RAWALPINDI: Captain Sahibzada Farhan and Arafat Minhas rescued Pakistan from a middle-order collapse to lift the hosts to a fighting total of 168-8 in the third Twenty20 International against Sri Lanka at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, with Dasun Shanaka keeping the batters in check through a miserly three-wicket haul.

Farhan struck a fluent 76 off 47 balls, while Arafat provided the late impetus with an unbeaten 34 off 20 deliveries as Pakistan recovered from 102-6 to post 168 in their allotted 20 overs after Sri Lanka opted to field.

The pair added 66 runs for the seventh wicket, turning an innings that threatened to peter out into a competitive total. Farhan combined seven fours and three sixes with authoritative strokeplay, while Arafat’s two fours and two sixes ensured Pakistan finished strongly despite losing two wickets in the final over.

Arafat walked in at 86-6 in the 14th over, shortly after Shanaka had removed Abdul Samad for 15 to complete his third dismissal. The Sri Lankan skipper had earlier accounted for Khawaja Nafay and Mohammad Imran, conceding just 21 runs in his four overs to emerge as the visitors’ most economical bowler.

With Pakistan struggling to build momentum against Shanaka’s changes of pace and disciplined lines, Arafat initially concentrated on surviving before unleashing a counterattack. He launched Nuwan Thushara over cow corner for six in the 17th over and later punished loose deliveries from Eshan Malinga and Binura Fernando. His late assault included a six over the sightscreen and a four carved behind backward point, helping Pakistan collect 59 runs in the final five overs.

Farhan, meanwhile, brought up his third consecutive half-century, reaching the milestone with a single in the 16th over. He accelerated towards the death, hammering two sixes off Malinga in the 18th over before finally falling for 76, caught by Shanaka off Thushara in the penultimate over.

Pakistan’s innings had begun promisingly, with Farhan and Fakhar Zaman taking 34 runs from the first three overs. Farhan struck boundaries on both sides of the wicket, including a six over deep square leg, while Fakhar launched Binura over midwicket for six.

However, Malinga turned the contest with a double-wicket maiden in the fourth over, dismissing Fakhar for 12 and Maaz Sadaqat for a duck. Fakhar’s dismissal also saw him become the first Pakistan batter to hit 100 sixes in T20 internationals.

Pakistan reached 57-2 at the end of the powerplay, but the scoring rate slowed as Sri Lanka tightened their grip. Hasan Nawaz made 16 before falling to Vijayakanth Viyaskanth in the ninth over, and Nafay departed for three as Shanaka struck again. Imran Randhawa managed only six before holing out in the 12th over, leaving Pakistan at 86-5.

Samad briefly counterattacked, hitting a six, but Shanaka’s short-ball ploy ended his stay. Farhan and Arafat’s decisive partnership then gave Pakistan a total to defend.