Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Final: Brilliant Fakhar 127 Wins Tri-Series for Pakistan
Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by three wickets in the tri-series final in Lahore, chasing 326 thanks to Fakhar Zaman’s 127 and a 28-ball fifty from Arafat Minhas.
Pakistan won the Pakistan vs Sri Lanka final by three wickets at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on 31 October 2026, chasing 326 with nine balls to spare to lift the ODI tri-series title. Fakhar Zaman hit 127 off 99 balls, Saad Baig made 74 and Arafat Minhas smashed 61 off 31 as Pakistan reached 331/7 in 48.3 overs after Sri Lanka posted 325/8, built on Kamindu Mendis’s 131.
The win was sweet revenge: four days earlier Sri Lanka had bowled Pakistan out for 110 and won by eight wickets on the same ground.
Pakistan vs Sri Lanka final: result at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Match | Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series final (day/night) |
| Date and venue | 31 October 2026, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore |
| Toss | Pakistan won and chose to bowl |
| Sri Lanka | 325/8 (50 overs) |
| Pakistan | 331/7 (48.3 overs) |
| Result | Pakistan won by 3 wickets (9 balls remaining) |
| Series | Pakistan won the 2026/27 ODI tri-series |
Sri Lanka innings: Kamindu Mendis’s maiden ODI hundred
Put in to bat, Sri Lanka reached 238/2 after 40 overs and looked set for 350. Avishka Fernando (38 off 49) helped add 87 for the first wicket before Salman Ali Agha trapped him lbw. Salman then took a return catch to remove captain Kusal Mendis for 8.
Kamindu Mendis (131 off 128, 12 fours, 2 sixes) and Pavan Rathnayake (77 off 65) then added 146 for the third wicket. Shaheen Shah Afridi broke the stand by trapping Kamindu lbw in the 42nd over, and Sri Lanka lost six wickets for 52 runs at the end, finishing on 325/8.
Pakistan bowling in the Pakistan vs Sri Lanka final
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shaheen Shah Afridi | 10 | 50 | 2 |
| Haris Rauf | 10 | 60 | 2 |
| Salman Ali Agha | 7 | 44 | 2 |
| Naseem Shah | 10 | 80 | 2 |
| Arafat Minhas | 10 | 64 | 0 |
| Faheem Ashraf | 3 | 23 | 0 |
How Pakistan chased 326
The chase started badly. Dilshan Madushanka, who took five wickets against Pakistan on 27 October, struck twice early: Maaz Sadaqat fell for 5 and Babar Azam for a duck, leaving Pakistan at 14/2 in the fourth over.
Fakhar Zaman and Saad Baig then rebuilt with a 149-run stand for the third wicket. Saad made 74 off 75 with 11 fours before Maheesh Theekshana took a return catch. Fakhar went on to a match-winning 127 off 99 balls with 11 fours and 6 sixes, before Madushanka bowled him in the 34th over with Pakistan on 220/4.
When Salman Ali Agha fell for 17, Pakistan were 230/5 and still needed 96. Hasan Nawaz (37 not out off 45) and Arafat Minhas turned the game with a 94-run stand. Arafat reached his fifty in 28 balls and finished with 61 off 31 (3 fours, 4 sixes). Asitha Fernando removed him and Faheem Ashraf off consecutive balls at 324, but captain Shaheen Shah Afridi hit a six and finished on 6 not out as Pakistan won with nine balls left.
Watch: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka final highlights
The Pakistan Cricket Board has shared the winning moments and trophy celebrations from Gaddafi Stadium on its official YouTube channel, along with Fakhar Zaman’s match-winning innings.
Pakistan vs Sri Lanka final scorecard: Pakistan batting
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s/6s |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fakhar Zaman | 127 | 99 | 11/6 |
| Saad Baig | 74 | 75 | 11/0 |
| Arafat Minhas | 61 | 31 | 3/4 |
| Hasan Nawaz | 37* | 45 | 2/0 |
| Salman Ali Agha | 17 | 25 | 0/0 |
| Shaheen Shah Afridi | 6* | 3 | 0/1 |
| Maaz Sadaqat | 5 | 7 | 1/0 |
| Babar Azam | 0 | 5 | 0/0 |
| Faheem Ashraf | 0 | 1 | 0/0 |
Sri Lanka bowling in the Pakistan vs Sri Lanka final
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dilshan Madushanka | 9.3 | 63 | 3 |
| Asitha Fernando | 9 | 72 | 2 |
| Maheesh Theekshana | 10 | 57 | 1 |
| Dunith Wellalage | 10 | 58 | 1 |
| Dasun Shanaka | 7 | 57 | 0 |
| Janith Liyanage | 2 | 15 | 0 |
| Sahan Arachchige | 1 | 9 | 0 |
Top performers of the final
| Player | Team | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Kamindu Mendis | Sri Lanka | 131 off 128 (maiden ODI hundred) |
| Fakhar Zaman | Pakistan | 127 off 99, 6 sixes |
| Pavan Rathnayake | Sri Lanka | 77 off 65 |
| Saad Baig | Pakistan | 74 off 75 |
| Arafat Minhas | Pakistan | 61 off 31, fifty in 28 balls |
| Dilshan Madushanka | Sri Lanka | 3/63 |
How the tri-series unfolded
The three-team ODI series featured Pakistan, Sri Lanka and England. The first three matches were played in Rawalpindi on 18, 20 and 22 October, and the remaining games, including the final, at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Pakistan won three league games to reach the final, while Sri Lanka won two of their three, and England were knocked out.
The two finalists met in the last league game on 27 October, when Dilshan Madushanka took 5/34 and Sri Lanka bowled Pakistan out for 110 to win by eight wickets. That result made Sri Lanka favourites for many, which is why Pakistan’s record chase in the Pakistan vs Sri Lanka final felt like a strong response. Pakistan’s batting coach Mike Smith had publicly backed the top order after that defeat, and Fakhar Zaman answered with a century. Babar Azam, however, fell for a duck again in a big game, so the debate over his place will continue.
For full fixture details of the series, see our Pakistan ODI tri-series 2026 schedule.
Key moments of the Pakistan vs Sri Lanka final
- Sri Lanka’s late collapse: from 255/2 they lost six wickets for 52, which kept the target to 326 instead of 350-plus.
- Fakhar and Saad’s 149 stand: it rescued Pakistan from 14/2.
- Arafat Minhas’s 28-ball fifty: it swung a tense chase back to Pakistan from 230/5.
- Shaheen’s finish: after two quick wickets at 324, the captain stayed calm and saw Pakistan home.
What the win means for Pakistan
Winning the Pakistan vs Sri Lanka final at home gives Pakistan a trophy and answers the questions raised by the 110 all-out defeat earlier in the week. It is also a strong sign for the middle and lower order: Saad Baig, Hasan Nawaz and Arafat Minhas all delivered under pressure. Babar Azam’s duck, however, means his form will stay in focus. Arafat has now made match-winning contributions with both bat and ball in this series; see his 6-40 against England. For the build-up, read our Pakistan vs Sri Lanka final preview and the report of the 27 October defeat. Player rankings are covered in our latest ICC rankings report.
Frequently asked questions
Who won the Pakistan vs Sri Lanka final?
Pakistan won by 3 wickets with 9 balls remaining, chasing 326 at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on 31 October 2026.
Who scored a century in the final?
Fakhar Zaman scored 127 off 99 balls for Pakistan, and Kamindu Mendis scored 131 off 128 for Sri Lanka, his maiden ODI century.
What was the target in the tri-series final?
Sri Lanka made 325/8, so Pakistan needed 326. They reached 331/7 in 48.3 overs.
Who took the most wickets in the final?
Dilshan Madushanka took 3/63 for Sri Lanka. For Pakistan, four bowlers took two wickets each.
Sources: ESPNcricinfo full scorecard (31 October 2026); Dawn (Sri Lanka innings).
