LAHORE: Fakhar Zaman scored 127 as Pakistan recovered from two early wickets to beat Sri Lanka by three wickets in the one-day international (ODI) tri-series final at Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday.
Half-centuries from Saad Baig and Arafat Minhas supported the chase, which captain Shaheen Shah Afridi completed with a six. Pakistan finished on 331-7 in 48.3 overs after Sri Lanka posted 325-8.
Dilshan Madushanka initially put the hosts under pressure, dismissing Maaz Sadaqat for five and Babar Azam without scoring, leaving Pakistan 14-2.
Fakhar and wicketkeeper Baig rebuilt the innings through a 149-run third-wicket partnership. Baig made 74 from 75 deliveries before Maheesh Theekshana caught him off his own bowling in the 27th over. Salman Ali Agha then joined Fakhar for another 57.
Fakhar reached his 12th ODI hundred before Madushanka bowled him in the 34th over. His 99-ball innings included 11 fours and six sixes.
Agha’s dismissal for 17 left Pakistan 230-5, but Hasan Nawaz and Minhas added 94 for the sixth wicket to bring the target within reach.
Minhas struck 61 from 31 balls, including three fours and four sixes. However, Asitha Fernando removed him and Faheem Ashraf in the 48th over before Afridi settled the contest against Madushanka.
Sri Lanka’s left-arm seamer finished with 3-63. Fernando claimed two wickets, while Theekshana and Dunith Wellalage took one each.
Earlier, Kamindu Mendis registered his maiden ODI century after Pakistan won the toss and chose to field.
He scored 131 from 128 deliveries, sharing an opening stand of 87 with Avishka Fernando, who contributed 38. Agha removed Fernando and Kusal Mendis, the latter for eight, to interrupt Sri Lanka’s start.
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Kamindu and Pavan Rathnayake responded with a 146-run third-wicket partnership. Rathnayake made 77, while Kamindu hit 12 fours and two sixes.
Afridi dismissed Kamindu and Dasun Shanaka, who scored 17, during the closing stages. Pakistan restricted Sri Lanka to 38 runs while taking three wickets in the final five overs.
Agha returned 2-44 and Afridi 2-50. Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah also finished with two wickets apiece.
(With additional input from AFP)
