pakistan are expected to retain an unchanged XI, while Sri Lanka may opt to bring Matheesha Pathirana and Dunith Wellalage in for Thushara and Maheesh Theekshana.
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