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Pakistan wrapped up a dominant 3-0 ODI series whitewash over Sri Lanka with a comfortable six-wicket victory in Rawalpindi. Chasing 212, Pakistan rarely looked in trouble despite a brief slowdown in the middle overs, cruising home with 5.2 overs to spare. Fakhar Zaman’s aggressive 55 and Mohammad Rizwan’s steady, unbeaten 61 anchored the chase, while earlier in the day, Mohammad Wasim and debutant spinner Faisal Akram starred with the ball to restrict Sri Lanka to a below-par 211.
Sri Lanka’s flying start cut short by sudden collapse
Sri Lanka began their innings with clear intent and ambition. Pathum Nissanka and Kamil Mishara were in sublime touch early on, timing the ball superbly and racing to a 50-run opening stand inside eight overs. Mishara especially went after Shaheen Shah Afridi, punishing anything even slightly off-length. This marked the sixth consecutive ODI in which Pakistan conceded a fifty-run opening partnership.
But one moment changed the entire direction of the innings. Nissanka, looking set, inside-edged a ball onto his stumps, triggering a dramatic momentum shift. From that point, Pakistan tightened their grip. Mishara—who had offered a few chances early—eventually nicked off to Wasim, who extracted extra bounce to draw the edge.
Middle-order rebuild fails to gain momentum
Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama attempted a rebuild, but Pakistan’s disciplined bowling never allowed them to shift gears. On a pitch that seemed to be improving for batting, Sri Lanka’s run rate crawled. Left-arm wristspinner Faisal Akram, replacing Abrar Ahmed, bowled a superb spell—mixing drift, turn, and clever variations. He trapped Samarawickrama LBW early, but the decision was overturned on review as the ball was spinning too much. Even so, the mounting pressure was unmistakable.
It took Sri Lanka 75 deliveries to score just 43 runs during this phase. When Wasim returned, the urgency to score brought Mendis’ downfall as a searing yorker uprooted his stumps. Shortly after, Faisal Akram delivered a decisive double strike: a ripping delivery knocked back Samarawickrama just two short of a well-deserved fifty, followed by a simple return catch to remove Kamindu Mendis.
Rathnayake fights alone as Pakistan dismantle the tail
Sri Lanka have high hopes for young Pavan Rathnayake, and on debut he showcased excellent temperament despite coming in lower than ideal. He played confidently with the tail, even producing the shot of the day—a superb back-foot punch over cover for six. But support from the lower order was scarce. As wickets tumbled at the other end, Rathnayake was forced into risky running and was eventually run out for a spirited 32.
Sri Lanka’s final total of 211 never looked enough, especially considering how the pitch seemed to settle beautifully under lights.
Fakhar’s early blitz sets the tone
Pakistan’s chase began shakily when Haseebullah Khan endured a painful 12-ball duck, looking increasingly desperate before mistiming straight to mid-on. But Fakhar Zaman immediately erased the nerves with a flurry of boundaries. He looked in vintage form—freeing his arms, piercing gaps, and punishing the Sri Lankan attack in the powerplay.
Babar Azam joined him and instantly boosted the energy in the crowd. The Pakistan captain looked elegant and assured, striking the ball sweetly as the pair guided Pakistan to a dominant position inside the first 15 overs.
Fakhar targeted Jeffrey Vandersay, the legspinner playing his first match of the series, smashing him for boundaries. But Vandersay struck back—a stunning diving catch by Kamindu Mendis in the deep removed Fakhar for a lively 55. Moments later, Vandersay bowled a beautiful googly that sneaked through Babar’s gate, sparking hope for Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka squeeze, but Rizwan and Talat shut the door
With Agha Salman also trapped LBW by Vandersay, Pakistan suddenly found themselves losing momentum. From needing 97 with seven wickets in hand, they slipped into a quiet, cautious phase.
This is where Mohammad Rizwan’s experience shone. Partnered by Hussain Talat—who has enjoyed a productive series—Rizwan steadied the chase. The pair put run-scoring on the backburner temporarily, adding just 32 runs in 10 overs but crucially not giving away their wickets. Since the asking rate was never a threat, their approach gradually broke Sri Lanka’s hopes.
In the 43rd over, Talat survived an LBW on review when ball-tracking showed the delivery bouncing over the stumps—an accurate reflection of Sri Lanka’s frustrating tour and the Rawalpindi surface.
Pakistan stroll to a comfortable series sweep
Rizwan brought up his half-century with characteristic calm, while Talat accumulated valuable runs at the other end. The finish may have lacked fireworks, but the result was never in doubt. Pakistan crossed the line comfortably, sealing a 3-0 whitewash and capping off a dominant series performance.
With batting form returning, bowlers hitting their rhythm, and fresh talent like Faisal Akram shining, Pakistan leave the series with plenty of positives—while Sri Lanka are left with more questions than answers.
