PAK vs SL, 2nd T20I: Pradeep, Hasaranga Spells Leave Pakistan Reeling, Lanka Win Series

With this 65-run victory, Sri Lanka also sealed the series as they take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series

Bhanuka Rajapaksa’s superb 77 followed by the game-changing spells from Wanidu Hasaranga and Nuwan Pradeep led Sri Lanka to a clinical 35-run win over Pakistan in the second T20I. With this victory, Sri Lanka also sealed the series as they take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. After electing to bat first, Sri Lanka managed to post 182/6 on the board. In response to Sri Lanka’s 182, Pakistan got off to a dreadful start as they lost Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam early in the chase. Hasaranga did the rest as he produced the magical 8^th over where he picked three wickets Sri Lanka in the driver’s seat. He rattled the stumps of Pakistan skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed, his deputy Babar Azam and Umar Akmal, who bagged the second consecutive Golden Duck. With Ahmed's dismissal, half of the Pakistani side was sent back to the pavilion when they were on just 52 runs. In an attempt to save the sinking Pakistan, Asif Ali and Imad Wasim took the field and played cautiously. Both the players kept the scoreboard ticking and formed a 75-run partnership. It was Isuru Udana who broke the partnership as he ended Wasim's 47-run haul in the 16th over. Wahab Riaz was the next batsman but failed to leave a mark as he was caught behind the wicket after scoring just seven runs. Udana struck again and sent Shadab Khan back to the pavilion on a duck, putting pressure on the hosts. Nuwan Pradeep bowled the 19th over and took two wickets, Asif Ali (29) and Mohammad Hasnain (1), to end Pakistan's innings and helped his team register a 35-run victory. Earlier, after opting to bat first, Sri Lanka faced an early blow as Danushka Gunathilaka was dismissed in the third over bowled by Imad Wasim. The opener Avishka Fernando was then joined by Bhanuka Rajapaksa on the field. Both added 25 runs quickly on the board before Fernando was run out in the fifth over after Shadab Khan managed a direct hit. Shehan Jayasuriya then took the field and played brilliantly along with Rajapaksa. Rajapaksa completed his half-century off 31 balls. However, when they were just six runs shy from completing their 100-run partnership, Jayasuriya (34) too got run out in the 16th over, bringing Dasun Shanaka out on the field.