By Asif Naveed
RAWALPINDI (MNN); Pakistan completed a commanding 3-0 series sweep against Sri Lanka after winning the third ODI at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Chasing a target of 212, Pakistan finished the game in 44.4 overs with six wickets in hand, securing their second consecutive ODI series victory after defeating South Africa 2-1 earlier this month.
Pakistan’s innings got off to a shaky start as opener Haseebullah Khan fell for a duck off eight balls, leaving the team struggling at 8-1 in the fourth over.
The experienced duo of Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman then stabilized the innings, putting together a 74-run partnership for the second wicket and helping Pakistan reach 82-2 in 15.2 overs. Fakhar was in fine form, scoring 55 off 45 balls with eight boundaries, marking his 19th ODI fifty before being dismissed by Jeffrey Vandersay.
Mohammad Rizwan joined Babar Azam to take the scoring forward, steering Pakistan past the 100-run mark in the 20th over. However, Vandersay struck twice more, dismissing Babar for 34 and Salman Ali Agha for six, putting Pakistan under pressure at 101-4.
Rizwan and Hussain Talat then rebuilt the innings with a patient and measured approach, taking the score past 150. Their crucial 50-run partnership eased the pressure and pushed the team to 167-4 after 37 overs.
Rizwan’s composed 61 not out off 92 balls and Talat’s unbeaten 42 guided Pakistan to an unbeaten 100-run partnership, ensuring the chase was completed comfortably with 32 balls remaining. Their calm and calculated innings highlighted Pakistan’s depth in batting and ability to handle pressure situations.
Earlier, Sri Lanka batted first and got off to a steady start with openers Pathum Nissanka and Kamil Mishara providing initial momentum. Nissanka scored 24 before being dismissed by Haris Rauf, while Mishara added 14 runs with stand-in captain Kusal Mendis before falling to Mohammad Wasim Jr for 29.
Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama tried to stabilize the innings with a 43-run third-wicket partnership, but Wasim Jr dismissed Mendis for 34, leaving Sri Lanka at 112-3 by the 24th over.
Faisal Akram continued to apply pressure, removing Kamindu Mendis for 10 and later Sadeera Samarawickrama for 48. Shaheen Afridi struck to dismiss Maheesh Theekshana, while Mohammad Wasim Jr picked up his third wicket by dismissing Jeffrey Vandersay.
Haris Rauf then removed Pramod Madushan, and Pavan Rathnayake was run out by Saim Ayub for 32, leaving Sri Lanka all out for 211.
Pacers Haris Rauf and Mohammad Wasim Jr (3/47) and spinner Faisal Akram (2/42) starred with the ball, never allowing Sri Lanka to build any significant partnerships.
Shaheen Afridi and Faheem Ashraf contributed one wicket each, completing a well-rounded bowling performance from Pakistan.
Pakistan’s commanding performance in both batting and bowling underscored their dominance in the series, demonstrating resilience after early setbacks in the chase and showcasing depth in the bowling attack. With a clean sweep achieved, Pakistan now turns attention to the upcoming T20I tri-series featuring Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.
