Sri Lanka vs Pakistan Live Score, 1st T20I of Sri Lanka tour of Pakistan, 2026

On to the next one - And that wraps up a rather one-sided opener to this three-match T20I series, with Pakistan 1-0 up. Sri Lanka now have to win both of the remaining games to take the series away from the hosts, and they will need some honest answers before the next outing. Their bowling plans were blown apart, and the sloppy work in the field did them no favours either. Pakistan will go into the next game with their chests out, having ticked plenty of boxes with bat, ball and in the field. The one box still waiting for a tick is the middle order, who will need to take on more responsibility the next time the top order does not do the heavy lifting. The second T20I will be played on Sunday, 11th October, and the first ball is scheduled to be bowled at 1 pm GMT. But as usual, our build-up begins well in advance. Cheers!

The captain of Sri Lanka - Kusal Mendis reflects on the defeat. On whether 182 was a competitive score, Kusal Mendis says Sri Lanka fell 20 to 25 runs short. He feels this was a surface where 200 was needed to put any real pressure on the opposition. He points to the early dismissals of himself and Kamil as the turning point, adding that the side has to bat with more positive intent in the Powerplay, because losing wickets up front left them scrambling. He praises Lahiru Udara, saying he enjoyed watching his knock, and hopes the southpaw keeps the form going in the next game. With the ball, he admits the Powerplay was poor and stresses that Sri Lanka must be tighter in the first six overs. He also gives credit to Pakistan, who he says batted really well.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH - The Pakistani captain, Sahibzada Farhan, deservedly takes home the award for his match-winning knock of 89 (53), including ten fours and four sixes. Sahibzada Farhan opens by expressing satisfaction with the team's victory, reiterating his belief that winning requires all-round contributions with both bat and ball. Reflecting on their performance, he notes that while they started strong with the ball in the first innings, they leaked a lot of runs during the middle overs, a shift he accepts as part of the unpredictable nature of T20 cricket. Turning to individual contributions, the skipper praises Maaz for his critical partnership with him, rating his current form among the very best in the game. He concludes by highlighting Mohammad Imran's crucial bowling display, noting that Imran executed the team's tactical plans perfectly to dent the opposition's batting lineup.

... The post-match Presentation ...

Udara, the lone warrior - Sri Lanka’s innings was a lesson in what one man’s conviction can do when the top order falters. Lahiru Udara walked in with his side in early trouble and left having made 91 off 55 balls, dragging the visitors from a shaky start to a total worth defending. He found willing partners in Kamindu Mendis, with whom he added 60, and Dasun Shanaka, who helped him put on 57, and those two stands gave the innings its spine. The finish lacked the same bite, though. Udara fell on 91, exactly half of Sri Lanka’s 182, and the innings lost its spark with him, leaving a few runs out there. Debutant Mohammad Imran was the pick of Pakistan's attack with 2/21, but the rest of the bowlers went for a lot, and the 29 extras they handed over only added to the visitors' a bit of good fortune.

The top order lits up Pindi - Farhan and Fakhar, the naturally aggressive opening pair, lit the fuse for Pakistan and took the attack to the Sri Lankan seamers from the outset. Fakhar eventually departed, but the scoreboard barely noticed, and the hosts galloped to 100 inside the tenth over. Skipper Sahibzada Farhan and Maaz Sadaqat then put together a whirlwind 92-run stand that all but nipped the contest in the bud. In fairness to the batters, Sri Lanka's bowling was wayward, but Farhan and Sadaqat deserved credit for knocking them off their lines and lengths. The dew played its part as well, making the ball tricky to grip. Sri Lanka did make late inroads through Theekshana but it was all in a losing cause as the game was gone too far from their reach by then.

Too hot to handle - Pakistan's batters turn in a superb effort, and the hosts move 1-0 ahead in the series in a commanding fashion. Sri Lanka's bowlers had little to offer in the way of threat and were taken apart. Saim Ayub and Hasan Nawaz will be a touch disappointed, though, that they were not able to hang in there for long and get some runs behind their names. Overall, though, the hosts will be thrilled with how this went, especially the aggressive intent they showed throughout the chase. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, have plenty to reflect on their lackadaisical bowling and fielding efforts and will have to come back strongly to find an equaliser.

SIX! Nafay finishes off in style and Pakistan win by 4 wickets. On a back of a length, around the off stump line. Khawaja Nafay stands tall and swings it powerfully over long on for a six. Doesn't even bother to see whether the ball has sailed all over the ropes as he holds his pose with confidence. Pakistan go 1-0 up in the three-match T20I series.

Back of a length, zipping and jagging back in with bounce. Imran is taken by surprise by the extra bounce and is cramped up for room. Tries to work it across but takes a stinging blow on the right forearm. The ball deflects to the off side, in thereabouts of cover-point for a leg bye.

A dipping full toss, on the stumps. Imran jams the bat down in time and shovels it to the bowler.

Mohammad Imran is the new batter in at number 8.

OUT! TAKEN! Another wicket has fallen, despite only 3 runs required. Shadab tries to hit the winning runs but falls. Hits the deck hard does Malinga and bangs in a shorter one, around middle and leg, offering very little room to extend the arms. Shadab takes on the short ball with a hook shot, but can only sky a top edge deep down the leg side. Thushara moves across from long leg, positions himself comfortably beneath the high ball, and scoops it safely into his cusp.

Good running between the sticks! Much fuller, on off. Khawaja Nafay knocks it toward the right of the mid off fielder and sprints to the other end to take the single.

Should be the last over of the match. A matter of one hit for Pakistan to take the lead in the series. Eshan Malinga (3-0-26-1) returns.

Bangs hard onto the length, over middle. Shadab Khan misses out to connect his pull and gets beaten on the top edge.

Gutted is the word for Farhan. He had the finish in sight. With just 4 needed off 13 balls, Shadab Khan is in at number 7.

OUT! CAUGHT! A splendid effort in the deep by Sahan Arachchige. Thushara sends down a full toss on leg stump, and Farhan, who has moved back and across, whips it into the air through the on side. There is not enough elevation on the shot as the ball sails flatly. Arachchige is the man at deep mid-wicket. He charges in, launches himself forward and snatches the ball with both hands inches off the turf. It is a magnificent grab, but it comes far too late to rescue Sri Lanka.

SIX! The biggie from the skipper and Pakistan should be able to get the rest of the chase with ease. Short of a length, outside off. Sahibzada Farhan backs away and slaps it over deep cover for a biggie.

FOUR! A loose delivery gets its treatment. Aiming for a yorker, but spilling out a low full toss, on middle. Sahibzada Farhan hangs back and heaves it toward deep square leg for four runs.

Yorker, outside off, Sahibzada Farhan jams it away, but straight to the cover fielder.

FOUR! THWACK! Nuwan opens the over with a bouncer outside off, and Farhan, clearly in no mood to hang around, is ready for it. He rocks back, slaps it in the air and sends it sailing over the cover fielder for four.

Pakistan need 18 runs from 18 balls. Nuwan Thushara returns into the attack. 2-0-18-0 are his bowling figures so far.

Flighted well outside off, on a good length. Farhan skips down the track with a big heave across the line in mind. But only manages to get it off the inner half of the bat. The ball dribbles out to deep mid-wicket, where they pick up a single.

Short and sliding into the batter, stabbed back to the bowler off the back foot.

Quicker and flatter, outside off. Farhan knocks the length ball to the cover fielder.

Drags it short and outside off, Farhan backs away and slaps it to widish deep cover-point for a couple of more runs.

Onto the pads, drifting down leg, Nafay whips it to deep backward square leg for a single.

Slower through the air, on a length, outside off. Nafay hangs back and cuts it to deep point for a couple of runs.

Righto, last 4 overs left. Pakistan need 24 runs to win. The skipper is still at the crease and ticking along nicely, so the hosts are firmly in the driver's seat. But if the tourists manage to get rid of Farhan, things will spice up once again. Dunith Wellalage is back on.

Spins in from middle to leg, on a length. Nafay knocks it down to long on for a single.