Shadab's last-over six, Ashraf hat-trick seal Pakistan win

All-rounder Shadab Khan hit a last over six to give Pakistan a sensational two-wicket win in the second T20I against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi 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 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 Faheem Ashraf derailed the Sri Lankan innings with figure of 3-16 as he became the first Pakistan player to achieve a hat-trick in T20Is.

Thank you Pakistan for giving me this identity. This hat-trick is dedicated to the brave & beautiful people of Pakistan. #PakistanZindabad pic.twitter.com/SXBW8dCJQx

— Faheem Ashraf (@iFaheemAshraf) October 27, 2017

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 Sarfraz fell, Pakistan still needed 21 off 14 balls which Shadab made possible.

Faheem Ashraf is first Pakistani to achieve hat-trick in T20Is, overall only 6th player to claim a T20I hat-trick. #PAKvSL

— Faizan Lakhani (@faizanlakhani) October 27, 2017

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. Perera said his team did put up a good fight. 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 T20 hat-trick. Australia's Brett Lee was the first to achieve a hat-trick in the shortest format with his feat coming against Bangladesh in Cape Town in 2007.

@iFaheemAshraf u beauty. Congrats on becoming first Pakistani to get hat-trick in t20???

— Azhar Ali (@AzharAli_) October 27, 2017

New Zealand's Jacob Oram and Tim Southee and Sri Lankan duo Perera and Lasith Malinga were the others to achieve a T20 hat-trick. Sri Lanka, sent into bat for the second match in succession, got off to a solid start with openers Gunathilaka and Dilshan Munaweera putting 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 out before Ashraf came into his own. This is only the second time a team have taken eight wickets in the last four overs in a T20.

Faheem Ashraf's hat-trick today is first by a Pakistan bowler in T20Is and first across all formats in 15 years. #PakvSL

— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) October 27, 2017

Pakistan did the same against Australia in the 2010 World T20.BRIEF SCOREPakistan 125/8 in 19.5 overs (Sarfraz 28, Perera 3/24) beat Sri Lanka 124/9 (Gunathilaka 51, Faheem 3/16) by two wickets