PAK vs SL 3rd T20I Highlights: Kusal Mendis 87, Dasun Shanaka Three-For Guide Sri Lanka to Consolation Eight-Wicket Win

A scintillating exhibition of top-order power-hitting from captain Kusal Mendis ensured Sri Lanka avoided a bilateral whitewash on Tuesday night at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Chasing a competitive target of 169 set up by Pakistan skipper Sahibzada Farhan's measured 76, the visitors put on a clinical batting display. Driven by Mendis's blistering 87 off 48 deliveries and an unbroken partnership with Kamindu Mendis, Sri Lanka scaled 172 for 2 in just 17.1 overs to secure an emphatic eight-wicket victory.

Despite the loss in the final fixture, Pakistan lifted the trophy 2-1 following dominant wins in the opening two matches.

DailyCricInfo delivers the complete, verified scorecard breakdown, key partnerships, and tactical turning points from the series finale in Rawalpindi.

Shanaka and Thushara Stifle Pakistan to 168 for 8

Winning the toss and electing to field first under clear evening skies, Sri Lanka made an immediate breakthrough in the third over.

Pacer Nuwan Thushara struck with a trademark swinging delivery to bowl senior opener Fakhar Zaman for 12. Thushara struck again on the very next ball, trapping previous match centurion Maaz Sadaqat leg-before for a golden duck. When Eshan Malinga dismissed Hasan Nawaz for 16, Pakistan were under early strain at 54 for 3.

Pakistan captain Sahibzada Farhan stood firm to rebuild the innings, anchoring from one end with calculated aggression.

Farhan brought up his half-century in 34 balls, finding the boundary with regularity through the off side. He found fluent middle-order support from all-rounder Arafat Minhas, who smashed two boundaries and two sixes in an aggressive 20-ball 34.

However, former Sri Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka broke the 62-run stand and dismantled Pakistan's lower-middle order with exceptional slower-ball variations.

Shanaka had Minhas caught in the deep before removing Abdul Samad (15 off 10 balls) and Khawaja Nafay (3). Shanaka finished with outstanding figures of 3 for 21 in four overs, while leg-spinner Vijayakanth Viyaskanth kept the pressure on with 1 for 23.

Farhan was eventually dismissed in the final over by Malinga (2 for 38) for a gritty 76 off 47 deliveries, laced with seven fours and three sixes. Pakistan finished on 168 for 8 in their 20 overs.

Kusal Mendis and Jayawardene Launch Furious Powerplay Assault

Confronting a required run rate of 8.45 on a true surface settling under light evening dew, Sri Lanka responded with relentless boundary hitting.

Left-arm seamer Mohammad Imran struck in the opening over to remove Lahiru Udara for 1, caught behind. However, that early breakthrough brought together captain Kusal Mendis and Sineth Jayawardene for a match-defining 84-run partnership for the second wicket in only 8.1 overs.

Mendis took down Pakistan's pace attack, hitting three consecutive boundaries off Salman Mirza inside the powerplay.

Jayawardene played the aggressor at the other end, striking five boundaries and two towering sixes in a rapid 26-ball 38 before Arafat Minhas had him caught in the ninth over. By then, Sri Lanka were cruising at 89 for 2, having effectively broken the back of the chase.

Mendis and Kamindu Seal Emphatic Eight-Wicket Chase

Joined by Kamindu Mendis, Kusal Mendis showed no signs of slowing down.

The Sri Lankan skipper reached his half-century in just 29 deliveries, utilizing orthodox drives and lofted sweeps against Sufiyan Muqeem (0 for 35) and Mohammad Imran (1 for 31). Mendis dismantled the bowling across all sectors of Rawalpindi, compiling 87 off 48 balls with nine boundaries and four sixes at an electric strike rate of 181.25.

Kamindu Mendis played an authoritative supporting hand, striking four boundaries on his way to an unbeaten 40 off 27 deliveries.

The pair added an unbroken 83 runs for the third wicket off just 52 balls. Facing Razaullah in the 18th over, Kamindu punched a boundary through mid-wicket on the first delivery to seal the target at 172 for 2 with 17 balls to spare.

Kusal Mendis was named Player of the Match for his match-winning knock of 87. Sahibzada Farhan collected the series trophy as Pakistan confirmed a 2-1 bilateral victory.

Both teams now prepare for fifty-over cricket, with the three-match ODI leg of the tour scheduled to begin on Sunday, October 18, at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

For verified live scorecards, toss updates, and real-time coverage throughout the upcoming ODI series, stay locked into DailyCricInfo.