Monday Dec 15, 2025
Monday Dec 15, 2025
Monday, 17 November 2025 00:12 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Pakistan completed their third series sweep against Sri Lanka when they won the third and final ODI by six wickets to take the three-match series 3-0 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium yesterday.
The previous two series sweeps were 4-0 in 1985 in Pakistan and 5-0 in 2017 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Sri Lanka’s total of 211 was never going to be enough as Pakistan won with 32 balls to spare. Sri Lanka did have their moments when they picked up Haseebullah Khan for a duck early on, and when they removed Babar Azam and Salman Agha in the space of four overs. Pakistan was 115-4 at the end of 25 overs and were, in fact, well behind in comparison to Sri Lanka’s run rate during most parts of the chase. However, the best part with chasing a low total is that you can afford to play it safe and take it deep.
Hussain Talat and Mohammad Rizwan, playing in his 100th ODI, executed that ploy to perfection to seal the game with a 100-run unbeaten stand off 122 balls. Rizwan went onto make 61* off 92 balls (4 fours) – his 19th ODI fifty and second in succession in the series – and Talat 42* off 57 balls (1 four). But the 74-run partnership between Fakhar Zaman (55 off 45 balls, 8 fours) and Babar (34) is what really set the tone.
Jeffrey Vandersay, back in the side because of a hamstring injury to Wanindu Hasaranga, impressed with figures of 3/42, but, unfortunately for Sri Lanka, the rest did not quite create the kind of impact they would have liked in the middle overs.
For the first time in the series, Sri Lanka failed to bat out the full quota of overs and were bowled out for a disappointing subpar total of 211 in the 46th over. Five of the top seven batters got starts, but none of them managed to convert it into a meaningful contribution. This has been Sri Lanka’s Achilles heel in the series.
Sri Lanka once more had a 50+opening stand between Pathum Nissanka and Kamil Mishara, but just were not able to push on, with batters getting starts and nothing more. Sadeera Samarawickrama top-scored with 48 off 65 balls (2 fours), while there were 20s and 30s from Nissanka, Mishara, Kusal Mendis, and debutant Pavan Rathnayake.
The run rate slowed down gradually after the first powerplay, and, unfortunately for Sri Lanka, wickets kept falling at regular intervals, which meant there was no proper partnership to inject any sort of momentum into the innings.
Rathnayake waged a lone battle towards the end, and his efforts helped Sri Lanka get past the 200-run mark. The Sri Lankan batters were guilty of not using their feet and playing with hard hands on far too many occasions.
Mohammed Wasim Jr. was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3/47, while Faisal Akram and Haris Rauf also picked up two wickets apiece.
Mohammad Wasim Jr. won Player of the Match and Haris Rauf took the Player of the Series award.
Sri Lanka and Pakistan made four changes to their sides, with Sri Lanka giving Pavan Rathnayake his ODI cap. With skipper Charith Asalanka and several other players battling a viral flu and Hasaranga nursing a hamstring injury, Kusal Mendis took over the captaincy for this match.
