Rawalpindi, November 16, 2025: Pakistan’s bowling unit delivered a commanding performance to bowl out Sri Lanka for 211 in 45.2 overs in the third and final One-Day International at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Sri Lanka opted to bat and started steadily, with openers Pathum Nissanka and Kamil Mishara providing a solid foundation. Their partnership, however, ended when Haris Rauf removed Nissanka for 24 off 27 balls (4 fours), leaving the visitors at 55-1 in 8.1 overs.
Mishara added 14 runs alongside stand-in skipper Kusal Mendis before Mohammad Wasim Jr dismissed him for 29 off 30 balls (5 fours). Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama stitched together a 43-run stand, but Wasim Jr struck again, removing Mendis for 34 off 54, putting Sri Lanka at 112-3 in 24.1 overs.
Left-arm spinner Faisal Akram tightened the screws by dismissing Kamindu Mendis for 10, and soon after, Faheem Ashraf sent back Janith Liyanage for 4, leaving Sri Lanka wobbling at 143-5 in 30.3 overs.
Samarawickrama remained the backbone of the innings but fell two runs short of a half-century, scoring 48 off 65 balls, before Akram trapped him plumb.
Shaheen Afridi and Wasim Jr then chipped away at the lower order, removing Maheesh Theekshana (7) and Jeffrey Vandersay (4), respectively. Pavan Rathnayake offered late resistance with 32 off 38 balls (2 fours, 1 six), guiding Sri Lanka past the 200 mark, but Rauf dismissed Pramod Madushan for 7 before Saim Ayub ran out Rathnayake to end the innings at 211.
Wasim Jr led the attack with brilliant figures of 3/47 in 10 overs, while Akram and Rauf claimed two wickets each. Afridi and Ashraf picked up one wicket apiece.
Pakistan will now look to chase the target and seal the series.
