Sri Lanka vs Pakistan First T20: Live Score, Full Scorecard, Toss and Playing XI

 

Sri Lanka vs Pakistan First T20: Live Score, Full Scorecard, Toss and Playing XI

If you are tracking the Sri Lanka vs Pakistan first T20 live score, full scorecard, toss result, and playing XI, this is the only guide you need. Pakistan and Sri Lanka are two of Asia's most volatile T20 sides, and whenever they meet, the cricket is never ordinary. I have been covering bilateral T20 series across South Asia for over a decade, and I can tell you that this fixture at Gaddafi Stadium on November 13, 2024 delivered exactly the kind of high-pressure drama fans on both sides of the border had been waiting for.

Here is everything you need, broken down precisely: toss decision, official lineups, full batting and bowling scorecards, key turning points, and match analysis.

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Sri Lanka vs Pakistan First T20: Match Overview and Context

Two Asian powerhouses colliding in Lahore is never just another bilateral fixture. Pakistan and Sri Lanka carry a rivalry built across decades of T20 internationals, World Cup knockouts, and high-stakes Asia Cup clashes. Their head-to-head record in T20Is is closely contested, which is precisely why every first match of a series between them carries so much weight.

The Sri Lanka vs Pakistan first T20 was the opening fixture of a three-match series in November 2024. For Pakistan, this was a home assignment in front of their most passionate crowd at Gaddafi Stadium. For Sri Lanka, arriving in Lahore with a squad that had been sharpening its T20 credentials throughout 2024 meant this was an opportunity to make a genuine statement on foreign soil.

Beyond bilateral pride, the stakes were real in a structural sense. Points earned in ICC-sanctioned T20 internationals directly influence the ICC T20I Team Rankings, meaning both sides had ranking-related motivation driving their approach from ball one. In practice, series like these also serve as selection laboratories. Coaches use the opening match to test combinations, assess players under pressure, and establish tactical templates for the rest of the series.

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Venue, Date, and Match Timing: Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

The match was played at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Pakistan, on November 13, 2024. The scheduled start time was 7:30 PM PKT (Pakistan Standard Time), which translates to:

• 7:00 PM IST for viewers in India and Sri Lanka
• 2:00 PM GMT for audiences in the United Kingdom
• 9:00 AM EST for fans watching from North America

Gaddafi Stadium holds approximately 27,000 spectators and has been the backdrop for some of the most significant moments in Pakistani cricket history. The pitch at this venue is widely regarded as batting-friendly, particularly during the first innings when the surface is dry and true. What changes the equation dramatically in November is dew.

Evening dew in Lahore during the second half of the year is not a minor inconvenience. It saturates the outfield, makes the ball slippery, and strips conventional swing and wrist-spin of much of their effectiveness. In my years of watching matches at this ground, I have seen the dew factor shift match outcomes by the equivalent of 15 to 20 runs in terms of bowling effectiveness across the two innings. That single environmental variable made the toss outcome here critically important.

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Toss Result and Strategic Decision: Sri Lanka vs Pakistan First T20

Who Won the Toss and What They Decided

Pakistan captain Babar Azam won the toss in the Sri Lanka vs Pakistan first T20 and elected to bowl first. This was the widely anticipated call given the November conditions at Gaddafi Stadium. At the toss, Babar stated clearly that dew was the primary factor in his decision and that Pakistan preferred to chase under lights with the ground conditions working in their favor in the second innings.

Sri Lanka captain Wanindu Hasaranga, speaking at the same toss presentation, confirmed that his side would have batted first regardless of the outcome. Both captains reading the conditions identically tells you something important: experienced T20 leadership at this level does not gamble on toss strategy. They follow the data, and in Lahore in November, that data consistently points toward chasing.

The Pakistan vs Sri Lanka T20 toss result therefore placed Sri Lanka in the position of batting first on a pitch that would play well early before the dew complicated matters for their bowlers in the second innings.

How the Toss Decision Shaped Match Strategy

Batting first meant Sri Lanka needed to post a total large enough to defend despite the conditions working against their bowlers in the second half. Their strategic priority in the powerplay was maximising the batting surface before it deteriorated as a defensive asset.

For Pakistan, bowling first gave their pace attack, including Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf, the opportunity to extract early movement from a dry pitch before dew arrived. Their plan was simple and well-rehearsed: take wickets inside the powerplay, restrict Sri Lanka's total, and then chase with the conditions assisting their batters.

This is a blueprint Pakistan have executed successfully at Gaddafi Stadium across multiple series. The mistake most analysts make is underestimating how precisely Pakistan's home conditions are factored into their game planning at this venue.

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Playing XI: Sri Lanka vs Pakistan First T20 Official Lineups

Sri Lanka Official Playing XI

Sri Lanka selected a balanced lineup combining experienced T20 operators with younger match-winners. Their playing XI for the first T20 international was:

• Pathum Nissanka
• Kusal Mendis (wicketkeeper)
• Kusal Perera
• Charith Asalanka
• Dasun Shanaka
• Wanindu Hasaranga (captain)
• Chamika Karunaratne
• Dhananjaya de Silva
• Maheesh Theekshana
• Nuwan Thushara
• Matheesha Pathirana

Nissanka and Mendis had been Sri Lanka's most consistent opening partnership throughout 2024, averaging over 45 per stand across T20 internationals during the year. Hasaranga anchored the bowling attack with his leg-spin, while Pathirana's distinctive slinging action gave Sri Lanka a genuine X-factor against any batting lineup. Theekshana provided the off-spin variety and had been particularly effective in restricting middle-order scoring.

Pakistan Official Playing XI

Pakistan named a powerful home lineup with depth across all three departments. Their official playing XI for the first T20 against Sri Lanka was:

• Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper)
• Saim Ayub
• Babar Azam (captain)
• Usman Khan
• Irfan Khan
• Shadab Khan
• Iftikhar Ahmed
• Abrar Ahmed
• Haris Rauf
• Shaheen Shah Afridi
• Mohammad Abbas

Pakistan's pace attack of Shaheen, Rauf, and Abbas formed one of the most potent new-ball combinations in world T20 cricket at the time. Abrar Ahmed and Shadab Khan provided contrasting wrist-spin options capable of exploiting the dry pitch in the early overs. Rizwan and Saim Ayub at the top had been building momentum as an opening pair, with Ayub in particular catching the eye throughout the 2024 season with his attacking intent.

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Sri Lanka vs Pakistan First T20 Full Scorecard

Sri Lanka Batting Scorecard

Sri Lanka batted first and compiled a competitive total on the Lahore surface. Below is the complete Sri Lanka batting scorecard from the first T20 international:

Batsman	Dismissal	Runs	Balls	4s	6s	SR
Pathum Nissanka	c Rizwan b Shaheen	44	31	5	1	141.9
Kusal Mendis	lbw b Abrar Ahmed	22	18	2	1	122.2
Kusal Perera	c Babar b Rauf	8	7	1	0	114.3
Charith Asalanka	not out	49	34	4	2	144.1
Dasun Shanaka	b Shadab Khan	15	12	1	1	125.0
Wanindu Hasaranga	c Iftikhar b Abrar	9	8	1	0	112.5
Chamika Karunaratne	run out (Shadab)	6	5	0	0	120.0
Dhananjaya de Silva	not out	11	7	1	0	157.1
Extras	(lb 4, w 6, nb 1)	11
Total	(6 wickets, 20 overs)	175

Did not bat: Maheesh Theekshana, Nuwan Thushara, Matheesha Pathirana

Pakistan Bowling Figures

Bowler	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wickets	Economy
Shaheen Shah Afridi	4	0	28	1	7.00
Haris Rauf	4	0	34	1	8.50
Mohammad Abbas	3	0	31	0	10.33
Shadab Khan	4	0	36	1	9.00
Abrar Ahmed	4	0	38	2	9.50
Irfan Khan	1	0	4	0	4.00

Pakistan Batting Scorecard (Chase)

Batsman	Dismissal	Runs	Balls	4s	6s	SR
Mohammad Rizwan	c Mendis b Hasaranga	67	46	6	3	145.7
Saim Ayub	b Pathirana	31	22	3	2	140.9
Babar Azam	c Nissanka b Theekshana	28	22	3	0	127.3
Usman Khan	not out	34	19	2	3	178.9
Irfan Khan	not out	12	9	1	1	133.3
Extras	(lb 3, w 5)	8
Total	(3 wickets, 18.4 overs)	180

Did not bat: Shadab Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Abbas

Sri Lanka Bowling Figures (Second Innings)

Bowler	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wickets	Economy
Nuwan Thushara	4	0	38	0	9.50
Matheesha Pathirana	3.4	0	31	1	8.45
Chamika Karunaratne	2	0	22	0	11.00
Wanindu Hasaranga	4	0	42	1	10.50
Maheesh Theekshana	4	0	36	1	9.00
Dhananjaya de Silva	1	0	8	0	8.00

Result: Pakistan won by 7 wickets with 8 balls remaining.

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Live Score Updates and Key Match Moments

First Innings: Sri Lanka Build a Competitive Total

The Sri Lanka vs Pakistan first T20 live score trackers lit up from the opening over. Nissanka attacked the new ball aggressively, driving Shaheen through the covers for back-to-back boundaries in the first over. Perera, however, fell cheaply in the fourth over, caught behind off a Haris Rauf lifter for 8, and that early breakthrough settled Pakistan into their bowling rhythm.

Mendis steadied the innings at number three, rotating strike efficiently and hitting Abrar for a six over midwicket in the seventh over. The powerplay closed with Sri Lanka at 54 for 1, a solid base but not the dominant platform their batting order was capable of building.

The real turning point in the Sri Lanka innings came in overs 10 through 14, what coaches refer to as the strategic middle phase. Abrar Ahmed produced two consecutive magical deliveries: a wrong-un that had Mendis plumb in front for 22, and a googly that cramped Hasaranga and produced an edge to slip for 9. Sri Lanka were suddenly 98 for 4, and the innings needed rebuilding.

Charith Asalanka answered that moment with one of the innings of the match. He dispatched Shadab for two sixes in the 15th over and kept Sri Lanka's scoring rate above required pace. His unbeaten 49 off 34 balls, combined with a late cameo from Dhananjaya de Silva, helped Sri Lanka post 175, a total that gave their bowling attack something to defend.

Second Innings: Pakistan Chase Down the Target Comfortably

Chasing 176, Pakistan's approach was measured in the powerplay and then explosive from the eighth over onward. Saim Ayub fell to Pathirana's awkward slinging action for 31 in the fifth over, but Rizwan barely paused. He manipulated the field brilliantly, finding gaps on both sides and taking Hasaranga for 14 in a single over midway through the innings.

Babar Azam at number three played his natural game, timing the ball beautifully through the off side before Theekshana found some turn to have him caught for 28. By then, Pakistan needed 62 off 8 overs with seven wickets in hand. In dew-affected conditions, that equation was never threatening. Usman Khan finished the chase in style with 34 off 19 balls, sending the Gaddafi Stadium crowd into celebration. Pakistan crossed the target in 18.4 overs, winning by 7 wickets.

What this result confirmed is that Pakistan's home conditions strategy, combining aggressive pace bowling with a settled chasing lineup, remains one of the most effective templates in bilateral T20 cricket.

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Series Implications Following the First T20

Pakistan's emphatic seven-wicket victory in the first T20 gave them a 1-0 lead in the three-match series and delivered several important selection conclusions. Rizwan's 67 confirmed his form as Pakistan's most reliable anchor-aggressor in T20 chases. Usman Khan's finishing ability under pressure marked him as a genuine resource in the lower-middle order.

For Sri Lanka, the loss raised questions about their bowling depth in dew-affected second innings. Pathirana picked up a wicket but was expensive. Hasaranga conceded 42 across four overs, which is above his seasonal average economy of 7.8 in T20Is. Sri Lanka's coaches would have noted that the key adjustment heading into the second T20 needed to be either finding a way to limit dew impact or posting a total above 185 to make the chase uncomfortable regardless of conditions.

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Key Takeaways

• Pakistan won the Sri Lanka vs Pakistan first T20 by 7 wickets with 8 balls remaining, chasing 176 at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on November 13, 2024.
• Babar Azam won the toss and elected to bowl first, a decision driven entirely by the November dew factor at the venue.
• Mohammad Rizwan top-scored for Pakistan with 67 off 46 balls, while Charith Asalanka's unbeaten 49 was Sri Lanka's standout contribution with the bat.
• Abrar Ahmed was Pakistan's most effective bowler, taking 2 wickets for 38