Fakhar Zaman produced a match-winning century as Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka by three wickets in the final of the ODI tri-series on Saturday to lift the trophy at the Gaddafi Stadium.
Chasing a challenging target of 326 runs, Pakistan reached 331/7 in 48.3 overs, completing the victory with nine balls remaining. Fakhar scored 127 off 99 deliveries, laying the foundation for the successful chase after Pakistan suffered early setbacks. The victory also marked Pakistan’s first ODI tri-series title since 2008 and helped the hosts end their campaign on a positive note. The successful chase of 326 was also the joint-highest target successfully chased in an ODI final, adding another significant achievement to Pakistan’s performance.
Pakistan’s chase began poorly as Sri Lankan fast bowler Dilshan Madushanka struck twice during the opening overs. Maaz Sadaqat was dismissed for five runs, while former captain Babar Azam departed for a duck, leaving Pakistan struggling at 14/2 within the first four overs. The early dismissals increased the pressure on the home side, particularly with a substantial target to chase against Sri Lanka’s bowling attack. Fakhar Zaman, however, remained composed and joined young batter Saad Baig to rebuild the innings. The pair focused on rotating the strike while capitalising on scoring opportunities, gradually bringing Pakistan back into the contest. Their partnership prevented Sri Lanka from taking further control and provided the foundation for the middle-order batters to continue the chase.
Fakhar and Saad added 149 runs for the third wicket, significantly changing the direction of the match. Saad scored 74 off 75 deliveries, recording his maiden ODI half-century and demonstrating composure under pressure. Fakhar, meanwhile, continued to accelerate and brought up his century in the 30th over, reaching the milestone from 84 balls. His innings included 11 fours and six sixes, reflecting an attacking approach against both pace and spin. The left-handed batter eventually departed for 127 in the 34th over, bowled by Madushanka. His dismissal came when Pakistan had reached 220/4, leaving the hosts needing another 106 runs to win. Salman Ali Agha also fell after scoring 17, briefly giving Sri Lanka an opportunity to regain control of the contest.
With Pakistan needing 96 runs from 78 deliveries and five wickets down, Arafat Minhas and Hasan Nawaz took responsibility for keeping the chase alive. Arafat produced an aggressive innings of 61 off just 31 balls, including three fours and four sixes. Hasan provided support from the other end, remaining unbeaten on 37 off 45 deliveries. Their 94-run partnership for the sixth wicket proved decisive, as Arafat’s attacking stroke play reduced the required run rate and shifted the pressure back onto Sri Lanka. Arafat eventually departed in the 48th over, followed by Faheem Ashraf, who was dismissed without scoring. However, Hasan remained at the crease, while captain Shaheen Shah Afridi struck the winning six to complete the victory.
Earlier, Sri Lanka had posted 325/8 in their allotted 50 overs after being asked to bat first. Kamindu Mendis was the standout performer, scoring his maiden ODI century with an impressive 131 off 128 deliveries. His innings included 12 boundaries and two sixes, providing stability and momentum to the Sri Lankan batting lineup. Pavan Rathnayake contributed 77 off 65 balls, and the pair added 146 runs for the third wicket. Their partnership helped Sri Lanka reach 238/2 after 40 overs, putting the visitors in a strong position to post a total well beyond 325. Avishka Fernando also made a useful contribution of 38 runs at the top of the order. However, Pakistan’s bowlers responded during the final overs, preventing Sri Lanka from fully capitalising on their strong platform.
Pakistan’s bowlers shared the wickets, with Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah claiming two wickets each. Shaheen and Haris played important roles in restricting Sri Lanka’s scoring during the closing stages after the visitors appeared set for a much bigger total. Madushanka was Sri Lanka’s leading wicket-taker in the chase, finishing with three wickets for 63 runs, while Asitha Fernando claimed two. Fakhar was named Player of the Match for his outstanding century, while Arafat Minhas received the Player of the Series award for his performances throughout the tournament. Pakistan’s victory also marked their sixth-highest successful ODI chase and the third-highest at the Gaddafi Stadium. The triumph provided the hosts with the tri-series trophy after a competitive tournament involving Pakistan, Sri Lanka and England.