Fakhar Zaman's century powers Pakistan to tri-series title over Sri Lanka in Lahore
Fakhar Zaman's 127 off 99 balls led Pakistan to a three-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the ODI tri-series final at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, chasing down 326 with nine balls to spare.
Pakistan lifted the ODI tri-series trophy on Saturday after beating Sri Lanka by three wickets in a high-scoring final at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, chasing down a target of 326 with nine balls to spare in front of a home crowd.
The hosts finished on 331 in the chase, a result that made it the joint-highest successful run chase in the history of an ODI final. It was also Pakistan's first ODI tri-series title since 2008, when they beat India in the Kitply Cup final in Bangladesh, and it went some way towards making up for their defeat to New Zealand in the final of a home tri-series in 2025.
Sri Lanka, put in to bat after Pakistan won the toss and chose to bowl first, posted a formidable 325 for eight from their 50 overs. Their innings was built around a maiden ODI century from Kamindu Mendis, who made 131 off 128 balls with 12 fours and two sixes, and a fluent 77 from Pavan Rathnayake.
The visitors had started steadily, with Avishka Fernando and Kamindu Mendis adding 51 runs in the powerplay. Salman Agha broke the opening stand when he trapped Fernando leg before wicket for 38, and captain Kusal Mendis soon followed, leaving Sri Lanka at 109 for two.
Kamindu Mendis and Rathnayake then steadied the innings with a 146-run partnership off 119 deliveries that put Sri Lanka firmly in control. Kamindu Mendis brought up his century in style before he was eventually trapped leg before wicket by captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, who finished with two wickets for 50 runs.
Pakistan fought back in the death overs to stop Sri Lanka pushing towards 340. Haris Rauf removed Dasun Shanaka and Rathnayake within the space of two overs, Sahan Arachchige added a brisk 15 off 12 balls, and Naseem Shah picked up a late wicket as the visitors were held to 325.
Pakistan's chase began badly. Dilshan Madushanka struck twice in the powerplay, removing Maaz Sadaqat for five and then dismissing Babar Azam for a five-ball duck, and the hosts were suddenly two wickets down with very little on the board.
Fakhar Zaman and young wicketkeeper-batter Saad Baig rebuilt the innings with a 149-run partnership. Baig brought up his maiden ODI fifty and made 74 off 75 balls before Maheesh Theekshana ended his knock, but by then the momentum had shifted back towards Pakistan.
Zaman accelerated after reaching his half-century and went on to register his 12th ODI century, finishing with 127 off 99 balls and becoming only the second Pakistani batter to score two hundreds in ODI finals. A brisk 57-run stand with Salman Agha kept Pakistan on course, but when Zaman fell to Madushanka and Agha departed for 17, the hosts were 230 for five and the final was back in the balance.
Arafat Minhas then turned the match decisively with a blistering, counter-attacking 61 off 31 balls. His 94-run partnership with Hasan Nawaz carried Pakistan through a dramatic late wobble and over the line, sealing a memorable victory for the home side.
The win was especially sweet given what had happened earlier in the tournament. Sri Lanka had beaten Pakistan by eight wickets in their league meeting on 27 October, bowling the hosts out for just 110 in 25.3 overs, with Madushanka taking a career-best five for 34. Saturday's final reversed that result in front of the Lahore crowd.
Pakistan will now hope to carry the confidence of a title win, and the emergence of young players such as Baig, Minhas and Nawaz under pressure, into their next assignments. For Sri Lanka, Kamindu Mendis's century and the strength of their batting for much of the final will offer encouragement, even as they reflect on a late collapse and a chase that slipped away at the death.
