Lahore, October 31,2026: Sri Lanka set Pakistan a challenging target of 326 runs in the final of the ODI tri-series at Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday, posting 325-8 in their allotted 50 overs.
After being put in to bat, Sri Lanka made a strong start through openers Avishka Fernando and Kamindu Mendis, who added 87 runs for the first wicket.
Salman Ali Agha provided Pakistan with the breakthrough by trapping Fernando lbw for 38 off 49 deliveries, including three fours and a six.
Captain Kusal Mendis joined Kamindu at the crease, but Salman struck again, dismissing the Sri Lankan skipper for eight through a caught-and-bowled effort to leave the visitors at 109-2 in 21.3 overs.
Kamindu, meanwhile, continued his impressive innings and brought up his sixth ODI half-century before joining Pavan Rathnayake in a commanding third-wicket partnership.
The pair counter-attacked effectively, adding 146 runs and taking Sri Lanka past the 200-run mark. Kamindu reached his maiden ODI century and went on to score a magnificent 131 off 128 balls, hitting 12 fours and two sixes.
Pakistan captain Shaheen Afridi eventually ended the partnership by trapping Kamindu lbw. Shaheen struck again shortly afterwards, dismissing Dasun Shanaka for 17 off just nine deliveries, including two fours and a six, as Sri Lanka slipped to 279-4 in 43.2 overs.
Haris Rauf then removed the dangerous Rathnayake for 77 off 65 balls, an innings featuring eight boundaries.
Naseem Shah dismissed Janith Liyanage for six, while Sahan Arachchige contributed 15 before becoming Naseem’s second victim.
Haris also claimed his second wicket by dismissing Dunith Wellalage for three, leaving Sri Lanka at 305-7 in 47.4 overs.
However, Asitha Fernando and Maheesh Theekshana added valuable runs during the closing overs to help Sri Lanka finish on 325-8.
Fernando remained unbeaten on six, while Theekshana contributed nine not out, giving the visitors a competitive 326-run target to defend in the tri-series final.
