Sri Lanka’s eight-wicket victory over Pakistan in the third T20I in Rawalpindi on Tuesday, October 13, was overshadowed by a bizarre run-out mix-up and a costly fielding error. The incident gave Pakistan batter Arafat Minhas an unexpected reprieve after he and Sahibzada Farhan ended up at the same end during the hosts’ innings. Although Sri Lanka avoided a series whitewash with a comfortable win at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Pakistan had already secured the series by winning the first two matches.

Captain Kusal Mendis led the chase with an unbeaten 87 off 48 balls as Sri Lanka reached their target of 169 in just 17.1 overs. The unusual incident occurred in the 14th over of Pakistan’s innings. Minhas pushed the ball towards extra cover and attempted a quick single, but Farhan initially responded before changing his mind. Both batters found themselves at the non-striker’s end, leaving Minhas vulnerable to a straightforward run-out.

Sri Lankan fielder Sineth Jayawardene collected the ball and threw it towards the wicketkeeper’s end. However, Kusal Mendis failed to gather the wayward throw, allowing Minhas enough time to turn around and regain his ground safely.

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The missed opportunity proved costly for Sri Lanka. Minhas remained unbeaten on 34 off 20 deliveries, striking two fours and two sixes to help Pakistan recover from a middle-order collapse. Pakistan struggled to build momentum after being asked to bat first. Eshan Malinga struck twice in the same over, dismissing Fakhar Zaman for 12 and Maaz Sadaqat for a duck. Maaz had registered half-centuries in the previous two matches.

Vijayakanth Viyaskanth then removed Hasan Nawaz for 16 before Dasun Shanaka triggered another collapse. The Sri Lankan all-rounder dismissed Khawaja Nafay, Mohammad Imran Randhawa and Abdul Samad, leaving Pakistan reeling at 107/6.

@OfficialSLC Nuwan Thushara is expensive as gets hit for a 6 by Arafat Minhas @TheRealPCB new Imad Wasim😂🤣 https://t.co/vAx5WlDmW6

— Chacha Abdul Shakoor (@ChachaAbdulSh10) October 13, 2026

Farhan anchored the innings with a well-constructed 76 off 47 balls, including seven fours and three sixes. He reached his 13th T20 half-century in 34 deliveries and shared a valuable 66-run partnership with Minhas for the seventh wicket. Pakistan eventually finished at 168/8 in 20 overs.

Shanaka was Sri Lanka’s leading bowler with figures of 3/31, while Malinga and Nuwan Thushara claimed two wickets apiece. Sri Lanka lost Lahiru Udara early for one, but Kusal Mendis quickly took control of the chase. The captain smashed nine fours and four sixes, combining with Jayawardene for a 59-run second-wicket partnership. Jayawardene contributed 38 off 26 balls.

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After Jayawardene’s dismissal, Kusal and Kamindu Mendis added an unbeaten 98 runs to complete the chase. Kamindu finished on 40 not out off 27 deliveries as Sri Lanka secured an eight-wicket victory. Pakistan had won the opening match by four wickets and the second by 82 runs to seal the three-match series. Sri Lanka’s final-match triumph provided some consolation, despite the costly fielding error that gave Minhas a second chance.