Sri Lanka Beat Pakistan by 8 Wickets, Reach Tri-Series Final

Sri Lanka crushed Pakistan by eight wickets in the fifth match of the ODI tri-series at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday, bowling the hosts out for just 110 and chasing the target with 191 balls to spare to book their place in the final. The Pakistan vs Sri Lanka clash turned into one of the home side’s worst batting days in recent years.

Left-arm fast bowler Dilshan Madushanka led the attack with career-best ODI figures of 5 for 34, as Pakistan posted their second-lowest ODI total on home soil.

Pakistan vs Sri Lanka: How the Match Unfolded

Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to field first, and the decision paid off almost immediately. Madushanka struck early and kept taking wickets through the innings, while the rest of the attack gave Pakistan’s batters no room to recover.

Former captain Babar Azam was the top scorer with 29 off 33 balls, but only three other batters reached double figures. Pakistan had brought in left-arm spinner Maaz Sadaqat and fast bowler Naseem Shah, who returned after regaining fitness, but the changes could not make up for the batting collapse.

Chasing 111, Sri Lanka reached the target in only 18.1 overs, finishing on 114 for 2. Kamindu Mendis played the leading role with an unbeaten 62 off 60 balls, including eight fours and two sixes, while Pavan Rathnayake was not out on 23. Kamindu had an early life when he was dropped behind the stumps by wicketkeeper Saad Baig, a miss that proved costly.

Scorecard Summary

What the Result Means for the Tri-Series

The win ended Sri Lanka’s run of five straight ODI defeats against Pakistan and confirmed a Pakistan vs Sri Lanka final in the tri-series, which also features England. The result knocked England out of the race for the final, so their match against Sri Lanka in Lahore on Thursday, October 29, will have no bearing on the title clash.

The heavy defeat is a sharp turnaround for Pakistan, who opened the series by beating Sri Lanka by 37 runs in Rawalpindi on October 18, when Salman Agha scored a century. Sri Lanka have now shown they can rattle the hosts on home pitches, and the batting order will be under scrutiny before the final.

What Pakistan Need to Fix Before the Final

Pakistan’s batters struggled against left-arm pace and lost wickets in clusters, leaving no one to build a partnership. With the final against the same opponents, the team management will need a clear plan for Madushanka’s opening spell and better support for the top order. Fielding will also be in focus after the dropped chance that let Kamindu settle.

Fixtures, squads and official updates are available on the Pakistan Cricket Board website.

Read More: Salman Agha Century Gives Pakistan Win Over Sri Lanka