Fakhar Zaman's Century and Shaheen's Lethal Bowling: Pakistan Beat Sri Lanka by Three Wickets

In a thrilling encounter of the three-nation ODI series, Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka by three wickets. Sri Lanka, batting first, posted 325 for 8 in 50 overs, and Pakistan chased down the target in the 49th over, losing seven wickets. Fakhar Zaman played a superb knock of 127, while Shaheen Afridi sealed the win with a six off the first ball of the final over. Sri Lanka made full use of the powerplay. Pavan Rathnayake and Kamindu Mendis shared an 87-run opening stand. Rathnayake scored 77, while Kamindu hit a career-best 131. Both took the attack to the Pakistani bowlers. Kamindu more than doubled his previous best score. By the 41st over, Sri Lanka were 255 for 2 and looked set for a total around 350. But Pakistan took six wickets in the last nine overs to restrict them to 325. Shaheen Afridi triggered the collapse by dismissing Kamindu and Shanaka. Haris Rauf picked up two crucial wickets in the closing overs. Pakistan's chase got off to a terrible start, losing two wickets for just 14 runs. Maaz Sadaqat and Babar Azam fell cheaply. Saad Baig, coming in at number three, held firm and played a crucial innings of 74. It was his maiden international half-century, scored just hours before his 20th birthday. Fakhar Zaman then took charge. He completed his century off 84 balls and made 127 in total, with several aggressive shots. However, Fakhar was dropped three times—on 6, 69, and 106. The Sri Lankan fielders put down catches, and Pakistan capitalised fully. Salman Ali and Fakhar shared a 94-run partnership to keep Pakistan in the hunt. After Fakhar's dismissal, Mohammad Minhas and Mohammad Nawaz added 94 runs off 61 balls. Both played attractive shots to bring the target within reach. When Pakistan needed just two runs, Minhas and Faheem Ashraf fell in quick succession, making the match tense again. In the final over, Shaheen Afridi came to the crease and hit a six off the first ball to seal the win. His six sent the Pakistani dressing room and fans into raptures. Fakhar's century was crucial, but Saad Baig's half-century, the Minhas-Nawaz partnership, and Shaheen Afridi's all-round contribution were equally important. For Sri Lanka, Rathnayake scored 427 runs in the tournament, a testament to his excellent form. However, this was the first time his team had lost. On the bowling front, Shaheen Afridi first helped restrict Sri Lanka to a modest total and then won the match with the bat. Haris Rauf applied pressure with two late wickets. Mohammad Minhas's left-arm spin proved expensive, and the Sri Lankan batsmen took full advantage. Pakistan took six wickets in the last nine overs to put the brakes on Sri Lanka's flying start. This win is important for Pakistan in many ways, as just four days earlier the team had been bowled out for 110. Such a comeback after that disastrous performance will boost team morale. Babar Azam could not do much in this match, despite expectations for a special innings from him. Sri Lanka dropped several catches, especially three of Fakhar Zaman, and paid the price with a defeat. Had they taken those chances, the result could have been different. For Pakistan, the win was the result of contributions from several players—Fakhar's century, Saad's half-century, the Minhas-Nawaz partnership, and Shaheen's all-round role. This match showed that the Pakistani team has the resilience to bounce back under pressure. Even after Babar Azam fell cheaply, the team did not give up. The captain will hope for such performances from his other players to keep the team in a strong position in upcoming matches. For Sri Lanka, the Kamindu-Rathnayake partnership was promising, but the middle order wasted the opportunity. Losing six wickets in the last nine overs prevented them from reaching around 350, which proved decisive. With this win, Pakistan have strengthened their position in the series. Their next match will be crucial, as every win will play a key role in deciding the series. Sri Lanka will need to work on their middle-order weakness and improve their fielding. Fakhar Zaman's form is good news for Pakistan, while Shaheen Afridi has once again proved how useful he is in pressure situations. Overall, this match provided several lessons for both teams. Pakistan kept their composure despite early jolts and stayed in the fight until the end. Sri Lanka also built momentum in several good moments, but their performance faltered in the final overs. It remains to be seen how both teams perform in the upcoming matches.