Fakhar century propels Pakistan to win against Sri Lanka in tri-series final — SkimNews
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- Fakhar Zaman overcame a bruised right knee and 31 runs in his previous four innings to score 127 from 99 balls, steering Pakistan to 331-7 in 48.3 overs for a three-wicket win in the tri-series final in Lahore.
- Kamindu Mendis made 131, his maiden ODI century, to take Sri Lanka to 325-8 on the one occasion they batted first in the tournament, setting up a chase Pakistan won by three wickets.
- Saad Baig, aged 19, made 74 from 75 balls in a 149-run stand with Zaman, rescuing Pakistan's chase after Maaz Sadaqat was dismissed for five and Babar Azam went for a five-ball duck.
- Maheesh Theekshana, playing his first match of the tri-series, missed Zaman on 69 and 106 and then dropped a sitter on the boundary after the century, before Dilshan Madushanka clean bowled the opener for 3-63.
- Arafat Minhas struck 61 from 31 balls and Hasan Nawaz finished unbeaten on 37, with Asitha Fernando taking 2-72 by removing Minhas and Faheem Ashraf off successive balls.
- Sri Lanka's bowlers struggled to control the wet ball because of dew, and Pakistan completed the chase in front of 31,265 home fans at Gaddafi Stadium.
Why it matters: Mendis's maiden ODI century gave Sri Lanka 325, but Theekshana's three missed chances and the dew undermined their defence, and Pakistan still reached 331-7 in 48.3 overs. For Pakistan, the three-wicket win came despite Babar Azam's five-ball duck and Zaman's injured knee.
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