ABU DHABI: All-rounder Shadab Khan hit a last over six to give Pakistan a sensational two-wicket win in the second Twenty20 international against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi on Friday.
Needing 12 off the final over, and eight from the last three balls, Shadab smashed Sri Lankan pacer Vikum Sanjaya for a six and then took a couple off the next delivery to help Pakistan chase down a modest 125-run target in 19.5 overs.
Shadab remained not out with an eight-ball 16 with a six and a boundary to give Pakistan an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
The final match in Lahore on Sunday remains of great significance as it will see Sri Lanka return to Pakistan eight years after the team was targeted in a deadly ambush in the same city in 2009.
Earlier Friday, fast bowler Faheen Ashraf derailed the Sri Lankan innings with figures of 3-16 as he became the first Pakistan player to achieve a hat-trick in Twenty20 Internationals.
That gave Pakistan eight wickets in the space of just 20 balls for 18 runs as Sri Lanka ended on 124-9 in 20 overs.
Danushka Gunathilaka top-scored with a 48-ball 51 with four boundaries and a six but Ashraf’s feat stopped Sri Lanka from posting a challenging total.
Sri Lankan skipper Thisara Perera then grabbed 3-24 in his four overs to leave Pakistan in a spot of bother, removing Shoaib Malik for nine with the total at 55-4.
Skipper Sarfraz Ahmed (28) and Mohammad Hafeez (19) added 39 for the fifth wicket to bring Pakistan within 31 runs of victory.
But when Hafeez and Ahmed fell, Pakistan still needed 21 off 14 balls which Shadab made possible.
Sri Lanka had needed early wickets and they were lucky to get Fakhar Zaman (11) run out, Ahmed Shehzad (27) and Babar Azam for one.
“In that crunch situation, on this difficult pitch, that shot was a very difficult shot by Shadab,” said Ahmed.
“Our youngsters are putting up big performances and Ashraf was outstanding as bowler.”
Perera said his team did put up a good fight.
“As a captain, I’m really proud of them and a win was not too far away,” said Perera.
“Our set batsmen need to contribute, if we take the first two batters, our plan is that they have to play till the 15th over.”
It was Ashraf who sparkled in the first half.
Ashraf dismissed Isuru Udana (six), Mahela Udawatte and Dasun Shanaka off successive deliveries to become the sixth bowler to register a Twenty20 hat-trick.
Australia’s Brett Lee was the first to achieve a hat-trick in the shortest format with his feat coming against Bangladesh at Cape Town in 2007.
New Zealand’s Jacob Oram and Tim Southee and Sri Lankan duo Thisara Perera and Lasith Malinga were the others to achieve a Twenty20 hat-trick.
Sri Lanka, sent into bat for the second match in succession, got off to a solid start with openers Gunathilaka and Dilshan Munaweear put on 43 for the opening wicket.
Munaweera was dismissed for 19 before Sadeera Samarawickrama (31-ball 33) added 63 for the second wicket with Gunathilaka as Sri Lanka looked set for a 150-plus total with 106-1 in 16.1 overs.
But Sadeera, Seekkuge Prasanna and Perera were run outs before Ashraf came into his own.
This is only the second time a team has taken eight wickets in the last four overs in a T20. Pakistan did the same against Australia in the 2010 World Twenty20.
Shadab’s last-over six, Ashraf hat-trick seal Pakistan win
Shadab’s last-over six, Ashraf hat-trick seal Pakistan win
Nabucco Al-Maury has second crack at glory on Saudi Cup weekend
- French challenger aiming to go one better in the $1.5m Group 1 Al-Mneefah Cup
RIYADH: French raider Nabucco Al-Maury (FR) returns to Riyadh on Feb. 13 hoping to go one better than last year when finishing runner-up to RB Kingmaker (US) in the $1.5-million group one Al-Mneefah Cup, presented by the Ministry of Culture.
Trained in 2025 by Hamad Al-Jehani, the 6-year-old son of Assy (QA) joined the yard of Xavier Thomas-Demeaulte in Mont-de-Marsan last spring where he has continued to thrive.
Although he has not managed to reach the top step of the podium in the last couple of seasons, he has remained consistent. His last run in the group one The President Cup in December in Abu Dhabi, behind local champion HM Alchahine (FR), was particularly eye-catching.
“That was a really good performance,” said the French handler, who will also saddle the mare Lacaro du Croate (FR) in the 2,100-meter turf race.
“I didn’t train Nabucco Al-Maury when he came to Riyadh last year. He arrived in my yard in the spring, and we have progressively worked our way to the top.
“He has improved with each of his runs. His second place behind HM Alchahine was very good. We beat RB Kingmaker quite easily, which we hadn’t done before, so that was a great result.”
The Helal & Tahnon Alalawi-trained RB Kingmaker (US) will again feature amongst his opponents in the Al-Mneefah Cup. “I know that he is in it,” said the trainer.
“We beat him quite easily in Abu Dhabi, but he probably needed that race and we know he runs well in Riyadh.
“Maybe he will transform himself there. And I know that there is the very good mare of Alban de Mieulle, RB Mary Lylah (US), in the field, so we shall see.”
The only French-based trainer with runners in the two events for Purebred Arabians this year, he is also looking forward to saddling the 5-year-old mare Lacaro du Croate in the Al-Mneefah.
A winner of the group one Criterium des Pouliches – Wathba Stallions at La Teste in France last July, she has just made her seasonal reappearance in a conditions race at Pau where she finished second to dual Triple Crown champion Al-Ghadeer (FR).
“It was a good performance,” added the trainer. “She only saw Al-Ghadeer’s behind but that was to be expected. He did his job, she did hers. In fact, she did what we asked her to do.”
With exceptionally heavy rainfalls continuing across the southwest of France, their trainer decided last week to take both contenders to the Pau racecourse for a final blow-out.
“It’s just terrible how much rain we have had. Last weekend I was supposed to go away but then decided, no, I’m taking my horsebox and I’m going to drive to Pau to work them properly.
“Luckily, the jockeys were great and went along with my plan. They enjoyed a good gallop and are in good order.”
While Nabucco Al-Maury and Lacaro du Croate had to brave the difficult weather in France, Moshrif (FR), who is Thomas-Demeaulte’s runner in the $2 million group one Obaiya Arabian Classic, presented by Al-Hammadi Hospitals, has enjoyed the ambient temperatures in Riyadh.
“He has been in Riyadh for a while,” said the trainer. “We took him there for the prep race on Jan. 9, where he finished fifth. I hadn’t worked him a lot since he won his race in Morocco last year, so he wasn’t 100 percent fit yet, but it was still a good performance.”
The 8-year-old is a regular in Riyadh where he was the runner-up to the great Tilal Al-Khalediah in the 2024 running of the Al-Mneefah Cup, but this time he will tackle top-class opposition on dirt.
“He proved when ran in January that he can handle the dirt. He has been in Riyadh since that last run and I went out there 10 days ago to see how he was. He is in good form and I was very happy with him,” added Thomas-Demeaulte.
