Sri Lanka booked their spot in the final of the ODI tri-series with a dominant eight-wicket win over Pakistan at Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday. They bowled the hosts out for a mere 110 runs and then chased the target with ease in just 18 overs.
Sri Lanka reached the 111-run target in 18 overs, losing only two wickets, with Kamindu Mendis remaining unbeaten on 62. The team benefited from Eshan Malinga’s bowling in place of Pathum Nissanka, along with a disciplined bowling effort that put them in control from the start.
Pakistan had already qualified for the final but suffered another batting collapse after Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bowl first.
Pakistan’s batting collapse
The home team couldn’t build partnerships, losing opener Fakhar Zaman for five off 13 balls to Dilshan Madushanka in the fourth over. Asitha Fernando then dismissed Maaz Sadaqat for eight, and Madushanka picked up another wicket by removing Saad Baig for five, piling the pressure on Pakistan.
Captain Salman Ali Agha made nine before falling to Sahan Arachchige. Babar Azam was the top scorer with 29 off 33 balls, hitting five fours, before Eshan Malinga got him out. Pakistan found themselves struggling at 61-5 after 13.1 overs.
Shadab Khan, who scored his first ODI century against England recently, managed just two runs before becoming Arachchige’s second wicket.
Arafat Minhas chipped in with 10, and Hasan Nawaz added 17, including a six, but neither could save the innings. Dunith Wellalage dismissed Hasan Nawaz, while Madushanka continued his excellent spell by removing Minhas and Haris Rauf, who scored one.
Shaheen Shah Afridi hit two sixes in his quick 15 off 13 balls to push Pakistan past the 100-run mark. However, Madushanka cleaned up the captain to finish with a five-wicket haul, ending Pakistan’s innings at 110 in 25.3 overs. Naseem Shah was also out as the innings wrapped up.
Madushanka’s career-best figures
Madushanka delivered a career-best performance, taking five wickets for 34 runs in 8.3 overs to lead Sri Lanka’s bowling attack. Arachchige claimed two wickets, while Fernando, Malinga and Wellalage took one each.
Pakistan’s total was the third-lowest score recorded in ODI matches between the two sides, underlining the scale of their batting failure in the crucial tri-series encounter.
Sri Lanka cruise to victory
Chasing 111, Sri Lanka made steady progress and reached the target in just 18 overs, losing only two wickets. Kamindu Mendis anchored the innings with an unbeaten 62, while Avishka Fernando contributed 16 and Kusal Mendis added eight.
The comprehensive victory secured Sri Lanka’s place in the tri-series final, joining Pakistan, who had already qualified for the title decider.
The result also gave Sri Lanka a significant boost ahead of the final, while Pakistan will look to address their batting concerns before the two sides meet again in the tournament’s concluding match