Sri Lanka made 325 for eight in their 50 overs against Pakistan in the final of the one-day international tri-series in Lahore, which leaves Pakistan needing 326 to win the trophy. Kamindu Mendis scored 131, his first ODI century, before Pakistan’s bowlers took six wickets in the last ten overs and kept the total well below what had looked possible.
What happened
The Guardian’s live coverage reports that Pakistan won the toss at the Gaddafi Stadium and chose to field. Sri Lanka’s openers started slowly. Off-spinner Salman took the first two wickets: Avishka was out lbw for 38 with the score on 87, and Kusal was caught and bowled for 8 at 109 for two.
That brought Pavan Rathnayake in to join Kamindu Mendis, and the pair took control. The Guardian describes Mendis as unhurried and relaxed at the crease, and he reached his century from 107 balls with an upper cut for four off Faheem Ashraf. Rathnayake made a half-century of his own, and the two put on a stand of 146. According to the Guardian’s live blog, the run rate at one point was just under six an over, and at halfway the innings looked like the platform for a total of 400.
Pakistan’s captain, Shaheen Shah Afridi, then turned the innings around. He had Mendis lbw for 131 when the batter tried to scoop a yorker; Mendis reviewed, but the decision stood on umpire’s call. The Guardian notes that Shaheen ran over to shake his hand before he left the field. Shaheen then removed Dasun Shanaka for 17, caught by Maaz Sadaqat off a full toss. Haris Rauf had Rathnayake caught by Babar Azam for 77 and later dismissed Wellalage for 3. Naseem Shah took the last two wickets to fall, Liyanage for 6 and Arachchige for 15.
The innings also had a few worrying moments. The Guardian reports that Liyanage was hit on the back of the neck by a wild throw from Shaheen, who apologised straight away, and that Theekshana was hit on the helmet by a bouncer but passed a concussion test and carried on. Pakistan were penalised for a slow over rate, so they could have only four fielders outside the 30-yard circle for their last two overs. Even so, Sri Lanka scored just enough to pass 300 and finished on 325 for eight.
Summing up the innings, the Guardian’s live blog called Mendis’s century “wonderful” but praised Pakistan’s “discipline” in the final ten overs, while noting that Sri Lanka’s total was “still a great score”.
Why it matters if you live in United Kingdom
England took part in this tri-series but did not reach the final. The Guardian’s coverage describes them as eliminated and mentions that England beat Sri Lanka earlier in the tournament. For England supporters, the final is a chance to see the two sides that finished above them.
There is still an English interest in the tournament statistics. During the innings, Shanaka hit his tenth six of the series, and the Guardian points out that only England’s Harry Brook, with 12, has hit more. Unless a Pakistan batter goes past him in the chase, Brook will finish the series as its leading six-hitter.
Play began at 8am GMT, so UK fans can follow the whole match during the day. The Guardian is running an over-by-over live blog, and its coverage mentions that former England bowler Steven Finn is commentating on TMS, the BBC’s Test Match Special. That makes radio another way to follow the chase from the UK. The Guardian also invites readers to send in comments by email during the match.
Many fans in the UK support Pakistan or Sri Lanka, and this final pits a strong batting display against a bowling attack that finished the innings very well. In the Guardian’s live blog, one reader suggests that Sri Lanka’s batting makes them serious contenders for next year’s World Cup. That is a reader’s opinion, not a prediction from the Guardian.
What to watch next
Pakistan need 326 from 50 overs to win the series on home soil. The Guardian says the chase “has potential to be a thrilling” one, and a different writer, Jim, is taking over the live blog for Pakistan’s innings. Here is what to look out for:
- Sri Lanka’s spinners: Theekshana and Wellalage both played in the final. How they bowl in the middle overs could decide how comfortable a chase of 326 turns out to be.
- Pakistan’s top order: Babar Azam and Maaz Sadaqat both took catches during Sri Lanka’s innings. Pakistan will need a strong start to get anywhere near the target.
- The evening conditions: The Guardian describes dusk falling over Lahore and mist around the ground during Sri Lanka’s innings, so Pakistan will bat under lights.
- Harry Brook’s six-hitting record: If any Pakistan batter goes past Brook’s 12 sixes in the series, he will lose that English record from the tournament.
On the same day, the Guardian’s live blog was also following South Africa against Australia in Cape Town, where Australia slumped to 42 for six. Fans following international one-day cricket from the UK had two matches to keep up with.
Source: The Guardian
Sources
- The Guardian: Pakistan v Sri Lanka: tri-series cricket one-day international final – live, accessed 31 October 2026
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