Pakistan clinched the ODI tri-series title by overhauling the 326-run target against Sri Lanka after Fakhar Zaman struck a sublime 127, while Saad Baig and Arafat Minhas hit half-centuries to take Pakistan over the line with three wickets in hand and nine balls to spare here at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on Saturday night.
Fakhar, who scored his 12th ODI ton, played exceptionally well compiling 127 off 99 balls, while a 94-run sixth-wicket stand between Arafat and Hasan Nawaz (37 not out, 45b, 2x4s) proved decisive when the asking rate was creeping up.
Kamindu Mendis scored his maiden ODI century after Sri Lanka were asked to bat first and a 77 by Pavan Rathnayake led Sri Lanka to a healthy total. For Pakistan, Salman Ali Agha, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah picked up two wickets each.
In the chase, Pakistan found themselves in trouble early on as Maaz Sadaqat and Babar Azam departed within the 3.3 overs. At this juncture, Fakhar and Saad rebuilt the innings with a 149-run stand and put Pakistan on course to surmount the mammoth total.
Fakhar scored fourth ton in a chase of 300+ and became just the second Pakistan batter after Saeed Anwar to score two centuries in ODI finals. Fakhar and Saad batted for 140 balls putting pressure on Sri Lanka and it was due to their efforts that Pakistan was 145-2 at the halfway mark with 181 more run needed.
Saad (74, 75b, 11×4) brought up his maiden ODI half-century that he brought up in the 2oth over. He fell in the 27th over – caught and bowled by Sri Lanka’s incoming spinner Maheesh Theekshana. Fakhar kept going and reached the three-digit mark in 30th over with a four off 84 balls.
Sri Lanka made a dent in Pakistan’s advance by eking out wickets of Fakhar in 34th and Salman Ali Agha in 37th overs with the hosts at 230-5. Pakistan needed 96 off 77 balls when Hasan and Arafat got together and made sure Pakistan chase the total with a 94-run stand.
Arafat was the aggressor in the stand scoring a 28-ball fifty, while Hasan played important role as second fiddle with 37 not out. Pakistan needed 82 off 60 balls, which they overhauled with nine balls to spare as Shaheen struck a six as the hosts registered the highest successful
Earlier, Sri Lanka were inserted in by Pakistan and got off to a solid start with Kamindu and Avishka Fernando (38, 49b, 3x4s, 1×6) putting on 87 runs in 17.2 overs.
Salman Ali Agha provided Pakistan with much-needed breakthroughs as he pinned Avishka leg-before and got Kusal Mendis caught and bowled as Sri Lanka were 109-2 in 21.3 overs.
Kamindu and Pavan Rathnayake (77, 65b, 8x4s) then laid the foundation for the mammoth total with a 146-run stand for the third wicket. Kamindu’s maiden ODI century (131, 128b, 12x4s, 2x6s) came in the 33rd over.
Sri Lanka were 238-2 in 40 overs and managed to score 87 runs off the last 10 overs losing six wickets. Dasun Shanaka (17, 9b, 2x4s, 1×6) and Sahan Arachchige (15, 12b, 2x4s) threatened to go berserk in the last 10 overs but their stays were cut short by Shaheen and Naseem Shah, respectively.
Haris Rauf closed the innings with a four-run over as Sri Lanka posted 325-8 and Maheesh Theekshana (9 not out, 8b, 1×6) and Asitha Fernando (6 not out, 5b, 1×4) finished unbeaten.
Scores in brief
Final – Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by three wickets at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore
Sri Lanka 325-8, 50 overs (Kamindu Mendis 131, Pavan Rathnayake 77, Avishka Fernando 38; Salman Ali Agha 2-44, Shaheen Shah Afridi 2-50, Haris Rauf 2-60, Naseem Shah 2-80)
Pakistan 331-7, 48.3 overs (Fakhar Zaman 127, Saad Baig 74, Arafat Minhas 61, Hasan Nawaz 37 not out; Dilshan Madushanka 3-63, Asitha Fernando 2-72)
Player of the match – Fakhar Zaman (Pakistan)
Player of the series – Arafat Minhas (Pakistan)
ODI tri-series (England, Pakistan, Sri Lanka)
