Sri Lanka Post 325/8 in ODI Tri-Series Final as Kamindu Mendis Century Sets Pakistan 326 to Win

Pakistan need 326 runs to lift the ODI tri-series trophy after Sri Lanka piled up 325 for 8 in the final at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday. A superb century from Kamindu Mendis — 131 off 128 balls — carried the visitors to a commanding total, and the hosts’ openers Fakhar Zaman and Maaz Sadaqat walked out to begin the chase as the evening session got underway.

Captain Shaheen Shah Afridi won the toss and chose to bowl first, backing his side to chase under lights with dew expected to settle on the outfield later in the evening. Sri Lanka, unchanged in approach but with one forced change, made Pakistan work hard for every wicket on a true batting surface.

Kamindu Mendis Century Anchors Sri Lanka’s 325/8

The backbone of the Sri Lankan innings was Kamindu Mendis, who compiled a masterful 131 from 128 deliveries, striking 12 fours and two sixes before falling leg-before to Shaheen Afridi. It was an innings of two halves — watchful reconstruction early, then fluent acceleration as the field spread.

He found strong support from Pavan Rathnayake, whose 77 off 65 balls (eight boundaries) kept the scoreboard racing through the middle overs, and from opener Avishka Fernando’s 38. Captain Kusal Mendis fell cheaply for 8, caught and bowled by Agha Salman, but the middle order kept coming: Dasun Shanaka smashed 17 off just nine balls before holing out.

Pakistan’s bowlers shared the spoils without ever fully seizing control. Shaheen Afridi finished with 2 for 50 from his ten overs, Haris Rauf took 2 for 60 including a tidy final spell, Agha Salman claimed 2 for 44, and Naseem Shah — though expensive at 2 for 80 — struck twice. Arafat Minhas went wicketless for 64. Sri Lanka plundered 28 fours in all, adding 39 runs in the last five overs despite losing three wickets, with Maheesh Theekshana (9 not out) and Asitha Fernando (6 not out) finishing unbeaten.

Pakistan’s 326 Chase: Redemption on the Line

The target of 326 is steep but far from out of reach on this ground, and Pakistan’s chase began with Fakhar Zaman and Maaz Sadaqat opening the innings. The dew factor that influenced Shaheen’s decision at the toss could yet work in the batters’ favour, making the ball skid on and the outfield lightning quick.

There is an extra edge to this chase. Just four days ago, on 27 October, Sri Lanka humbled the hosts at this very venue — bowling Pakistan out for a paltry 110 and cruising home by eight wickets. That defeat remains the only blemish on Pakistan’s tournament record, and the final offers the perfect stage for payback in front of a home crowd.

Pakistan’s batting has shown it can handle pressure in this series — Babar Azam’s record-breaking 16,000-run milestone came in the opener, and the middle order has fired when it mattered. But 326 demands a near-flawless innings, and Sri Lanka’s varied attack, led by the returning Maheesh Theekshana, will test every batter.

Toss, Playing XIs and the Road to the Final

Pakistan were forced into one change: all-rounder Shadab Khan was ruled out on medical grounds after being struck by a bouncer during the fifth ODI against Sri Lanka, with Faheem Ashraf drafted into the XI. Sri Lanka brought in spinner Maheesh Theekshana in place of Eshan Malinga.

Pakistan XI: Fakhar Zaman, Maaz Sadaqat, Babar Azam, Saad Baig (wk), Hasan Nawaz, Salman Ali Agha, Arafat Minhas, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi (c), Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah.

Sri Lanka XI: Kamindu Mendis, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis (c/wk), Pavan Rathnayake, Dasun Shanaka, Janith Liyanage, Sahan Arachchige, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka.

Pakistan topped the three-team standings with six points from four matches (three wins, one defeat), while Sri Lanka finished second with four points and England third with two. With the trophy on the line and a boisterous Lahore crowd behind them, Shaheen Afridi’s men know that only a record chase stands between them and tri-series glory. Follow the live scorecard on ESPNcricinfo and Geo Super as the chase unfolds.