Shadab Khan Stars as Pakistan Beats Sri Lanka in T20 Opener
Good evening, cricket fans. In Dambulla today, Pakistan started their T20 series against Sri Lanka with a solid six-wicket win, and the spotlight was firmly on Shadab Khan. Returning from a shoulder injury, Shadab didn’t just make a comeback—he announced himself, claiming two crucial early wickets and finishing the match as the player of the game.
Sri Lanka, after winning the toss, was put into bat but struggled from the very start. Shadab’s first over set the tone, removing Kusal Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva, and by the seventh over, Sri Lanka had slipped to 38 for 4. The hosts never fully recovered, ultimately being bowled out for 128 in just under 20 overs. Left-arm pacer Salman Mirza and spinner Abrar Ahmed also contributed, dismantling the middle and lower order efficiently.
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Chasing a modest target, Pakistan cruised to victory, powered by Sahibzada Farhan’s explosive 51 off 36 balls and Shadab’s calm, unbeaten 18. With wickets falling early in clusters, Pakistan maintained a steady pace, reaching 129 for 4 with 20 balls to spare. The win gave Pakistan a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, which doubles as a tune-up for next month’s T20 World Cup.
This match is trending not just because of the result, but because of Shadab Khan’s remarkable return to international cricket. He had last played in June before undergoing shoulder surgery, and comebacks in high-level cricket are never easy. Today, he showed that he can still make an immediate impact both with the ball and the bat, staking a strong claim for inclusion in Pakistan’s World Cup squad.
For Sri Lanka, the performance exposed some vulnerabilities. Missing momentum in the power play and losing key wickets early underlined the challenges of batting on a surface that had been under covers due to rain. Captain Dasun Shanaka will be looking to regroup for the next two matches, especially with Pakistan resting some of their frontline fast bowlers and giving opportunities to second-string players.
Looking ahead, this series is shaping up to be an interesting preview of World Cup conditions, particularly with Pakistan set to play all their World Cup games in Sri Lanka. Teams will be assessing player form, experimenting with combinations, and gauging strategies under pressure.
For now, Pakistan has taken the early advantage, Shadab Khan has silenced any doubts about his fitness, and Sri Lanka has some homework to do before the next clash. From Dambulla, it’s been a compelling start to this T20 series, with plenty more action promised in the days ahead.
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