Newcomer Bhanuka Rajapaksa hit a quickfire half-century while Nuwan Pradeep and Wanindu Hasaranga recorded their career-best bowling figures as Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan by 35 runs in the second T20I at Lahore on Monday.
Rajapaksa’s 77 off 48 balls guided Sri Lanka to a competitive total of 182/6.
Pacer Pradeep finished with 4/25 while leg-spinner Hasaranga took 3/38 – collecting his wickets in the space of just four balls – as Sarfaraz Ahmed & Co. were bowled out for 147 in 19 overs.
The victory gave Sri Lanka their first T20I series win over Pakistan in seven attempts as they took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
Sri Lanka won the first match by 67 runs, also in Lahore. The last match will be at the same venue on Wednesday.
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
Excellent series win 🇱🇰
Fabulous performance
And Great captaincy by
Keep walking boys— Thisara perera (@PereraThisara)
Feels sooo gud! This series win is for all 🇱🇰 fans n wellwishers who believed in us. played a gem of an inning and rest contributed in all deptmnts to seal the win.
Was a complete TEAM performance. One more to go!— Danushka Gunathilaka (@danushka_70)
Alarmingly poor were Pakistan -again!
— Ramiz Raja (@iramizraja)
Outstanding series win for over in Lahore. This young Sri Lankan team has a promising future under a young captain Dasun Shanaka whose brand of T20 cricket is fearless
— Alan Wilkins (@alanwilkins22)
Done & Dusted That's A Wrap Congratulations who led the team nicely and the support form all the players are amazing…. well done bhanuka for your phenomenal performance…. well done boys keep it up the winning habits…👍👍
— Dimuth Karunarathna (@IamDimuth)
http://twitter.com/imDhammika/status/1181255542599143425
What a performance This is the future .. exciting stuff . A wonderful team performance once again and what about Yakekne💪🏾 Niyama .. Niyama. Extremely proud of the mob !! 👏👏
— Russel Arnold (@RusselArnold69)
What a performance by the boys played a major part in winning the two games.great team effort 👏👏🔥
— Angelo Mathews (@Angelo69Mathews)
win by congratulations boys🇱🇰💪🏾❤️well played @b489d6a639c949 👍🏽
— Kusal Mendis (@KusalMendis13)
Congratulations SL on a historic series win,for all the talk about SL sending a “B side?this is a pretty special performance.Pak,some questionable selection for sure. A lot to reflect..
— zainab abbas (@ZAbbasOfficial)
It's time once again to find the 1992 World Cup final or Champions Trophy 2017 final DVD
— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket)
