PAK vs SL Ball by Ball Commentary

FOUR! That will be more than enough! Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by 8 wickets in this last match of the T20I series and it's all happy faces in the Lankan dugout. Razaullah fires it fuller, just outside off. Kusal Mendis rocks back, bends his back leg, and drills it beautifully toward the left of the short cover fielder for the boundary.

Mirza produces a beauty out of nowhere. Angled in from over the wicket before straightening off the deck. Mendis attempts the flick by closing the bat face but is undone by the seam movement and is beaten past the outside edge.

Scores are level! Short and wide on off. Mendis frees his arms and cracks the cut to deep point, where the fielder tidies up and keeps the batters down to a single.

SIX! Clean strike. Kusal Mendis is showing his full range. Mirza pushes the length up, on off and middle. Mendis backs away and with a clean swing of the arms, he slams it over long off for a biggie. With that, Kusal becomes the leading run-getter for Sri Lanka in T20Is, overtaking Pathum Nissanka, according to the on-air commentators.

FOUR! Clever, very clever! Banged in short, over middle. Mendis backs away and hops. He gets his hands high to play the upper cut over the keeper's head for another four. 8 more needed for Sri Lanka.

Very full, on off. Kusal tries to repeat the dose of reverse scoop but toe-ends it back to the bowler.

FOUR! Innovative and mighty effective. Angled in towards the off stump, on a length. Mendis pre-empts the reverse scoop and backs away to give himself room. He hangs low to get under the ball and gets it over short third for a boundary.

Pushes the length up, on off. Kamindu knocks it to extra cover.

Bowls the leg-cutter, not all that short, angled into the right-hander. Mendis crouches and shovels it to the left of deep square leg for one.

Low full toss, on middle and leg. Kamindu clips it to deep mid-wicket for one.

In and around the off pole, on a back of a length. Kamindu taps it back to the bowler.

Low full toss, on off. Mendis swipes it away past mid-wicket for a run.

Pace off, on a good length. Mendis punches it to deep cover for a single. The 150 comes up for Sri Lanka.

Yet again some extra bounce, pitching it on a length, outside off. Kusal Mendis frees his arms to spank it away, but misses on the outside edge.

A touch fuller, on off, Kamindu Mendis pushes it to deep cover for one. Sri Lanka need 20 more runs.

On a length, outside off, Kusal Mendis rocks back and cuts it to the left of the sweeper cover fielder for one.

Short of a length, wide outside off. Kamindu Mendis hangs back to cut it away, but gets beaten on the top edge as it gets some bounce off the deck. Khawaja Nafay fails to glove it and yet again takes a blow on the helmet.

Short, on middle. Kamindu Mendis clips it to deep mid-wicket for a couple of runs.

DROPPED! Delivers it fuller, on off stump. Kusal goes for the sweep-slog but gets a top edge due to the extra bounce. The ball hangs high above the infield as Moqim runs over his right shoulder. He stretches his hands out in front but barely lays a hand on the ball. That should have been taken.

FOUR! Hammered away! Short of a length, around middle. Kamindu Mendis pulls it into the gap between deep mid-wicket and deep square leg for four runs.

On a length, on off. Kusal Mendis ramps it to deep third for a single.

SIX! Some lucky runs for Kusal! Just a shade behind the good length, just outside off, angling in. Kusal Mendis tries to flick it away, but a top edge. The ball flies and bounces on the boundary cushions on the full for a six.

On a nagging length, around off, Kamindu clips it to mid-wicket for a single.

FOUR! That is glorious from Kamindu! Razaullah pitches it up, much fuller, on off. Kamindu Mendis plants his front foot toward the delivery and drives it crisply toward the left of the mid off fielder for a boundary.

Back of a length, outside off, Kamindu Mendis guides it to deep backward point for a brace.

SIX! Catch taken but it won't matter. Flighted delivery, on off. Mendis advances down the track and extends his hands into the lofted hit, playing it towards long off. Abdul Samad backpedals and takes the catch over his head but keeps going with the momentum and falls on his back beyond the boundary cushions with the ball in hand. 14 runs off the over. Sri Lanka require 44 runs from 42 balls.

Tossed up, on middle. Kamindu steps out and works it to long on. They cross.

Fractionally short, on off. Mendis punches it to deep cover for one more.

Full and on off, flicked to deep mid-wicket for a single.

FOUR! Streaky! On a length, outside off. Kamindu Mendis looks to cut it away, but the ball catches the outside edge and it races away for four runs through deep third.

FIFTY FOR KUSAL MENDIS! Certainly a captain's knock from the skipper of Sri Lanka. Pitching it on a good length, Kusal punches it to deep cover-point and gets a single to get to his 21st T20I half-century for the nation.

Change of pace, on a length, outside off, Kamindu Mendis punches it to the left of deep cover for another brace. 10 runs off the over. 58 needed from 48 balls.

On a length, around off, Kamindu Mendis knocks it to the left of long off for a brace.

Short, outside off, Kusal Mendis steers it to short third for one.

Back of a length, well outside off, Kusal Mendis tries to cut it away, but gets beaten.

A touch fuller, on off, Kamindu Mendis nudges it to mid-wicket for a single.

FOUR! Up and over! Hard-length delivery, just outside off. Kamindu Mendis uses his bottom hand and launches it over the cover region for another boundary.

FOUR! SHOT! Floated up, around off, Kusal Mendis makes room and slams it over extra cover for four runs. 68 runs needed from 54 balls.

Short, around middle, Kamindu Mendis flicks it to square leg for one.

Short, on off, Kusal Mendis guides it to short third for one.

Fuller, on off, Kamindu Mendis nudges it to long on for one.

Short, on off, Kusal Mendis pulls it to deep mid-wicket for one.

Pitches it up, on middle, Kusal Mendis flicks it into the vast gap between deep backward square leg and mid-wicket for a brace.

Direct hit! Minhas drops it short, on off. Mendis goes onto the back foot and cuts it wide of deep point. The fielder in the deep sprints to his left and dives to save a run for his side. The throw comes in from the deep and it hits the stumps at the batting end. A bit of excitement is shown by the Pakistan players and it is referred upstairs. Kusal is well in, confirmed by the replays.

Wowza! Where did that come from? Grips in the surface and turns away with extra bounce, short and around off. Mendis presses back to turn it away and is beaten all ends up. Khawaja Nafay is also caught off guard and gets hit flush on the grill of the helmet.

Fires it in full, on middle. Kamindu steps out and knocks it to the right of long on for one.

Flighted delivery, on a length, on off. Kamindu Mendis lunges for the block.

Good running! A bit fuller, on off. Mendis works it with the spin to the right of deep mid-wicket and comes charging back for the second run.

On off, on the shorter side. Mendis whips it off the back foot towards wide long on. Razaullah is quick to his left but cannot prevent the second run.

FOUR! A boundary off the last ball spoils the over for Pakistan. Dropped short by Moqim, turning back in on middle. Mendis is quick to go deep in the crease. Pulls it hard and wide to the left of the man at deep square leg for a boundary. Sri Lanka need 86 runs in 66 balls.

Tossed up, on leg. Mendis brings out the reverse, dragging it to deep point for another single.

Around leg, Kusal tucks it in front of deep mid-wicket for a run.

Nicely bowled. Slows it down, it is another googly, across off. Kusal is neither back nor forward and is beaten on the outside edge while trying to defend.

Googly, fractionally short, on middle. Kamindu nurdles it behind square leg for a run.

Wide. Looped up, down leg. Mendis misses out on the glance.

Full and on the pads. Mendis sweeps it towards deep backward square leg for a single.

OUT! CAUGHT! Risk taken by Sineth Jayawardena but it does not come off for him and Pakistan have an opening. Floated up, on middle. Jayawardena gives the bowler a premeditated charge, looking to go down the ground. He does not reach the pitch of the ball but still goes through with the shot. Spoons it down the throat of long on, where Razaullah makes no mistake. End of a 59-run stand. Sri Lanka are 74/2, needing 95 off 72 balls.

From around the wicket, short and around off. Kusal drags the pull to long on and rotates the strike.

DROPPED! Another chance goes down. It was a tough one, though. Dragged down, on off. Jayawardena tries to force it through the off side but ends up hitting it a lot straighter back towards the bowler. Arafat gets both hands to his right but gets hit on the pinky finger of his right hand and the ball goes away. They cross. To add insult to injury, Minhas is down in pain.

Full and darted in on middle. Mendis eases it to mid on for one.

Flat and short, on off. Jayawardena cuts it to deep cover for a run.

Was that a chance? Darted in, following the left-hander on a length as he backs away. Jayawardena shapes up to go inside out over cover but is beaten on the outside edge. His back leg gets lifted, but Khawaja Nafay can't gather the ball cleanly, allowing Sineth to plonk his back leg back in.

Flighted up, on off. Jayawardena knocks it to long off and takes a single. 11 runs off Moqim's first over.

FOUR! Put away with ease! Googly attempted but he gets the line wrong, as well as the length. A half-tracker down leg, Jayawardena pivots and pulls it behind square leg for a boundary.

Tosses it up, fuller and it spins back into the pads. Jayawardena presents a straight bat for the block but is beaten by the turn and gets hit on the pads.

At the hips, that is flicked off the back foot wide of short fine leg for a run. The 50-run stand comes up between these two batters.

FOUR! Through the gap. It is the googly, on the shorter side, on off. Mendis makes room and cuts it late to thread the gap between short third and backward point for a four.

A bit of a drag down, on leg. Jayawardena works it in front of square on the leg side for a single.

SIX! All the way. Imran strays too straight, at the hips. Mendis uses the pace and the angle of the ball to shovel it over long leg for half a dozen. At the end of the Powerplay, Sri Lanka are 59/1.

Going away, on a back of a length. Jayawardena punches it to deep cover for a single.

Pushed across the left-hander, on a back of a length. Sineth gives himself a bit too much room and flashes but can only connect with thin air.

Tucking the batter up for room, on a hard length. Kusal mistimes the pull in front of mid on for a quick single.

FOUR! One bounce and over the ropes. Full and hooping back in at the pads. Mendis clears the front leg and clubs it towards the vacant deep mid-wicket fence. The 50 comes up for Sri Lanka and this is already their highest Powerplay score of the series, inform the on-air commentators.

Wide. Slower bumper, over middle, too high as Mendis lets it go.

Tailing back in sharply, full and on the pads. Mendis steps out for the flick but is beaten and wears it on the pads.

FOUR! More runs for Sri Lanka! Back of a length, around the hips of the batter. Sineth Jayawardena pulls it late, through short fine leg for a boundary.

Yorker, on off, Sineth Jayawardena tries to guide it toward backward point, opening the face of the bat, but gets the connection on the bottom edge.

In the air...but safe! On top of the off stump, moving away off the surface with extra pace. Mendis commits early to the pull shot, but is beaten by the lateral movement and can only offer a high leading edge. The ball travels deep towards third man, landing safely just short of the fielder on one bounce. Single taken.

FOUR! Oh, deft touch from Mendis! Just a shade behind the good length, around off. Kusal Mendis hangs back and slightly opens the face of his bat to guide it to the left of the deep third fielder.

A touch fuller, on off and middle. Kusal Mendis whacks it along the ground but finds the fielder in the mid-wicket region.

Hard length, around middle, Kusal Mendis clip it to deep square leg and gets a brace.

Back of a length, outside off, Sineth Jayawardena looks to punch it away but misses.

FOUR! Now towards the off side. Shortish, angling outside off. Sineth Jayawardena slaps it up and over the cover region for another boundary.

SIX! This time, Jayawardena connects it pretty well. Hits the deck hard, around off, Sineth Jayawardena shuffles across and pulls it over deep square leg for a six.

WIDE! Short of a length, spraying beyond the tramline, around off. Sineth Jayawardena fails to connect his cut.

Yet again, Jayawardena fails to connect his shot! Hard length, outside off, shaping away. Sineth Jayawardena tries to flick it away, but misses.

Hard length, over off, Kusal Mendis pulls it to deep square leg for one.

Swing and a miss! Good-length delivery, pitching it outside off, swinging away just a shade. Kusal Mendis tries to heave it across, but it zips past the outside edge.

Short of a length, outside off, Sineth Jayawardena tries to punch it away with a cross bat but misses.

Back of a length, angling in, around middle and leg. Kusal Mendis tries to clip it away, but wears it on the thigh pad. The ball bounces off toward the leg side and the batter gets a leg bye.

FOUR! Not exactly from the middle of the bat, but Mendis will take these runs. Fullish, just outside off. Kusal Mendis lofts it from his front foot, from the upper part of his bat. It loops up high and sails over mid off for a boundary.

On a length, around off. Kusal Mendis pushes it to the off side with soft hands. Razaullah charges at the ball and prevents the single.

Beaten! Full-length delivery, pitching it well outside off, swings away beautifully. Kusal Mendis tries to drill it away through cover, away from his body, but gets beaten on the outside edge. Khawaja Nafay is beaten for pace and fails to glove it cleanly. The ball bursts through his grasp and grazes the side of his forehead before rolling behind.

Review lost! Pitches it up, a touch fuller, around leg and middle. Sineth fails to connect his flick and wears on the front pad before it rolls toward the leg side, and the batter gets across for a leg bye. Razaullah is very confident with his appeal, but Farhan hesitates to take it, but eventually, he does with 3 seconds on the timer. The UltraEdge shows no bat involvement and the Ball Tracking detects that the ball is pitching outside leg.

Good length, around off, Kusal Mendis dabs it to point.

Nice and full, on middle, Sineth Jayawardena nudges it to mid-wicket and gets across.

A little bit fuller than the previous one, pitching it just outside off and slanting it away. Sineth Jayawardena skips down the track and misses the punch.

Short of a length, angling across. Sineth Jayawardena swings and misses.

Short, outside off, Kusal Mendis steers it toward the right of the short third fielder, who dives to make the stop, keeping the batters down to one.

OUT! LBW! That is a beauty from Mohammad Imran. It seems he has brought his form from the previous match. Pitching it on a good length, outside off, nipping in sharply. Lahiru Udara hangs back and looks to block it, but it sneaks past the inside edge and wears on the pad. Appeal goes round and up goes the finger of the umpire. Udara is happy to walk off, despite his partner trying to convince him otherwise. Well, well, he might be regretting that decision now, as the impact on Ball Tracking is outside off stump and a review would have saved Lahiru.

Short of a length, around off, Sineth Jayawardena makes a leave at it.

FOUR! Off the outside edge now! Just a shade behind the length, outside off. Sineth Jayawardena yet again frees his arms to slash it over cover, but the ball catches the outside edge before it flies through short third for a boundary.

SIX! BANG! Sineth Jayawardena is not going to hold back. Good length, on middle and leg. Sineth Jayawardena opens his stance and whacks it over deep mid-wicket for a massive six. A ball boy shows good technique to take the catch beyond the ropes and stays away from the advertising boards.

FOUR! Oh, the sound from the bat was so sweet! Back of a length, well outside off. Sineth Jayawardena skips down the track and slaps it off the middle of the bat and it sails over the cover region for a boundary.

Just a shade behind the good length, around off, Sineth Jayawardena opens the face of the bat and pushes it to cover-point.

Off the mark straightaway! Pitches it full, on off. Lahiru Udara leans on it and pushes it toward the right of mid off for a single.