Pakistan's Series Win Masks Batting Collapse and Death Bowling Weakness

In the third and final T20I of the three-match series at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Sri Lanka won by eight wickets. Although Pakistan won the series 2-1, the underlying crisis in their performance became clear. The match result was both a consolation for Sri Lanka and a warning for Pakistan. Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat, scoring 168 for eight in the allotted 20 overs. Opener Sahibzada Farhan played a brilliant innings of 76 off 47 balls. But apart from his innings, Pakistan's batting lineup failed completely. At 102 for six, Pakistan were nearly out of the match. Farhan and Arafat Minhas added 66 runs for the seventh wicket to take the team to 168. Arafat remained unbeaten on 34 off 20 balls. Sri Lankan pacer Dasun Shanaka took three wickets to keep Pakistan's middle order under pressure. Nuwan Thushara and Eshan Malinga each took two wickets. Shanaka's spell halted Pakistan's scoring momentum and restricted them to 168. Chasing 169, Sri Lanka reached 172 for two in just 17.1 overs to seal victory. Although Udara Thirimanne was dismissed for just 1 run early, Sri Lanka's batting lineup absorbed the shock. First, Kusal Mendis and Sineth Jayawardena put on 59 runs. After Jayawardena's dismissal, Kusal Mendis and Kamindu Mendis shared an unbroken 98-run partnership to take the team to victory. Sri Lankan captain Kusal Mendis remained unbeaten on 87 off 48 balls. His innings included 9 fours and 4 sixes. His strike rate was 181.3, one of the best innings in T20 cricket. Kamindu Mendis remained unbeaten on 40 off 27 balls. This partnership ended the match for Sri Lanka. For Pakistan, Sahibzada Farhan scored three consecutive fifties. His consistency is a big positive for the team, but it is not translating into team success. Farhan hit 7 fours and 3 sixes, which is 61 percent of his 76 runs. This aggressive batting could not hide the failure of Pakistan's middle order. This batting collapse is a reflection not just of this match but of a long-standing problem. From 102/6 to 168 means only 66 runs came in the last 10 overs. Without the rescue act by Farhan and Arafat, the team would have been bowled out for even fewer runs. This weakness will create pressure in the upcoming ODI tri-series. Defending 168, Pakistan's bowlers failed. On the batting-friendly Rawalpindi wicket, no bowler could create pressure on Sri Lankan batsmen. Winning in 17.1 overs means Sri Lanka scored almost 10 runs per over. They won easily, losing only two wickets. Pakistan's death bowling and middle-over control was the biggest weakness in this match. No Pakistani bowler achieved notable success in the Sri Lankan innings. As a result, this weakness will be a major challenge in the upcoming ODI series against England. The role of young players in Sri Lanka's win is significant. Youngsters like Sineth Jayawardena and Eshan Malinga got opportunities and performed well. This young core could be a long-term asset for Sri Lanka. Pakistan's series win by 2-1 margin was questioned by the performance in the final match. Winning a series does not mean the team is the best. Farhan's three consecutive fifties are masking the team's batting weakness. In reality, Pakistan's middle order keeps collapsing repeatedly. The ODI tri-series against England begins in Rawalpindi on October 18. In ODI format, two new balls, 50 overs of cricket and different tactics come into play. Whether Farhan's form in the shorter format will work in ODIs remains to be seen. In the long term, Pakistan must strengthen their middle order. They must reduce dependence on one batsman. Such batting collapses are common in Pakistan cricket. It is not a lack of talent but a structural weakness that is the root cause. This win will boost Sri Lanka's confidence. Winning on Pakistani soil is a big achievement for them. However, this match was a dead rubber, and it is unclear whether Pakistan fielded an experimental team. If so, the severity of the collapse is somewhat reduced. In conclusion, although Sri Lanka's win may seem trivial within the frame of Pakistan's series win, the reality is different. Pakistan have serious deficiencies in three areas: middle-order batting, death bowling, and planning against batsmen like Kusal Mendis. These gaps are expected to become more evident in the ODI series against England.