LAHORE: Fakhar Zaman equalled Saeed Anwar’s Pakistan record of two ODI tournament-final centuries with 127 against Sri Lanka on Saturday, helping the hosts secure a three-wicket victory at Gaddafi Stadium.
Chasing 326 in the home tri-series final, the left-handed opener reached his hundred from 84 balls. He finished with 127 off 99 deliveries, including 11 fours and six sixes, before Dilshan Madushanka bowled him in the 34th over.
It was Fakhar’s 12th century in one-day internationals.
His previous hundred in a tournament final came against India in the 2017 International Cricket Council (ICC) Champions Trophy decider at The Oval in London. Saturday’s innings made him the second Pakistan batter, after Anwar, to reach three figures in two ODI finals.
Anwar’s first came against Sri Lanka in the 1993 Wills Trophy final in Sharjah, where he scored 110. He later made 140 against India in the third final of the 1998 Silver Jubilee Independence Cup in Dhaka.
During his latest innings, Fakhar also passed 4,000 ODI runs, becoming the 16th Pakistan batter to reach the mark. He ended the final with 4,019 runs from 96 innings, alongside 12 centuries and 19 half-centuries.
Read More: Pakistan Beat Sri Lanka by Three Wickets to Win ODI Final
Pakistan needed a substantial contribution after losing Maaz Sadaqat and Babar Azam early. Fakhar and Saad Baig then added 149 for the third wicket, with Baig contributing 74 from 75 balls.
Although both were dismissed before the chase was complete, Arafat Minhas kept Pakistan moving with 61 off 31 deliveries. Hasan Nawaz added an unbeaten 37.
Captain Shaheen Shah Afridi struck the winning six as Pakistan completed the chase with nine balls remaining.
