By Asif Naveed
ISLAMABAD; Pakistan claimed a dominant six-wicket victory over Sri Lanka to win the tri-nation series final at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday, courtesy of an exceptional all-round effort led by the bowlers and supported by top-order batters Saim Ayub and Babar Azam.
Sri Lanka were restricted to 114 after being sent in to bat. In reply, Pakistan chased down the target in 18.4 overs. Saim Ayub scored 36 off 33, laying the foundation for the chase, while Babar Azam remained unbeaten on 37 from 34 deliveries, sealing the match with a stylish cut shot off pacer Dushmantha Chameera.
Mohammad Nawaz produced a standout performance, earning both Player of the Match and Player of the Series awards. Speaking afterwards, he said his success lies in keeping plans simple and adapting to match conditions. He added that reading the game is crucial for a finger-spinner with limited variations.
Captain Salman Agha expressed satisfaction with the team’s momentum heading toward the World Cup, stating that Pakistan had performed well over the past two months against both South Africa and Sri Lanka. He said the squad rotation was intentional to ensure strong backups and confirmed that the 15-member World Cup squad is nearly finalised, with six more matches available for fine-tuning.
Sri Lankan skipper Dasun Shanaka admitted his team fell short tactically and must refine certain areas before upcoming assignments. He noted positive displays from Mishara, Nissanka, Mendis, Chameera, Theekshana and Hasaranga, along with improved fielding intent.
Earlier in the day, Sri Lanka looked set for a strong total at 81 for one after 10 overs, but Pakistan’s bowlers staged a remarkable comeback. Spinners Nawaz (3-17), Abrar Ahmed (2-18) and Saim Ayub (1-17) applied pressure through the middle overs, while Shaheen Shah Afridi (3-18) and Salman Mirza cleaned up the lower order. Sri Lanka were bowled out in 19.1 overs.
