PAK vs SL: Pakistan whitewash Sri Lanka in final ODI, Wasim and Haris shine
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan completed a clean sweep over Sri Lanka after securing a comfortable 6-wicket victory in the third and final ODI at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday, sealing the series 3–0, with Mohammad Wasim Jr becoming Player of the Match and Mohammad Haris Player of the Series.
Pakistan Batting Line
Chasing a modest target of 212 runs, Pakistan reached 216 for 4 in 44.4 overs, powered by solid top-order performances. Mohammad Rizwan anchored the innings with a superb unbeaten 61, guiding the team home with confidence. Fakhar Zaman continued his impressive form, scoring 55, while Hussain Talat added a valuable 42 runs. Skipper Babar Azam chipped in with 34, and Salman Ali Agha made 6 runs.
Sri Lanka Batting Line
The innings began with Pathum Nissanka (24) and Kamil Mishara (29) providing a promising start before being dismissed. Captain Kusal Mendis (34) and Sadeera Samarawickrama (48) then added crucial runs to take the total to 135.
The middle order struggled, with Pavan Rathnayake scoring a brisk 32 off 37 balls, including 2 boundaries and a six. The rest of the batters contributed little: Kamindu Mendis (10), Janith Liyanage (4), Jeffrey Vandersay (4), Maheesh Vandersay (7), and Pramod Madushan (7) added 32 runs collectively. The team’s total finally reached 211, including 12 extras conceded by Pakistan.
Sadeera Samarawickrama was the standout for the Lions, top-scoring with 48, while no other batter managed more than 34 runs. With Pakistan already leading the series 2-0, the Shaheens bowlers ensured Sri Lanka were restricted to a chaseable target. Waseem Jr took 3 wickets, Haris Rauf and Faisal Akram claimed 2 each, and Shaheen Afridi and Faheem Ashraf chipped in with 1 each.
With this victory, Pakistan wrapped up the ODI series in dominant fashion.
Earlier, Shaheen Afridi captained team won the PAK vs SL toss and chose to field first, aimed for restricting the touring team to limited target in the last day-night ODI match of the Shaheens vs the Lions.
Now that the Sri Lanka Series has wrapped up, all eyes shifted to the upcoming tri-nation series starting November 18, featuring Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe which is a fresh challenge and a new opportunity for all three sides.
