Pakistan chased down a target of 212 with relative ease to win the third ODI against Sri Lanka by six wickets and sweep the series 3-0.
Fakhar Zaman’s bright start and a steady, match-winning stand between Mohammad Rizwan and Hussain Talat helped the hosts get over the line with 5.2 overs to spare after an all-round bowling effort led by Mohammad Wasim Jr’s three-wicket haul kept Sri Lanka to a below-par score.
Pakistan began the chase slowly, losing Haseebullah Khan for a 12-ball duck as Maheesh Theekshana struck early.
But Fakhar settled quickly after that, finding his timing against Pramod Madushan and Theekshana to move the chase along. He hit 8 fours in a fluent 55 off 45 and added 80 with Babar Azam to put Pakistan in control at 82/1.
Sri Lanka hit back through Jeffrey Vandersay, who changed the tone of the innings with an excellent spell. He had Fakhar caught in the deep, bowled Babar for 34 with a straighter one and trapped Salman Agha lbw to leave Pakistan at 115/4 and wobbling. From there, Rizwan and Talat shut the door on Sri Lanka.
Rizwan brought up his 19th ODI fifty and finished unbeaten on 61 off 92, with only four boundaries in there. Talat supported him with a composed 42* off 57.
Earlier in the day, Sri Lanka wasted another strong start and were bowled out for a below-par 211 in only 45.2 overs despite six of the top seven batters getting starts.
Sent in to bat, Pathum Nissanka and Kamil Mishara got them going with a positive opening stand, moving to 55/0 inside eight overs. But both fell in quick succession. Nissanka chopped Haris Rauf on for 24 and Mishara edged Wasim Jr for 29 in the 12th over.
Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama rebuilt with a 43-run stand but just as Sri Lanka steadied, the middle order slipped again. Wasim bowled Mendis for 34 and Samarawickrama fought on while Kamindu Mendis and Janith Liyanage departed cheaply, leaving the innings at 143/5.
Samarawickrama’s 48 ended when he was bowled by a sharp-turning delivery from Faisal Akram, opening the door for Pakistan’s bowlers to run through the rest. Both Faisal and Rauf finished with two wickets each.
Pawan Rathnayake tried to lift the total with a lively 32 but with no support from the tail, he was run out in the 46th over, bringing an end to Sri Lanka’s innings.
Brief Scores: Sri Lanka 211 all out in 45.2 overs (Samarawickrama 48, Wasim 3-47) lost to Pakistan 215/4 in 44.4 overs (Rizwan 61*, Zaman 55; Vandersay 3-42) by 6 wickets.
Source: Cricbuzz
