Pakistan’s hopes of a clean sweep through the ODI tri-series collapsed in dramatic fashion on Tuesday as Sri Lanka bowled them out for a paltry 110 and then chased the target down inside 19 overs, winning by eight wickets at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. The result, built around a career-best 5/34 from left-arm quick Dilshan Madushanka, books Sri Lanka’s spot in Saturday’s final against Pakistan and eliminates England from title contention.
Pakistan Collapse to 110 All Out
Sent in to bat after Kusal Mendis won the toss, Pakistan never recovered from early pressure. Babar Azam top-scored with a scratchy 29 off 33 balls before being trapped lbw by Eshan Malinga, and once he fell at 61/4 the innings fell away completely — Pakistan lost their last seven wickets for just 49 runs, folding for 110 in 25.3 overs. Hasan Nawaz made 17, caught behind off Dunith Wellalage, while captain Shaheen Afridi provided the only real counter-punch with a brisk 15 off 13 balls that included two sixes. Debutant Maaz Sadaqat, playing his first match of the tri-series, contributed 8, and Salman Ali Agha and Arafat Minhas added 9 and 10 respectively. Fakhar Zaman, Saad Baig, Shadab Khan and Haris Rauf all fell cheaply as Sri Lanka’s bowlers ran through the order.
Madushanka Wrecks the Top Order
Madushanka was the destroyer-in-chief, finishing with 5/34 — his best figures in ODI cricket — and was named Player of the Match. His wickets included Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf and Shaheen Afridi among others, as he repeatedly found movement with the new ball under lights. He was well supported by Sahan Arachchige, who picked up two wickets, while Asitha Fernando, Eshan Malinga and Dunith Wellalage took one apiece to share the spoils.
| Player | Team | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Babar Azam | Pakistan | 29 (33 balls) — lbw b Malinga |
| Shaheen Afridi | Pakistan (capt) | 15 (13 balls, 2 sixes) |
| Dilshan Madushanka | Sri Lanka | 5/34 (Player of the Match) |
| Kamindu Mendis | Sri Lanka | 62* (60 balls, 8 fours, 2 sixes) |
Kamindu Mendis Seals It in a Canter
Chasing a modest 111 to win, Sri Lanka lost Kusal Mendis early — bowled off a bat-pad rebound onto the stumps off Arafat Minhas for 8 — and saw Avishka Fernando fall for 16, caught at midwicket off Shaheen Afridi. From there Kamindu Mendis took charge, anchoring the chase with an unbeaten 62 off 60 balls studded with eight fours and two sixes. He survived an early let-off when Saad Baig put down a catch, and never let Pakistan back into the contest. Pavan Rathnayake stayed with him for an unbeaten 23 off 26 as Sri Lanka cruised home at 114/2 in just 18.1 overs, winning with 191 balls to spare.
What It Means: Final Set for October 31
Pakistan had already sealed their place in the final by winning their first three group games, including a century from Shadab Khan against England earlier in the tri-series. Tuesday’s result now confirms Sri Lanka as their opponents, with the final scheduled for Saturday, October 31, back at Gaddafi Stadium. England, who still have a dead-rubber fixture against Sri Lanka on Thursday, are mathematically out of the running for the title.
Our Opinion
A batting collapse of this scale against a Sri Lankan attack that, on paper, is far from its most feared combination should worry Pakistan’s think tank more than the scoreline alone suggests — this is now a recurring pattern in which the middle order folds the moment Babar Azam is removed, and no amount of late-order hitting from Shaheen Afridi can be relied upon to paper over it every time; with the final just days away and Sri Lanka’s bowlers now brimming with confidence after dismantling the top order so comprehensively, Pakistan’s batting group needs real answers rather than another one-off recovery act.
