Shadab Khan, the hero of victory on his return day

Shadab Khan returned to the team against Sri Lanka in Dambulla after recovering from injury. This all-rounder, who returned after 7 months, is the hero of Pakistan’s first T20 victory.

Shadab Khan, the hero of victory on his return day

He took 2 wickets for 25 runs in 4 overs with the ball. Later, he scored 18 runs in 12 balls with the bat and remained unbeaten. On the day of Shadab’s all-round performance, Pakistan reached the target by bowling out Sri Lanka for 128 runs and losing 4 wickets.

Shadab underwent shoulder surgery after the series against Bangladesh in June last year. Then, after completing the rehabilitation process, he returned to the field with the Big Bash in December. Today, Shadab came out in the Pakistan jersey in Dambulla and took 2 wickets in his first over. He returned Kusal Mendis LBW, and Dhananjaya de Silva was caught by wicketkeeper Usman Khan with a one-ball break.

Like Shadab, two pacers Salman Mirza and Mohammad Wasim and leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed were also excellent with the ball. Left-arm pacer Salman took 3 wickets for 18 runs in 4 overs, right-arm pacer Wasim took 2 wickets for just 7 runs in 2.2 overs. Abrar took 3 wickets for 25 runs.

Only Janit Liyanage was able to put up resistance in Sri Lanka’s innings. This batsman, who came in at number 6, scored 40 runs in 31 balls. None of the others could even reach the 20-run mark.

Pakistan got the victory from the opening pair in the run chase. Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub, who played in the BPL in Sylhet, scored 59 runs in 5.4 balls.

Then, despite being bowled for 24 runs by Saim Tikshan, Farhan reached fifty. When Farhan was dismissed after 51 runs in 36 balls, Pakistan was 28 runs away from victory. In the end, Shadab left the field unbeaten on 18 runs off 12 balls with 3 boundaries to lead his team to victory.

Brief scores:
Sri Lanka: 128 in 19.2 overs (Lianage 40, Hasaranga 18, Asalanka 18; Mirza 3/18, Abrar 3/25).
Pakistan: 129/4 in 16.4 overs (Farhan 51, Saim 24, Shadab 18*; Dhananjaya 1/4, Hasaranga 1/17).
Result: Pakistan won by 6 wickets.
Man of the Match: Shadab Khan.