Mishara’s 76 Guides Sri Lanka to 184-5 Against Pakistan

News Desk 

Rawalpindi: Kamil Mishara’s brilliant 76 off 48 deliveries, featuring six fours and three sixes, anchored Sri Lanka’s total of 184 for 5 in their Twenty20 International tri-series clash against Pakistan at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday night.

Sent in to bat, Sri Lanka lost Pathum Nissanka early to a delivery from Salman Mirza. However, Mishara and Kusal Mendis (40 off 23 balls) stitched together a rapid 66-run partnership for the second wicket, putting Sri Lanka back on course.

Mendis fell lbw to a straighter delivery from leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed, but Mishara continued to dominate, reaching his fifty with an inside-out six off part-timer Saim Ayub.

Pakistan’s bowlers struggled to contain the run flow on a batting-friendly pitch. While Mohammad Wasim and Faheem Ashraf conceded runs freely, Abrar (2-28) was the most effective bowler for Pakistan with his smart variations.

A late flourish from Dasun Shanaka (17 off 10) and a run-out on the final delivery—after a mix-up with Janith Liyanage (24 not out)—helped Sri Lanka cross the 180-run mark, despite a brief mid-innings slowdown.

Sri Lanka raced to 58 without loss in the six-over powerplay, with Mendis punishing anything short. Nissanka’s dismissal, bowled by a clever slower cutter from Salman, briefly slowed the scoring, but Mendis and Mishara maintained a run rate above nine per over.

Abrar struck again by trapping Mendis lbw, ending his quickfire innings of six fours and a six. Kusal Perera’s struggles continued as he was caught at backward point off Saim Ayub, leaving Sri Lanka 96 for 3 after 11 overs.

Mishara, however, kept the scoreboard ticking with audacious shots, including a switch-hit six off Abrar and lofted drives over long-on. 

His departure in the 17th over, caught attempting a slog-sweep off Abrar, provided Pakistan some relief, though the damage was largely done.

Liyanage and Shanaka added 31 runs for the fifth wicket, with Shanaka’s cameo featuring two towering sixes and two boundaries. 

His innings ended in a run-out off the final ball, with Babar Azam’s direct hit catching him short of the crease.

For Pakistan, the bowling attack struggled to contain the batsmen, with the pacers leaking runs at more than nine an over. Abrar’s two-wicket haul was the lone highlight for the hosts on a night when dew could play a role in the chase.