PAK vs SL 2nd T20I Preview: Pakistan Eye Series Win After Farhan's 89 Seals the Opener

Pakistan are one win away from sealing the T20I series. After a commanding four-wicket victory in Friday's opener at Rawalpindi, Sahibzada Farhan's side face Sri Lanka in the 2nd T20I on Sunday — same venue, 6 PM PKT — with the series on the line for the visitors and a whitewash suddenly on the cards for the hosts.

It is the 32nd T20I meeting between the sides. Pakistan's win on Friday extended their head-to-head lead to 19–13, and the momentum is all green.

What happened in the 1st T20I

Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bat first — a decision that backfired almost immediately. Their innings belonged to one man: Lahiru Udara's superb 91 off 55 balls, studded with 11 fours and a six, carried the tourists to 182 for 8. Around him, the batting collapsed. Captain Kusal Mendis fell for 1 in the very first over, Naseem Shah finding the outside edge, and only Kamindu Mendis (23) offered brief support. Pakistan's bowlers were disciplined but untidy — 29 extras gifted away — with Naseem (3 for 36) striking early and debutant Mohammad Imran (2 for 21) the pick of the attack on his first outing in Pakistan colours.

The chase was effectively over inside the powerplay. Pakistan raced to 70 without loss in the first six overs, Fakhar Zaman's brisk 21 off 13 setting the tone. Then came the stand that defined the night: Farhan and Maaz Sadaqat put on 92 for the second wicket, both reaching fifties. Farhan's 89 off 53 balls — 10 fours, 4 sixes — was a captain's innings in every sense on his first outing as Pakistan's T20I skipper at home. Sadaqat's 50 off 29 was a maiden T20I fifty full of clean, fearless striking.

A late wobble added brief drama — five wickets fell for 34 runs, including Maheesh Theekshana's double strike that removed Sadaqat lbw and then cleaned up Saim Ayub with a beauty through the gate. But wicketkeeper Khawaja Nafay finished the job with a six: 187 for 6 in 18.5 overs, seven balls to spare. Player of the Match: the new captain, Sahibzada Farhan.

Where the 2nd T20I will be won and lost

Pakistan's new-ball threat. Naseem Shah dismissed Kusal Mendis in the first over on Friday and never allowed Sri Lanka to settle. Mohammad Imran's 2 for 21 on debut showed there is depth behind him. If Pakistan repeat that early damage, Sri Lanka's fragile top order — which leaned entirely on Udara — is in serious trouble again.

Sri Lanka's one-man batting. Udara's 91 was magnificent, but one batter cannot win a T20I alone. Sri Lanka need contributions from Kusal Mendis, Kamindu Mendis and Dasun Shanaka. Another top-order collapse and the series is gone before the decider.

The toss question. Sri Lanka chose to bat first and lost. Rawalpindi's surface has been a stroke-maker's paradise, and chasing has looked the easier job under lights. Expect whoever wins the toss on Sunday to think very hard — and quite possibly to bowl first.

Pakistan's middle-order wobble. The one concern from Friday: from a cruising 146 for 1, Pakistan slipped to 180 for 6. Against stronger attacks that kind of wobble gets punished. Farhan will want a cleaner finish this time, and the middle order — Hasan Nawaz, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan — will want to make their presence felt.

Players to watch

  • Sahibzada Farhan (PAK): 89 on his captaincy debut at home, Player of the Match. He sets the tone at the top and now carries the authority of a winning start.
  • Maaz Sadaqat (PAK): a 29-ball fifty on the big stage. The find of the series so far — Sri Lanka will have plans for him now.
  • Naseem Shah (PAK): 3 for 36 and the tone-setting first-over wicket. Sri Lanka have had no answer to him yet.
  • Lahiru Udara (SL): 91 off 55, nearly won the opener single-handedly. If he fires again, Sri Lanka are right back in this series.
  • Maheesh Theekshana (SL): 2 for 36, including a superb delivery to dismiss Saim Ayub. Sri Lanka's most dangerous weapon with the ball.

Squads

Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan (c), Fakhar Zaman, Maaz Sadaqat, Khawaja Nafay (w), Hasan Nawaz, Abdul Samad, Shadab Khan, Arafat Minhas, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Abrar Ahmed, Sufyan Moqim, Saim Ayub, Razaullah, Mohammad Imran Randhawa.

Sri Lanka: Kusal Mendis (c & w), Lahiru Udara, Kamil Mishara, Kamindu Mendis, Sahan Arachchige, Dasun Shanaka, Dunith Wellalage, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Nuwan Thushara, Binura Fernando, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Eshan Malinga, Sineth Jayawardena.

Match details

  • Match: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, 2nd T20I
  • Date: Sunday, 11 October 2026
  • Time: 6:00 PM PKT
  • Venue: Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
  • Watch live: PCB Live app and website; PTV Sports (TV)
  • Series: Pakistan lead 1–0 in the three-match series; the final T20I is on 13 October

Our call

Pakistan start as clear favourites. The opener exposed the gap between the sides: Pakistan's batting depth and new-ball attack against a Sri Lanka side dependent on a single batter. Sri Lanka's route back into the series runs through their captain — Kusal Mendis must lead from the front after falling for 1 — and through early wickets with the ball, where Eshan Malinga and Theekshana showed glimpses.

But form is form. A new captain making 89 on debut, a young batter announcing himself with a 29-ball fifty, and a fast bowler striking in the first over — that is a team playing with confidence. Expect Pakistan to seal the series on Sunday night in front of a home crowd.

Scorecard at a glance (1st T20I, 9 Oct): SL 182/8 in 20 overs (Udara 91, Naseem 3-36, Imran 2-21) — PAK 187/6 in 18.5 overs (Farhan 89, Sadaqat 50, Malinga 2-33). Pakistan won by 4 wickets with 7 balls remaining. Player of the Match: Sahibzada Farhan.

Sources

  • ESPNcricinfo — 1st T20I ball-by-ball scorecard and match report, Rawalpindi, 9 Oct 2026
  • NDTV Sports — PAK vs SL 1st T20I live scoreboard
  • ProPakistani — Pakistan vs Sri Lanka T20I series 2026: schedule and live-streaming guide
  • CricTimes — PAK vs SL T20I series: schedule, squads, TV and streaming details