RAWALPINDI: Sri Lanka ended Pakistan’s five-match winning streak when they won the final league match of the tri-nation T20I series by six runs to qualify for Saturday’s final against the same opposition.

Sri Lanka posted 184 for five and then overcame Pakistan’s spirited run-chase – led by captain Salman Ali Agha – to restrict the home side to 178 for seven. The result meant Pakistan finished the league stage with three wins from four matches, Sri Lanka with two wins, and Zimbabwe with one.

In their run-chase, Pakistan were in trouble at 43 for four inside the PowerPlay before reaching 70 for four at the halfway stage. They accelerated in the next five overs, collecting 54 runs, which left them needing 61 runs from the last five overs to complete a come-from-behind victory.

Pakistan required 21 runs off the last two overs. They managed 12 in the penultimate over but could score only three runs in the final over bowled by Dushmantha Chameera, who finished with impressive figures of four for 20 and was named Player of the Match.

Salman Ali Agha returned unbeaten on a career-best 63 off 44 balls, hitting four fours and three sixes. In the final over when Pakistan needed 10 runs, Salman faced just two deliveries, while Faheem Ashraf faced three balls, scoring two runs and surviving an lbw on review through a referral that nullified the single as per the Laws of the Game before being dismissed next delivery.

For the fifth wicket with Usman Khan (33), Salman added 56 runs off 42 balls, and his sixth-wicket stand with Mohammad Nawaz (27) produced 70 runs off 36 balls.

Earlier, a 66-run second-wicket partnership off 36 balls between Kamil Mishara and Kusal Mendis, followed by a 57-run fourth-wicket stand from 37 balls between Mendis and Janith Liyanage, lifted Sri Lanka to 184 for five.

Mishara top-scored with an excellent 76 off 48 balls (six fours, three sixes), while Mendis made 40 off 23 (six fours, one six). Liyanage contributed a run-a-ball 24 not out.

Scores in brief

Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by six runs

SRI LANKA 184-5, 20 overs (Kamil Mishara 76, Kusal Mendis 40, Janith Liyanage 24 not out; Abrar Ahmed 2-28)

PAKISTAN 178-7, 20 overs (Salman Ali Agha 63 not out, Usman Khan 33, Mohammad Nawaz 27, Saim Ayub 27; Dushmantha Chameera 4-20, Eshan Malinga 2-54)