Lahore, October 27,2026: Sri Lanka stormed into the final of the One-day International tri-series after crushing Pakistan by eight wickets at Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday, chasing a modest target of 111 in just 18.1 overs.
Left-arm pacer Dilshan Madushanka claimed a career-best five for 34 to bowl Pakistan out for 110 in 25.3 overs, while Kamindu Mendis struck an unbeaten 62 to guide Sri Lanka to 114-2, sealing victory with 31.5 overs to spare.
The result confirmed Sri Lanka’s place in Saturday’s final against Pakistan, who had already qualified after winning their first three matches. England’s remaining league fixture against Sri Lanka on Thursday consequently became a dead rubber.
After winning the toss, Sri Lankan captain Kusal Mendis elected to field, and his bowlers justified the decision with a disciplined performance that exposed Pakistan’s batting vulnerabilities.
Babar Azam top-scored with 29 off 33 balls, including five boundaries, while Hasan Nawaz contributed 17. Captain Shaheen Shah Afridi added 15 off 13 deliveries, hitting two sixes in a late attempt to boost the total.
Pakistan lost Fakhar Zaman for five in the fourth over when he mistimed a short delivery from Madushanka and was caught at point. Maaz Sadaqat, making his first appearance in the tri-series after joining the squad a day earlier, managed eight before Asitha Fernando trapped him leg-before with a yorker.
Saad Baig fell for five, caught at short cover off Madushanka, while Salman Ali Agha made nine before edging Sahan Arachchige behind the stumps.
Pakistan were reduced to 61-4 when Babar was trapped leg-before by Eshan Malinga for 29 after exhausting both reviews.
The collapse continued as Arachchige dismissed Shadab Khan for two and Dunith Wellalage removed Hasan Nawaz, who was caught by Arachchige for 17. Pakistan slumped to 91-8, leaving the lower order with little chance of mounting a recovery.
Madushanka returned to dismiss Arafat Minhas for 10 and Haris Rauf for one before ending the innings by removing Shaheen. The Pakistan captain’s brief counterattack included two sixes, but he was caught by Wellalage as Madushanka completed his five-wicket haul. Arachchige claimed two wickets, while Asitha, Malinga and Wellalage took one each.
In reply, Sri Lanka made an aggressive start, with Kamindu and Avishka Fernando adding 50 for the opening wicket in 6.5 overs. Avishka struck two boundaries in his 17-ball 16 before pulling Shaheen to Fakhar at short midwicket.
Kamindu continued to dominate, reaching his half-century off 43 balls. Despite surviving a dropped catch in Shaheen’s opening over and successfully reviewing an lbw decision, he remained composed throughout the chase.
He finished unbeaten on 62 from 60 deliveries, hitting eight fours and two sixes.
Pakistan briefly struck again when Kusal, who had scored eight off six balls with two boundaries, was bowled by Arafat Minhas after the ball ricocheted off his bat into the stumps.
However, Sri Lanka faced no further setbacks as Pavan Rathnayake joined Kamindu to guide the visitors home. Rathnayake remained unbeaten on 23 off 26 balls, hitting two fours, and sealed the victory by driving Maaz Sadaqat’s spin through cover-point for four.
Shaheen and Arafat took one wicket each, but Pakistan’s inadequate total left their bowlers with little room to defend.
The comprehensive win marked a strong turnaround for Sri Lanka, whose batters had also impressed in their earlier victory over England.
For Pakistan, the defeat exposed top-order weaknesses following their dramatic one-wicket victory over England on Sunday, when Shadab’s maiden ODI century rescued the side.
This time, however, Pakistan’s batting line-up failed to produce a competitive total, allowing Sri Lanka to secure qualification in emphatic fashion and set up a final showdown between the two sides on Saturday.
