Pakistan sweeps Sri Lanka 3-0 in ODI series

Mohammad Rizwan (an unbeaten 61) and Fakhar Zaman (55) hit their second straight half centuries, guiding Pakistan to 215-4 in 44.4 overs. Earlier, Sri Lanka squandered a quick start and were dismissed for 211 in 45.2 overs after captain Shaheen Shah Afridi opted to field first.

Pakistan had edged the opening game by six runs, before Babar Azam’s first international hundred in more than two years powered a commanding eight-wicket win in the second ODI at Pindi Cricket Stadium. Afridi, who sat out that match due to fever, returned to lead the side in the finale.

“Winning 3-0 is always satisfying,” Afridi said. “Senior guys like Babar and Rizwan are the backbone of our team, and they stepped up throughout the series.”

Pakistan cruises in the chase

Haseebullah Khan, one of four changes, departed for a 12-ball duck on his series debut, but Zaman picked up where he left off after his 78 in the previous game. He and Babar (34) steadied the innings with a 76-run partnership as Sri Lanka’s pacers struggled to grip the ball due to heavy dew.

Sri Lanka’s stand-in seam attack — Eshan Malinga and Pramod Madushan — went wicketless and leaked 100 runs in 18 overs after regular quicks Dushmantha Chameera and Asitha Fernando were rested.

Zaman reached his fifty off 39 balls with seven boundaries before leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay (3-42) struck in the middle overs. He removed Zaman with a sharp catch by Kamindu Mendis at deep mid-wicket, bowled Babar, and trapped Salman Ali Agha (6) LBW on review to reduce Pakistan to 115-4 in the 25th over.

But Rizwan, marking his 100th ODI, and Hussain Talat (42 not out) calmly sealed the win with an unbroken century stand.

Sri Lanka slump after positive start

Debutant Kamil Mishra (29) and Pathum Nissanka (24) put on 55 for the opening stand, but Pakistan’s quicks soon regained control. Nissanka chopped a short ball from Haris Rauf (2-38) onto his stumps, and Mohammad Wasim (3-47) removed Mishra behind the wicket.

Acting skipper Kusal Mendis, leading in place of the ill Charith Asalanka, was bowled for 34. Sadeera Samarawickrama top-scored with 48 before falling to wrist-spinner Faisal Akram (2-42), playing his first ODI in a year as Pakistan rotated its squad and rested Abrar Ahmed.

Newcomer Pavan Rathnayake offered some late resistance with 32 off 37 but was run out as the final wicket, leaving Sri Lanka with their lowest total of the series.

“Five of our top order got starts but couldn’t carry on, and that hurt us,” Mendis said. “Vandersay bowled superbly though — he gave everything.”

T20 tri-series up next

Sri Lanka and Pakistan will now be joined by Zimbabwe for a T20 tri-series in Rawalpindi as part of preparations for next year’s T20 World Cup. Pakistan face Zimbabwe in the opening match on Tuesday.

The tour had briefly been in doubt after a suicide bombing near a court in Islamabad killed 12 people on Tuesday, hours before the first ODI. But Sri Lanka Cricket instructed the team to continue following security assurances from the Pakistan Cricket Board, reports UNB.