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Abrar Ahmed and Shadab Khan overpower Sri Lanka as Pakistan win by 6 wickets in 1st T20I

Mayank

Pakistan players celebrate Sri Lanka's wicket in 1st T20I in Dambulla [Source: iamAhmadhaseeb/X.com]Pakistan players celebrate Sri Lanka's wicket in 1st T20I in Dambulla [Source: iamAhmadhaseeb/X.com]

The Asian giants and former T20 World Cup winners Sri Lanka and Pakistan began their final stretch of preparations for the upcoming T20 mega-event in India and Sri Lanka with the first of their three-match T20I series in Dambulla on Wednesday, January 7.

Just a day after finalising their squad for the competition, Sri Lanka looks to try out their best combination in this series, while on the other hand, Pakistan are still looking at their best options to complete the 15-member squad, and this series could play a crucial role in it.

Here's how the first match of the series panned out in central Sri Lanka.

Shadab and Abrar trap Sri Lanka in a spin web

Upon winning the toss and putting the hosts to bat first, pacers Salman Mirza and Mohammad Wasim proved their decision right by dismissing both Lankan openers cheaply and reducing them to 15/2 in 3.2 overs before the leg-spin duo of Shadab Khan and Abrar Ahmed ran through the middle order.

Having bowled well in the short stint with Melbourne Stars in the ongoing BBL season, Shadab continued his good form and got rid of the dangerous Kusal Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva to finish with 2/25 (4), while Abrar got the better of Charith Asalanka, Janith Liyanage and Wanindu Hasaranga to complete his spell with 3/25.

Thanks to Liyanage's 40(31), alongside starts for the rest of Sri Lanka managed to reach 128 at the end of 20 overs. Notably, Mirza also came in at the death and got rid of captain Dasun Shanaka to finish his 4 overs with 3 wickets and conceded just 18 off his spell.

Openers set-up a comfortable chase for Pakistan

While chasing the target, Pakistan openers looked unfazed of the rather small total to chase and went all guns blazing. The attack in the powerplay, where they asserted their dominance with 59/1 on the board, was led by the explosive Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub at the top, with the latter playing second fiddle.

Before getting bowled off Maheesh Theekshana's bowling at the end of the powerplay, the left-hand batter Ayub got 24(18) with three fours and a six, while Farhan kept attacking and scored 51(36) with four fours and two sixes to put Pakistan in the driving seat. Captain Salman Agha promoted himself and scored 16 (11) before he got out to Hasaranga and his wicket was followed by Farhan's dismissal off Chameera.

With the win already in sight, Shadab and Usman Khan comfortably added the last 23 runs and took the team through to clinch the series opener by 6 wickets and 3.2 overs in hand. Leg spinner Hasaranga was Sri Lanka's pick of the bowlers with 1/17 from his spell of four overs, while Chameera, Theekshana and de Silva got a wicket each.

Up next, the teams will stay in Dambulla for the remaining two matches of the series, which are scheduled on January 9 and 11, respectively.