A whirlwind 96 from Maaz Sadaqat blew Sri Lanka away in the second T20I as Pakistan recorded a thumping 82-run victory to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series in Rawalpindi on Sunday. The third and final match will be played on Tuesday.

Maaz smashed six fours and seven sixes in a breathtaking 51-ball innings that propelled Pakistan to 215 for three, their highest T20I total on home soil, after being sent in to bat.

Pakistan then tightened the screws on Sri Lanka’s batters with a thoroughly professional bowling performance, restricting the visitors to 133 for seven in 20 overs. Sri Lanka’s innings featured just 12 fours and two sixes.

Mohammad Imran Randhawa returned outstanding figures of three for 11 from four overs, while Salman Mirza, who replaced Razaullah in Pakistan’s only change from Friday’s opening match, claimed two for 28. Saim Ayub and Shadab Khan picked up one wicket apiece, conceding 29 runs each.

However, the story of Pakistan’s commanding victory was Maaz’s explosive innings.
Having struck 50 in Friday’s series opener, Maaz fell agonisingly short of his maiden T20I century when he was caught off the final delivery of the innings, having missed a similar opportunity to score off the previous ball.

Maaz reached his half-century from 30 balls, striking three fours and four sixes. His next 46 runs came from just 21 deliveries and included another three fours and three sixes.

He dominated an 88-run second-wicket partnership from 49 balls with captain Sahibzada Farhan and did the bulk of the scoring in a 72-run fourth-wicket stand from 31 deliveries with Hasan Nawaz, who remained unbeaten on 19.

Maaz’s swashbuckling innings followed another entertaining knock from Farhan, who backed up his 89 in the opening match with a 44-ball 73, including four fours and five sixes.

Farhan had earlier added 55 for the first wicket from 41 balls with Fakhar Zaman, who contributed 22.

The aggressive batting of Farhan and Maaz helped Pakistan reach 90 for one at the halfway stage. Pakistan had advanced to 145 for two after 15 overs before Maaz and Hasan combined to add 70 runs in the final five overs.

Both Maaz and Farhan benefited from Sri Lanka’s sloppy fielding. Farhan was dropped twice, on two and 11, while Maaz was given a reprieve on 44.

Pakistan’s imposing total ultimately proved far beyond Sri Lanka’s reach as the hosts completed a comprehensive victory to seal the series with one match remaining.

Scores in brief

2nd T20I — Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 82 runs, Rawalpindi

Pakistan 215-3, 20 overs (Maaz Sadaqat 96, Sahibzada Farhan 73, Fakhar Zaman 22, Hasan Nawaz 19 not out)

Sri Lanka 133-7, 20 overs (Chamindu Wickramasinghe 29, Kamindu Mendis 23, Sineth Jayawardena 22; Mohammad Imran Randhawa 3-11, Salman Mirza 2-28)

Player of the match: Maaz Sadaqat (Pakistan)