Farhan's 89 sets up four-wicket win as Pakistan chase 183 against Sri Lanka

Sahibzada Farhan's first match as Pakistan's full-time T20I captain ended in victory. Pakistan chased down 183 to beat Sri Lanka by four wickets with seven balls remaining at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on 9 October 2026, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Farhan led from the front with 89 from 53 balls and was named Player of the Match, while Maaz Sadaqat added a rapid half-century.

Udara holds Sri Lanka together

Sri Lanka won the toss and batted first. Naseem Shah struck in the opening over to remove captain Kusal Mendis for one, and debutant fast bowler Muhammad Imran accounted for Kamil Mishara, leaving the visitors 18 for two.

Lahiru Udara rebuilt the innings. He shared a 60-run stand with Kamindu Mendis, who made 23 before Saim Ayub dismissed him, and later added 57 off 34 balls with Dasun Shanaka. Udara finished with 91 from 55 balls, the backbone of Sri Lanka's 182 for eight.

Naseem was Pakistan's best bowler with three for 36 from four overs. Imran took two wickets on debut, and fellow newcomer Razaullah also opened his account. Pakistan will want to tidy up their discipline, though: the bowlers conceded 26 extras.

A blistering start to the chase

Farhan and Fakhar Zaman put the chase on course immediately, adding 54 in the first five overs. Fakhar made 21 from 13 balls before Eshan Malinga removed him.

Sadaqat then joined his captain and the pair added 92 for the second wicket. The left-hander reached 50 from 29 balls, with four fours and three sixes, before Maheesh Theekshana trapped him lbw.

A late scare

Pakistan lost momentum in the 16th over, sliding from 144 for one to 156 for four as Hasan Nawaz and Saim Ayub fell to Dushmantha Chameera and Theekshana. Farhan kept the innings moving, reaching his fifty from 33 balls and finishing with ten fours and four sixes, but he fell with only four runs still needed and Shadab Khan was out without scoring.

Wicketkeeper Khawaja Nafay ended the nerves by hitting the winning six, finishing unbeaten on 12. Theekshana and Malinga took two wickets each for Sri Lanka.

What it means

The result was an encouraging start for a reshaped T20I side that includes two debutant bowlers and leaves out several senior names. Farhan's own form, carried over from the Asian Games, gives the new set-up a clear anchor at the top of the order. The second T20I was scheduled for the same venue on 11 October 2026.