Pakistan vs Sri Lanka AUS in SA, 3 Tests, 2026, Full Score Card

SIX! Out of the park! The Pakistan skipper finishes off in style and with this biggie, they have beaten Sri Lanka on this final by 3 wickets. Bumper yet again, from Dilshan Madushanka, over middle. Shaheen Afridi stands tall and pulls it over deep square leg for a biggie.

Short of a length, over middle. Shaheen Afridi tries to hook it away, but gets beaten on the top edge.

SCORES LEVEL! Bumper, over off, Hasan Nawaz hops and dabs it to short third for a single.

Much fuller, on leg, Shaheen Afridi defends it back to the bowler.

Well, well. Faheem Ashraf comes and goes, but it all seems a bit too late for Sri Lanka. Pakistan's skipper, Shaheen Afridi, is the new batter in. Can he finish things off?

OUT! CAUGHT! Two in two for Asitha Fernando. He is on a Hat-Trick now. Short of a length, outside off stump, offering room for the stroke. The batter tries to ramp it with an ambitious upper-cut off his toes, but it is a poor choice of shot as there is a man patrolling the deep. Ashraf splices it high toward deep third, and it gives Maheesh Theekshana plenty of time to track the trajectory and complete a comfortable catch on the fence.

Arafat Minhas doesn't quite manage to finish the job himself, but he's done more than enough. Faheem Ashraf walks out to bat with 2 needed for the win.

OUT! CAUGHT AND BOWLED! Probably too little too late from Asitha Fernando to get the wicket. Short of a length, angling in, toward the batter. Minhas tries to hammer a pull shot, but gets crammed for room and completely miscues it! It flies skyward off the top edge toward cover. The bowler charges toward his right, tracks it down, and gobbles it up cleanly.

FOUR! Easy as you like! Asitha Fernando misses his length, as he fires it a low full toss, on off. Arafat Minhas musles it down the ground for four more runs.

SIX! Go fetch that, says Minhas! Pitches it up, on middle and off. Arafat Minhas clears the long on fence with ease.

SIX! What a way to bring up a FIFTY! Half-volley delivery, on middle and off. Arafat Minhas clears his front foot and smokes it downtown for half a dozen. That's his second ODI half-century.

Asitha Fernando switches ends now. Desperate times for Sri Lanka, and they need a wicket at all costs in this over.

FOUR! With this boundary, the deficit has now comfortably crossed the number of balls remaining. Just a shade behind the good length, outside off. Hasan Nawaz rocks back and spanks at it toward the right of the deep square leg fielder for four runs.

Short, just outside off, Hasan Nawaz makes a leave at it. The head coach of Pakistan doesn't like.

Short of a length, over middle. Hasan Nawaz crouches down and lets it travel over his head.

Slower one, on a good length, on middle, Arafat Minhas miscues his heaves it to square leg for a single.

SIX! High and handsome! Pitches it up, on middle. Arafat Minhas plants his front foot toward the leg side and uses his bottom hand to launch it over long on for a biggie.

WIDE! Bumper, just outside off. Arafat Minhas tries to pull it away, but gets beaten on the top edge.

Low full toss, just outside off, Hasan Nawaz guides it to the right of backward point for a single.

Much fuller, on middle, Hasan Nawaz drills it to long on for a single. 31 runs required off 24 balls now.

Back of a length, outside off, Arafat Minhas slaps it aerially, toward deep cover. Kamindu Mendis is the man who doesn't really commit to the catch. Single taken by the batter.

SIX! Into the stands! Back of a length, over off, Arafat Minhas hangs back and heaves it over deep mid-wicket for half a dozen.

Yorker, wide outside off. Arafat Minhas does well to dig it to the right of the long off fielder for a brace.

Hard length, just outside off, Hasan Nawaz bunts it to cover for one.

FOUR! Cracked it away! Back of a length, well outside off. Hasan Nawaz frees his arms and cuts it hard through the backward point and short third gap for four runs.

A couple of runs to end the over, and 46 more needed now off 30 balls. Low full toss on middle and leg, shovelled away wide of deep mid-wicket for two runs. 10 runs off the over.

FOUR! Drilled away to the fence! Pitched up on middle, Arafat Minhas goes deep in his crease again, clears the front leg and nails it back past the bowler and the ball rockets to the fence.

Hard length on off, Nawaz pushes it down towards extra cover and picks up a single.

It seems the umpires are unhappy with the shape of the ball. The used ball box has been carried by the third official and the umpires have selected one from the lot. Can this new used ball bring on some luck for Sri Lanka?

Fernando goes searching for the blockhole and nearly finds it as well. Minhas stays deep and swats the low full toss down to long on for just one run.

Full again, angled into the front pad. Nawaz ges his hands out in front and firms it down to long on for one more.

Full and straight, in the blockhole, jammed down through mid off for a single.

Asitha Fernando rejoins the attack. He has three overs left.

Just a single to end, only 6 runs off it. Flatter one on off, Minhas rocks back and plays it with a vertical bat down to long on for a single.

Full and fast, wide outside off. Minhas drills the drive wide of long off and picks up a couple of handy runs.

A complete miscue by Hasan Nawaz, but he gets away with it. Tossed up outside off, Nawaz looks to go big but ends up slicing it down on the bounce to wide long off for a single.

A tad quicker, and attacking middle stump. Nawaz covers the line and pushes it down to the right of the bowler.

Tossed up wide of the off stump. Minhas pings the drive uppishly and down to long off for one more.

Flatter and a bit full, outside off. Nawaz plays a late dab to the left of short third and picks up a single.

62 runs required off 42 balls.

FOUR! Right on cue! Full and wide outside off, a bit too full. Arafat Minhas extends his arms and hammers it through square cover for a boundary, and there's a loud cheer from the home crowd.

Shorter this time, over off. Nawaz hangs back and pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single. It's now been over 19 overs without a boundary for Pakistan, and yet the required rate looks in control.

Full-pitched delivery around off, and Shanaka nearly finds the blockhole. Nawaz digs it out to extra cover.

Pitched much fuller and around off, Nawaz leans on and manages to drive it away to the right of the extra cover fielder and picks up a couple of runs.

And again! Back of a length, just outside off, Nawaz rocks back and punches it down to extra cover for another dot ball.

Short of a good length, around off, and this is punched away to extra cover.

Floated up around off, drifting in. Nawaz drives it on the front foot and down to long off for a single.

Finally, a big shot is attempted here. Tossed up at the stumps, Arafat Minhas sits down and slogs it away to the right of deep backward square leg. Avishka Fernando runs around and palms the ball in but wide of the onrushing fielder from deep mid-wicket. Eventually, the batters get three runs.

A bit fuller and around off, driven on the up and down to long off for another single.

Good length on off, Arafat Minhas rocks back and looks to force it off the back foot, lofting it well short fo long off for a single.

Both teams are on the defensive at the moment, afraid of making a mistake. Quicker and flatter, around middle, and worked away off the back foot to wide long on for a run.

On a dragged length around off, Minhas hops back and across to the off side, and turns it through mid-wicket for a single. 250 up for Pakistan.

Runs only coming in singles at the moment for the hosts. Back of a length, slightly wide of the off stump. Minhas stays upright and hits it to the right of deep point for a run.

On a hard length, slanted across the off stump, Nawaz stabs it down and gets it down to long on yet again for a single.

Shanaka spears it in at the toes now, Minhas takes the front leg out and flicks it to deep mid-wicket for one more.

Back of a length, on off. Nawaz hops to the off side and taps it down to long on for another easy single.

Fullish length around off, slower too. Hasan Nawaz gets across to the off side and miscues it back to the bowler.

Shanaka pitches the ball up on the stumps, and Minhas just strokes it down to long off, turning the strike over.

Into the final 10 overs we go, then. Pakistan need 82 off 60 balls, and now Sri Lanka will be able to have an extra fielder out in the deep. Also, Dasun Shanaka is back into the attack.

Six singles in the over. Dragged length at the stumps, pushed away off the back foot and down to long on for a run.

These two are just taking their time, and taking the game deep, it seems. Length ball at the stumps, punched down to long on for another single.

The umpire has a look at the ball now. It has gotten wet because of the dew but is good enough to continue.

Bowled into the pitch, slanted into the pads. Minhas gets his hands out in front and pushes it towards mid on for a single.

The boundaries have completely dried up for Pakistan now. Good length on off, patted down off the back foot and down to long off for just one more.

Nagging length, wide of the off stump, Minhas gets a big stride out and punches it to long off for one more.

Tossed up, full and on off. This is driven away through extra cover for a single.

Just short! Wellalage drags the length back, bowling it on middle and leg. The ball doesn't quite slide on and Minhas pushes at it, uppishly and in front of the bowler. Another tidy over for Sri Lanka, just 3 runs off it.

Flatter and on off, played away from the crease and through covers for a single.

Good length around off, turning away a wee bit. Nawaz stays back an keeps it down to point.

Excellent fielding. Tossed up around off, Minhas rocks back and punches it wide of mid off. Avishka Fernando scampers across and dives in to keep it down to a single.

Lovely bowling. Slower through the air, floated up outside off, drifting in a bit. Arafat Minhas lunges across and has a poke at it but gets beaten past the outside edge.

A late dab for a quick single. Flatter and around off, steered to the left of short third for an easy run.

A touch fuller, on off and middle. Hasan Nawaz dabs it to the right of short cover.

A touch fuller, Hasan Nawaz opens the face of the bat and pushes it to short third.

Fires a fuller one, on off, Arafat Minhas flicks it to square leg for a single.

Fuller, on off, Hasan Nawaz pushes it to deep cover for one.

Short, just outside off, Hasan Nawaz steers it to short third.

Short, outside off, Hasan Nawaz clips it to right of deep mid-wicket and gets a brace.

Tossed up, fuller, on middle, Arafat Minhas blocks it out.

Well, well. Is there another twist in the tale? No, Shadab Khan tonight for Pakistan, and Arafat Minhas walks out to bat next.

OUT! BOWLED'EM! Dunith Wellalage, you beauty. Pitching it fuller, on off, with sharp turn away from the right-hander. Agha Salman kneels down attempting an ambitious slog-sweep against the turn, but fails to connect. The ball spins past his blade to hit the top of off. Pakistan lose their fifth wicket now.

Pitches it up, on off, Agha drills it to deep cover for a brace.

Shorter one, outside off, Hasan Nawaz steers it to deep third for a single.

Flatter and fuller, on middle, Hasan Nawaz blocks it down the deck.

Short, outside off, Salman Agha slaps it to deep cover for one.

Much fuller, on middle, Agha works it to deep square leg for one.

Short, outside off, Agha leaves it away.

Hard length, over middle. Salman Agha blocks it down.

Pitches it up, on off, Hasan Nawaz blocks it to cover for one.

Loud appeal for caught behind, but the umpire remains unmoved! On a length, just outside off, Hasan Nawaz tries to push it to cover, but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Yorker, on off, Hasan Nawaz digs it to mid off.

Tossed up, fuller, outside off, Hasan Nawaz pushes it to cover for a single.

Full, on middle, Nawaz blocks it back to the bowler.

Pitches it up, around off. Salman Agha dabs it to deep cover for one.

Full, on off, Nawaz pushes it to cover for one.

Short, outside off, Salman Agha punches it to deep cover for a single.

Short, just outside off, Agha dabs it toward backward point.

Yorker, on middle, Hasan Nawaz jams it back to the bowler.

Bumper, over middle, Hasan Nawaz ducks underneath.

OUT! CASTLED! A big, big wicket for Sri Lanka as Dilshan Madushanka gets the dismissal of Fakhar Zaman. Full and angling straight into the stumps. Fakhar Zaman charges down the track for a wild, towering launch over mid-wicket. He misses it by a mile as the ball rips through to the middle and leg stumps. Fakhar's explosive knock, scoring 127 off 99 balls, is at last over,

Back of a length, on middle, Salman Agha flicks it to deep backward square leg for one.

Bumper, on middle, Fakhar Zaman pulls it to deep sqaure leg for one.

Short, outside off, Fakhar Zaman punches it to deep cover and gets a brace.

Short, on off, Salman Agha pushes it back to the bowler.

Short, on middle, Fakhar Zaman turns it to square leg for one.

FOUR! SHOT! Short of a length, outside off, Zaman punches it from his back foot toward deep cover. The fielder in the region spinrts to his left, dives but ends up parrying it further to the boundary ropes.

FOUR! Nicely played! Pitches it up, on middle, Fakhar Zaman sweeps it behind square leg for a boundary.

WIDE! On a length, wide outside off, beyond the tramline.

A touch fuller, on off, Fakhar Zaman guides it to short third for a single. The fielder has a shy at the keeper's end. The keeper then unesserarily fires it at the bowler's end, but it hits the stumps and deflects off toward mid off for another single.

Fires a fuller, on off, Fakhar Zaman skips down the track and slaps it to cover.

Back of a length, around the pads of the batter. Salman Agha walks down the track and misses his flick as he wears on his thigh pad.

Much fuller, on middle, Salman Agha jams it to mid off.

Bangs into a hard one, over middle. Salman Agha ducks underneath it.

Fuller, around middle, Salman Agha nudges it to mid-wicket.

Back of a length, outside off, Fakhar Zaman pats it to cover for one.

SIX! Oh my word! Maheesh Theekshana has dropped it beyond the boundary line. Short of a length outside off from over the wicket, Fakhar cuts cleanly out to deep third. Maheesh Theekshana moves across on the boundary, but loses his positioning relative to the rope. Caught in two minds, his attempt to keep the ball in play results in him tipping it right over the cushion for six runs. Also, 200 up for Pakistan!.

DRINKS! This game is on a knife-edge at the moment and Fakhar Zaman even seems to have put Pakistan ahead. With 129 more needed off 19 overs, and 7 wickets in hand, you would put your money on the batting team. Sri Lanka need to somehow make inroads or else the game will get away from them really quickly.

Fuller, on middle, Fakhar Zaman clips it to square leg for one.

A tad fuller, outside off, Salman Agha guides it to short third for a single.

Tossed up, fuller, on middle, Fakhar Zaman sweeps it to fine leg for one.

Pitches it up, on middle, Fakhar Zaman blocks it down.

A touch fuller, on leg, Fakhar Zaman defends it to the leg side.

Fuller, outside off, Agha drives it to cover for one.

On the pads, this is flicked away off the pads and works it past deep square leg for a couple of runs.

FOUR! There it is! Fakhar Zaman and a big game - it just had to be him. Back of a length, over middle and leg, Fakhar Zaman stands tall and swings it away through mid-wicket for a boundary.

Hard length outside off, punched away through covers for a single.

Too full and on leg, driven down to long on for a run.

Dug in short and outside off, this is steered down to deep third for a single.

Back of a length, angled across off, Salman angles it wide of deep third and picks up two runs.

Tossed up on the stumps, Salman comes down the pitch and drives it down to long on for another single.

Lobbed up around off, this is driven wide of mid off for one more run.

Floated up on the pads, this is tickled down to fine leg for a single.

Tossed up at the stumps, eased through covers for a single.

FOUR! Too much width on offer and Zaman puts it away, moving on to 95. Short and around off, Fakhar Zaman stands tall, reaches out and slams it through cover-point for a boundary.

Dragged well short and wide of the off stump, tapped down to backward point.

Pitched up on middle and leg, clipped down to long on for a single.

Slower and shorter, angled down le, pulled down to fine leg for a single.

Hard length over middle, Zaman hops down the pitch and swings it away to deep mid-wicket for a single.

The leg-cutter, around off, angled down to deep third for a single.

Back of a length, on the pads, and this is dabbed down into the leg side for a single.

SIX! Banged away! Tossed up at the stumps, Fakhar Zaman skips down the track and launches it straight back down the ground for a six.

Tossed up at the stumps, Salman Agha leans on and blocks it off.

Salman Agha is the new batter in.

OUT! CAUGHT AND BOWLED! That's a soft dismissal, and Saad Baig punches his bat in disgust. Flighted up on a fullish length around off. Saad Baig lunges ahead and the ball sticks in the pitch, and Baig ends up chipping it back to the bowler. Maheesh Theekshana takes a comfortbale return catch.

On a length and at the stumps, eased down to long on for a single.

FOUR! Zaman nearly cleans up the non-striker. Tossed up at the stumps, Fakhar Zaman dances down the track and pummels it back past the non-striker for a boundary.

Floated up outside off, Fakhar taps it down behind point.

FOUR! Flatter and angled across off, Zaman fetches it from wide of the off stump and slogs it to the left of deep mid-wicket for a boundary.

Pitched up at the stumps, Baig comes forward and pushes it back to the bowler.

Full and wide outside off, driven away past covers for a couple of runs.

FOUR! Banged away! Dug in short and over off, Saad Baig nails the pull in front of square leg and the ball races away to the fence.

Full and straight, blocked off by Baig.

Good length on off, Zaman comes forward and drives it through mid off for a single.

Back of a length and wide of the off stump, Fakhar Zaman slaps it away wide of deep point and picks up a couple of runs.

No run, just a mere push. But no space for a run.

Oh, nearly! Tossed up around off, Fakhar Zaman steps down and drives it wide of the bowler. Maheesh Theekshana springs to his right and extends his right hand, spilling it behind for a single.

FOUR! A touch of class. Good length, going across off, Zaman stays back and dabs it wide of short third and the ball rolls away into the fence.

FOUR! Flatter one, angled down leg, Fakhar Zaman sits down and laps it down to fine leg and the ball races past short fine leg for a boundary.

Short again, angled across off, this is cut away to deep point for a single.

Back of a length and outside off, dabbed down to short third.

Change! Maheesh Theekshana rejoins the attack now, replacing Dunith Wellalage.

Dug in shorter now, and around off, flying away around helmet height. Zaman leaves it alone.

Back of a length and angled across off, Zaman stabs it down to point.

Excellent running. Slower one, back of a length and on leg. This is nudged down through the vacant square leg region and the baters race back for two runs.

Banged in a bit short and around off, angling in. Baig puls it aerially and in front of deep mid-wicket for a run.

FOUR! That's sublime from Baig. Good length, around off, stroked away on the up ad past point for a boundary.

Length ball at the stumps, Baig steps out to go big but miscues it badly to mid on.

Dragged length, wide of the off stump, patted down wide of point for a single.

Flatter one at the stumps, blocked off by Baig.

Good length on off, tucked away through the leg side for a single.

SIX! That's classic Fakhar Zaman. Tossed up around middle, Zaman skips down the track and tonks it away to the left of deep mid-wicket for a biggie.

Flatter delivery around off, Zaman pushes it back down to the right of the bowler.

Shorter in length on middle and leg, swung away off the back foot and wide of deep mid-wicket for a couple of runs.

FOUR! FIFTY FOR ZAMAN! Full outside off, the left-hander steps out and heaves across the line. Doesn't middle it, but gets enough blade to send it trickling past backward square leg for four. That's Fakhar Zaman's 20th ODI half-century.

Short, on off, Saad Baig pulls it to deep square leg for a single.

Short, on off, Baig punches it crisply to cover.

Fuller, around off, Baig drives it to cover.

Short, outside off, Fakhar Zaman guides it to deep third for a single. That will bring up the 100-run partnership between these two batters.

Short, on middle, Fakhar Zaman bunts it to the leg side.

FOUR! Exquisite! Short, outside off, Saad Baig cuts it to the right of short third for a boundary.

Short, on off, Fakhar Zaman skips down the deck and punches it through mid on for one.

Fires this one, a touch fuller, on off, Fakhar Zaman blocks it down the deck.

Full, on off, Saad Baig drives it to long on for a single.

Fuller, on middle, Fakhar Zaman clips it to deep backward square leg for one.

A touch fuller, on middle, Baig tucks it to the leg side for a single.

Back of a length, outside off, Baig pushes it to deep cover for one.

Short, around off, Fakhar Zaman cuts it to deep point for a single.

Full, on middle, Saad Baig drives it to mid off for one.

Appeal for LBW, but the umpire remains unmoved! The Ball Tracking clearly shows that the delivery is pitching outside leg. Just a shade behind the good length, around the pads, Saad Baig tries to flick it but misses and wears on the pad.

On a nagging length, spraying down the leg side. Saad Baig fails to flick it away.

FIFTY FOR BAIG! A knock full of discipline and grit. Fuller in length, around the pads of the batter. Saad Baig clips it to the left of the deep fine leg fielder for a couple of runs to get to his half-century.

Full, on off, Saad Baig dabs it to cover and gets across for a single.

Tossed up, on off, Baig pushes it to deep cover for a single.

Full, on off, Saad Baig blocks it down the deck.

Pitches it up, around the leg stump. Saad Baig sweeps it to short fine leg.

Short, on off, Fakhar Zaman punches it to long on for a single.

A touch fuller, outside off, Saad Baig pats it to the right of cover and gets across.

Pitches it up, on off, Baig drives it to cover.

Fuller, on off, Fakhar Zaman blocks it back to the bowler.

Bumper, over middle. Fakhar Zaman arches backward to make a leave at it.

Sahan Arachchige has hurt himself in the field and looks a bit jaded. He takes a while to get back up and is being taken off the field by the physio to have his left hand looked at. Hopefully, he can be back on the field soon.

Brilliant fielding! Back of a length, outside off, and Fakhar Zaman gets up on his toes to unleash an absolute bullet of a slash. It flies like a rocket toward backward point, where Arachchige hurls himself to his right with a spectacular dive. He gets a hand to it, parrying the sheer force of the stroke away toward deep third to save a certain boundary

Pitches it up, on middle and leg, Saad Baig tucks it to deep backward square leg for a single.

Short, outside off, Baig knocks it to cover.

FOUR! SHOT! Just a shade behind the good length, on middle. Saad Baig clears his front foot and pulls it over mid-wicket for four runs.

Full-length delivery, on off, Fakhar Zaman blocks it down the deck.

Tossed up, a touch fuller, outside off, Fakhar Zaman rocks back and opens the face of the bat to guide it to the right of the short third for a couple of runs.

Short, on off, Saad Baig cuts it to deep point for a single.

Short, outside off, Saad Baig steers it to backward point.

Fuller, on off, Baig defends it down the track.

On a length, on off, Saad Baig bunts back to the bowler.

DRINKS! After a couple of early scalps for Sri Lanka, this contest has now started to even out. Fakhar Zaman is turning a sluggish start into something meaningful, at least for the time being. Saad Baig has looked in sublime touch since coming on, but still, Sri Lanka will feel that they are slightly ahead in the game. 242 more needed off 34 overs and the required rate is over 7 runs an over. A lot hinges on the next 10-15 overs, and neither side will be looking to back down. Also, Dunith Wellalage comes on to bowl now.

Bangs hard onto the deck, over middle. Fakhar Zaman rocks back to pull it away, but it beats the top edge due to the bounce.

Pitches it up, on off, Zaman pushes it to cover.

Fires a fuller one, on off, Fakhar Zaman steers it to backward point for no runs.

Tossed up, fuller, on off, Baig drives it to deep cover for one.

FOUR! Excellent shot from Baig! Short, on middle and off. Saad Baig hangs back and pulls it down through mid-wicket for one.

Short, on off, Saad Baig punches it straight to the cover fielder.

FOUR! Oh, that's a beauty from Zaman! Short of a length, just outside off. Fakhar Zaman makes room, transfers his weight on his back foot and opens the face of the bat to guide it past the point fielder for a boundary.

Flatter now, fuller in length, on off Saad Baig drives it to mid off for another single.

Full-length delivery, on middle, Fakhar Zaman pushes it mid on and gets across for one.

Tossed up, much fuller, on off, Saad Baig eases it to mid off for one.

Pitches it up, on off, Fakhar Zaman drives it to cover for a single.

Short, outside off, Saad Baig punches it deep cover for a single.

Back of a length, on off, Fakhar Zaman miscues his shot to mid on.

Pitches it up, on off, Fakhar Zaman blocks it down the deck.

Full, on off, Saad Baig eases it to point for a single.

FOUR! Oh, Baag made it look so easy! Just a shade behind the good length, around the leg stump. Saad Baig hangs back and tucks it toward the right of short fine leg for a boundary.

Fires fuller, just outside off, Fakhar Zaman guides it to deep third for a single.

Fuller in length, on middle, Fakhar Zaman pushes it toward the right of the diving short mid-wicket fielder for a brace.

Tossed up, on off, Saad Baig blocks it down the deck.

Fuller, on middle, Fakhar Zaman tucks it to square leg for one.

Short, outside off, Saad Baig cuts it to deep cover for a single.

Fuller, around off, Saad Baig defends it to the right of the bowler.

Pitches it up, on off, Saad Baig eases it to the off side.

Back of a length, around off, Saad Baig pushes it to cover.

SIX! Hammered away! Short of a length, around middle. Zaman stands tall and heaves it up and over deep square leg for half a dozen.

On a length, at the stumps, Fakhar Zaman blocks it back to the bowler.

Fuller, on off, Zaman defends it to mid off.

Short of a length, around off, Saad Baig punches it to cover for a single.

Fuller, around off, Saad Baig defends it down.

Nearly chopped on! Back of a length, pitching on off and nipping back. Saad Baig rocks back and tries to cut it, but as the ball shapes back to the left-hander, he cramps for room and ends up dabbing it from the inner part of the bat. The ball drops dead on the track just before the stumps.

Janith Liyanage comes into the attack now, replacing Asitha Fernando.

Floated up, fuller, on middle, Saad Baig tucks it to deep square leg for a single.

Tossed up, on off, Saad Baig drives it to wide mid off.

Short, outside off, Fakhar Zaman pats it to deep cover for a single.

Pitches it up, on middle, Fakhar Zaman tucks it to mid-wicket.

Short, around off, Saad Baig punches it to deep cover for a single.

Fuller, around off, Saad Baig pushes it to cover.

End of Powerplay 1! Sri Lanka can now have 4 fielders outside the 30-yard circle until the end of the 40th over.

Good change-up to end the over. A heavy bumper, just outside off, and Fakhar Zaman just watches it sail past him.

FOUR! Not off the middle of the bat, but good enough. Pitched fuller on middle and leg, Fakhar Zaman swings it away off the inner half of the blade and to the left of the mid-wicket fielder, picking up four runs. 50 up for Pakistan as well.

Good length in the channel, Baig stays back and opens the bat face late, squeezing it down past the backward point fielder for a single.

FOUR! Too short, and punished! Short and wide outside off, Saad Baig reaches out and uppercuts it down to deep backward point for a boundary.

Good delivery, but that's a loose shot. Very full and on the fourth stump. Baig's feet go nowhere as he looks to cover drive and the ball sneaks under the bat.

Back of a length and over off. Saad Baig holds the pose as he stands tall and punches it down to short extra cover.

Just two runs off the over, another tidy one for the Lankans. Bowled very full and outside off, Zaman stabs it down to extra cover.

No timing on that. Full and flat around off, Zaman has a swipe across the line, completely mistiming it to the mid-wicket fielder.

Nagging length, in and around off, Fakhar Zaman camps back and keeps it out.

Nice and full again, outside off. Saad Baig punches it from his crease and past extra cover for one more.

Fuller and straighter, clipped away through mid-wicket for a single.

Floated up on off stump, Zaman gets forward and makes a block.

A maiden over from Fernando, the second one for Sri Lanka in this chase. Hard length, angling it across the left-hander. Baig hangs back and nudges it down to short third.

Make that five dots in a row now. Back of a length, slanted across off and Baig chops it down to cover.

Pitched up at the batter this time, and Baig defends it off again. Four dots in the over so far.

Well bowled and equally well played. A heavy short ball, just outside off and coming in around shoulder height. Baig watches it all the way and leaves it alone.

Bowled on a good length and angled across off. Baig plays it down with a horizontal bat towards cover-point.

Fernando switches ends and starts with a full ball around leg. Saad Baig blocks it off.

Fuller one on off and middle, Fakhar gets halfway forward and tentatively keeps it out.

Fuller and on off, drifted in. Zaman leans on a bit and blocks it off.

Bowled seam-up, on a length and darted in towards the off pole. Zaman stays back to defend.

SIX! Fakhar seems to have had enough. Fullish length around middle, Fakhar Zaman opens the stance and goes down across to the off side before walloping it over deep mid-wicket for a biggie.

A bit fuller and straighter, Zaman leans on and smothers it away to square leg.

Theekshana starts with a flatter delivery on middle. Fakhar Zaman defends it off.

FOUR! Even better! Dug in short and around off, Saad Baig leans back and plays a crunching pull shot just behind square leg and the ball races away to the fence.

FOUR! Top shot! Saad Baig has shown flashes of brilliance all throughout this series. Short ball, slanted in over middle and leg. Baig gets in position early and nails it through square leg for a boundary.

Should have been two runs. Back of a length, nudged down off the hips and behind square leg for a single.

Pitched up outside the line of off stump, Fakhar Zaman leans on and strokes it to wide mid off.

Short again, around chest height and shaping away from the fourth stump. Zaman tucks his hands back and leaves it alone.

Wide! Excellent change-up, but a tad too high. The surprise bumper from Madushanka, banged in short and around off, sailing over the head of the batter.

On a hard length around off, angling it back in. Fakhar Zaman watchfully defends.

Full of a good length, around middle, and Baig makes another solid block off the front foot.

Pitched up around middle and leg, Baig blocks it off.

That's well fielded. Full and around leg, flicked away to the right of short fine leg, where the fielder dives and makes a good half stop. Just a single.

No way out at the moment for Pakistan. Good length, in the channel, and dabbed down in front of extra cover by Zaman.

Full of a good length, around middle, and Fakhar stays solid in defence.

Bowled full and on leg, targeting the front pad. Zaman drives it well but straight to mid on.

FOUR! Uh, oh! A lapse in concentration in the deep from Asitha Fernando. Back of a length and outside off, angled down to deep third. Fernando moves to his left and lets the ball slip through his hands. Pakistan at 22/2 after 4 overs.

FOUR! That's sweetly timed. Good length, just outside off, and Saad Baig just caresses it on the up, hitting it wide of point and gets off the mark with a boundary.

Pitched up around off, Saad Baig blocks it off the front foot.

Saad Baig is the new man in.

OUT! CAUGHT! Pavan Rathnayake pulls off a sensational juggling act, and he can do no wrong at the moment. Dilshan Madushanka pitches the ball up in that corridor of uncertainty again and forces Babar Azam to play at it. Azam looks to drive but gets an outside edge that flies away wide of the fly slip. Rathnayake lunges across but the ball comes quickly at him, and pops out as well. However, while falling over, Rathnayake keeps his eyes on the ball and takes it on the third attempt. Replays confirm that the catch is good and Azam departs for a duck as Pakistan's tormentor, Dilshan Madushanka gets another wicket.

Fuller and around off, going across with the angle. Azam edges it down with soft hands towards fly slip, where the fielder makes a sharp stop.

Good-length delivery around off, looking to shape it back in, but this goes straight on. Babar taps it down to cover.

Another dot ball. Asitha hits the deck hard, bowling it a bit fuller and around off. Zaman smothers it across to mid-wicket.

Length again, a bit outside off, and Fakhar crunches it straight to the point fielder.

Good length at the stumps, blocked off.

SIX! Oh, just palmed over the ropes. Banged in a bit short and wide, Fakhar Zaman goes after it but gets a thick outside edge that flies down to deep third. The fielder in the deep, is right on the ropes and leaps up, only managing to get fingers on it and the ball lands over the ropes.

That's a loose shot from Zaman. Hard length, seaming away from off, but this one holds its line a bit. Zaman's feet go nowhere as he goes to cut but is beaten.

Too full and on the pads, flicked away straight to the man at square leg.

Madushanka begins with a wicket-maiden! Pitched up around off, looking for swing that isn't there. Babar Azam blocks it off.

Hard length on off, angling it away. Babar Azam hops back, plays it late and with soft hands, nudging it down past the off stump.

The next batter is Babar Azam.

OUT! EDGED AND TAKEN! Dilshan Madushanka draws first blood in the chase and sends Maaz Sadaqat packing. This is bowled full again, outside off this time and allowing the ball to swing away a bit. Sadaqat backs away to pummel it over covers but gets a thick outside edge that flies away toward first slip. Pavan Rathnayake leaps up and takes a very sharp catch with both hands. Pakistan are 8/1, chasing 326 for the win.

Pitched full and on middle, looking for swing again. Sadaqat gets well forward and punches it straight to mid on.

Good length, attacking the top of off stump, but Sadaqat stays solid in defence.

A beauty to begin with from Madushanka. Pitched up on the fourth-stump line, getting the ball to swing away. Sadaqat is drawn forward into the drive but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Who will bowl from the other end? Dilshan Madushanka it is!

A couple of runs to end, and Pakistan are 8/0 after the first over of the chase. Pitched up in the channel, Zaman drives it wide of mid off and gets it through the infield for a brace.

Hard length over middle and off, Sadaqat hangs back and runs it off the face of the blade to deep third and picks up a single.

Good length, around the top of off, and confidently blocked off to point by Sadaqat.

FOUR! Lovely shot to get off the mark. Back of a length, slanted across off. Maaz Sadaqat stands tall and back, punching it down, just to the left of point and picks up a boundary.

Fakhar and Pakistan are off the mark. Hard length over middle, edged down to dee third for a single.

Beaten right away! Full of a good length, on off and naturally angling away a bit. Fakhar Zaman has a tentative poke at it off the front foot but gets beaten past the outside edge.

The batters run two, but only one run is added to the total as the umpire feels there is a short run taken by Asitha Fernando. So, Sri Lanka finish with 325/8 on the board. Full and on off, Fernando digs it out to deep cover and the batters race back for the second run, which isn't going to be counted because, while turning, Fernando didn't ground his bat inside the popping crease.

Good work in the deep, and the batters only get a single. Short and angled down leg, Maheesh Theekshana moves well inside the line and hoicks it down to the right of deep backward square leg. Babar Azam cuts it off well, but Theekshana is admiring his shot and thinks he's got a boundary here but that doesn't allow him to get back for the second run.

The batters steal a run here. Full and just outside off, Asitha Fernando makes room to go through the off side but misses. Maheesh Theekshana is already on his bike and the keeper misses the under-arm throw at the striker's end.

Only a single. Maheesh tries to back away but Rauf follows him with a quick ball, bowling it back of a length and this is nudged away behind square leg for a single.

A good bumper! Quick and over off and middle, at an awkward height as well. Theekshana just ducks under it.

Swing and a miss! Back of a length and around off, shoots up off the deck. Maheesh Theekshana looks to pull it over mid-wicket but fails to connect.

FOUR! Edged away, but Asitha won't mind it at all. Full ball around off, Asitha Fernando backs away and goes hard at it, getting an outside edge that goes wide of the keeper and into the deep third fence.

Full and around off, pushed away into the off side for a single.

Wide! Another short ball, slower and just angling down leg. Theekshana ducks under it and another wide is called.

Wide! Banged in short and angled down leg.

SIX! That's come out of nowhere! Pitched up around off, at a gentle pace as well. Maheesh Theekshana holds his shape well and thwacks it over long off for a biggie.

Skiddy length, pushed through quicker over middle. Fernando chops it down towards leg slip and picks up a single.

Another slower ball, into the deck and angled into the batter. Asitha Fernando backs away to open up the off side but fails to lay a bat on it.

Asitha Fernando walks up next.

OUT! CAUGHT! A wonderful change of pace by Naseem Shah, and Sri Lanka keep losing steam at the death, slipping from 279/3 to now 307/8. This is dug into the deck, shorter and slower, angling it across off. Sahan Arachchige has a bit too much time on his hands and eventually tries to just ramp it over short third. But, there's no pace on the ball and it gets lobbed down to short third where Faheem Ashraf takes a simple catch.

Maheesh Theekshana takes a nasty blow to his helmet. The physio comes in for a mandatory concussion check. Everything looks good to continue. Also, Pakistan are penalized for a slower over rate, and will be allowed a maximum of only 4 fielders outside the inner ring.

Ouch! That's a nasty blow on the helmet. Haris Rauf bowls another sharp bumper, right at the batter and this one rears up off the deck. Maheesh Theekshana is unable to completely duck under it and gets hit flush on the helmet. The ball lobs down to fine leg and the batters get a couple of leg byes. Hopefully, Theekshana is fine here.

Well bowled! An aggressive bumper, right at the batter, and Maheesh Theekshana has to duck under it.

Maheesh Theekshana is the next batter.

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Good review! Rauf bangs it in shorter and over off, at an awkward height. Dunith Wellalage tries to rise up on his toes and cuts but feathers it through to Saad Baig. Edged and gone, or is it? The bowler and the keeper start celebrating, but the umpire doesn't raise his finger. Haris Rauf is absolutely certain and Shaheen Afridi reviews it. The third umpire has a look at it and finds on UltraEdge that Wellalage ran the ball off the face of the blade, and the on-field decision is overturned. Pakistan keep getting timely wickets at the death.

Back of a length and around off, tighter line. Arachchige backs away and mictimes the cut through the short third region for a single.

FOUR! Swung away to the fence. Hard length on off, angling in. Arachchige moves inside the line, uses the angle well and heaves it wide of mid-wicket for a boundary.

Full of a good length, speared in towards the stumps. Dunith Wellalage stays leg side of the ball and bunts it to the off side for a single. 300 up for Sri Lanka.

Another single to end, 8 runs and a wicket off the over. Full and on the legs, angling down, Wellalage flicks it down to deep backward square leg and crosses over.

Shah nails the yorker now, on off and middle. Arachchige stays back and jams it towards cover for one more. This has been a good comeback from Naseem Shah in this over.

Wider on the crease again, very full and slanted into the pads. Dunith Wellalage gets squared up and edges it down through the gully region for a single.

Dunith Wellalage is the new man at the crease.

OUT! CAUGHT! Crunched, but straight to the fielder in the deep. Naseem Shah bowls it seam-up, going full and wide outside off. Janith Liyanage stays deep in his crease and smacks it flat but straight down the throat of the fielder at deep point. Maaz Sadaqat takes a sharp reverse-cup catch around his face, and Sri Lanka lose yet another wicket, slipping down to 296/6 now.

Shah comes around the wicket now, angling it in from wider on the crease. A bit short and on off, Arachchige presses back and dabs it in front of mid-wicket for a single.

FOUR! Naseem starts off with a slower one yet again and gets punished. Full and outside off, Arachchige drills it through extra cover and picks up a welcome boundary.

Excellent stuff from Shaheen at the death, only 4 off the over. Full of a good length, banged into the surface and on off. Arachchige stays back and dabs it wide of point for a single.

Another dot ball. Full and speared into middle and leg, Sahan Arachchige flicks it sweetly but finds the fielder at mid-wicket once again.

Nearly chipped straight to the fielder. Pitched up at the stumps, Arachchige clips it away but gets more of a leading edge in front of the mid-wicket fielder.

Pace off this time, short and pushed wide of the off stump. Janith Liyanage goes after it and slashes it down to deep backward point for just one more.

Top delivery! An inswinging yorker now, landing it right at the toes. Arachchige can't to anything but dig it out into the off side and pick up a single.

Good-length delivery, pushed into the front pad. Liyanage stabs it down in front of mid on and collects a quick single.

Short of a length, outside off, Janith Liyanage guides it to deep backward point for a single.

Yorker, outside off, Sahan Arachchige digs it out to point for one.

Shaping down the leg side, on a hard length. Janith Liyanage misses his flick and hits high on the thigh pad before it rolls to backward square leg for a leg bye.

On a length, at the stumps, Sahan Arachchige pushes it wide of bowler and gets a single.

Sahan Arachchige walks out to bat next.

OUT! CAUGHT! Haris Rauf has his name written under the wicket list and now, both Lankan batters at the crease are new. Extra bounce and pace from a hard length outside off, rushing Rathnayake as he attempts to flat-bat down the ground. Undone by the speed off the deck, he can only miscue it high into the sky. Babar Azam judges it nicely at long-on, tracking to his left and getting right underneath to safely complete the catch.

A slight halt in play as Janith Liyanage has hurt himself while putting in a dive at the non-striker's end. The physio has a quick look at it, and Liyanage is good to continue.

Pitches it up, on middle, Janith Liyanage drives it to mid on and gets a quick single. Shaheen Afridi moves to his left, picks it up and fires a wild throw, but the ball hits the shoulder of the batter, who is far away from the non-striker's stumps. Nevertheless, the Pakistan skipper goes up to Liyanage and apologizes instantly.

Much fuller, on middle, Janith Liyanage jams it to mid on and gets a single.

Short, over middle, Janith Liyanage ducks under it.

Full, on middle, Pavan Rathnayake pushes it to long on for one.

Appeal goes round for LBW, but this is looking down the leg side. The umpire shakes his head, but the skipper challenges it with a review. This is a full-length delivery, tailing in, around the pads of the batter. Janith Liyanage tries to flick it but fails to get the proper connection. The UltraEdge detects a huge spike as the ball hits the outside edge and rolls away to backward point. Single taken. Pakistan lose their review. They still have one left in the bank.

Janith Liyanage walks out next.

OUT! TAKEN! Two wickets in two overs for the skipper of Pakistan. Pitches it up, angling in, on off and middle. Dasun Shanaka clears his front foot to launch it downtown, but doesn't quite get the ideal connection off the bat. The ball flies toward long on, where Maaz Sadaqat pouches it, moving slightly to his left.

Change of pace, fuller, on off, Pavan Rathnayake pushes it to long off for a single.

Shaping down the leg side, Dasun Shanaka shuffles and tries to flick it away, but misses.

FOUR! This is just exceptional batting from Shanaka. Fires much fuller, around the pads. Dasun Shanaka rolls his wrists and flicks it behind square leg for the boundary.

Pitches it up, on middle, Dasun Shanaka flicks it to the vacant mid-wicket region for a brace.

FOUR! Oh, cheeky little touch from Shanaka! A touch slower from Rauf, just outside off. Dasun Shanaka just opens the face of the bat and guides it toward the right of the keeper for four runs.

On a length, on off and middle. Pavan Rathnayake pulls it to deep square leg for a single.

FOUR! Thumped away! Overpitched delivery, just outside off. Pavan Rathnayake punches it toward the right of the diving cover fielder for a boundary.

On the fuller side, on off, Pavan Rathnayake drives it to long off for another single.

Pitches it up, outside off, Dasun Shanaka drives it to deep cover for a single.

SIX! KABOOM! Fires a fuller one, angling in, around the leg stump. Dasun Shanaka takes a step away from the stumps and launches it over wide long for a biggie.

Nailing a perfect yorker, on middle, Dasun Shanaka clips it to mid-wicket.

Much fuller, on middle, Dasun Shanaka offers his flick early and gets the leading edge before it rolls back to the bowler.

Dasun Shanaka is sent up the order, in at number 5.

OUT! LBW! Shaheen Afridi returns into the attack and strikes on the very first ball. Much fuller, just behind the yorker length, angling in, toward the stumps. Kamindu Mendis tries to ramp it over short fine, but misses the hit and wears on the pad. Mendis opts for the review here. The UltraEdge shows no bat involvement and the Ball Tracking detects umpire's call on the ball hitting the leg stump. That would be the end of a sensational knock from Kamindu Mendis, scoring 131 runs off 128 deliveries.

The answer is - not much. On a good length and around off, Kamindu Mendis slogs it flat and down to long on, where the fielder takes the catch and realizes late that it is a Free Hit. A single is also taken.

How much will the free hit cost Pakistan?

NO BALL AND FOUR! An absolute freebie from Minhas. Free-hit coming up next. It seems the ball slips off the bowler's hand and ends up offering a full toss, above waist height, on middle. Kamindu Mendis shuffles across the stumps and swats it over backward square leg for a boundary.

Floated up, fuller, well outside off. Kamindu Mendis tries to slog sweep across the line but gets beaten.

Pitches it up, around off, Pavan Rathnayake drills it to deep cover for a single.

FOUR! Exceptional from Rathnayake! Flighted up, fuller, on off. Pavan Rathnayake gets down on one knee and sweeps it toward the left of deep square leg for four more runs.

A touch shorter, outside off, turning away. Pavan Rathnayake sweeps it to wide long on and gets a couple of runs.

FOUR! Nicely played! Tossed up, fuller, on off. Pavan Rathnayake gets down on one knee and sweeps it to the right of deep mid-wicket for a boundary.

POWERPLAY 3! Pakistan will be allowed 5 fielders outside the 30-yard circle till the end of the innings.

Slower one around off, Rathnayake moves to the off side, gets low and shovels it up and over the square leg region for a single.

A direct hit, and Mendis was gone! Full and straight, Pavan Rathnayake jams the drive down to mid off. Mendis sets up for the single without even looking where the ball went and Rathnayake sends him right back, but it's too late. Thankfully for Mendis, Maaz Sadaqat fires the throw wide of the stumps at the bowler's end.

Full-pitched delivery in the channel and in the blockhole as well. Mendis stays put and squeezes it down to deep backward point for a run.

That's cheeky from Mendis. Full again, around off, Kamindu Mendis shuffles around in the crease and ends up playing a reverse ramp down to deep third for a couple of runs.

Full and straight, Rathnayake clears the front leg and heaves it on the bounce to long on for one. First signs of the ball reversing as that one tailed back into the batter.

Full and wide outside off, Mendis goes after it, scything it down to deep point for one.

A length ball on off, angling in. Mendis stays put and punches it down to long on for one more.

Flatter and angled into middle, Rathnayake rocks back and punches it past the non-striker, towards long on for a single.

Nagging length outside off, Rathnayake stays back to cut but chops it down wide of the keeper.

Flighted up around off, Rathnayake backs away and creams the drive wide to the right of sweeper cover for a couple of runs.

Tossed up, full and on middle. Kamindu Mendis eases it down to long on and turns the strike over.

Clumsy from the skipper in the field. Good length on off, punched away to cover, where Shaheen Afridi misfields and allows the batters to pinch a single.

Really full and angled across off, Mendis looks to drive but gets a feather of an outside edge. The ball behind the stumps and goes straight into the hands of the keeper.

Pitched up full and around off, this is squeezed away square through the off side for a single.

FIFTY up for Pavan Rathnayake, making it two fifties to go along with two centuries in this series, wow! Good-length delivery on the pads, tucked away down to the right of deep square leg for a couple of runs.

Seam-up delivery, full and on off, just shaping back in a bit. Mendis pushes it out to extra cover for a single.

Banged in well short and around off, slower again. Mendis looks to hop up and cut it fine but chops it down to the keeper.

SIX! That's been nailed. Shah begins the new spell with a slower one, on a shortish length and it sits up nicely. Kamindu Mendis lays into it and whacks it over deep mid-wicket for a six.

Tossed up on off, Mendis leans on and clips it down to long on for a run.

Mendis knows he should have put it away. Full and angled down leg, Kamindu sits down and sweeps it straight to short fine leg.

On a good length, around off and middle. Rathnayake rocs back and taps it down through mid on for a single.

Floated up around off, this is eased away to cover.

FOUR! Just marginally short, and Pavan Rathnayake is quick to pounce on it. Dragged down over middle, Rathnayake rocks back and swings it away towards cow corner for a boundary.

Minhas returns to the attack and starts with a quicker one at the stumps. Rathnayake watchfully keeps it out.

Slower one at the stumps, eased down to long on for a single.

Fuller this time, on off, and Rathnayake digs it back onto the deck.

FOUR! Nothing wrong with the delivery this time, and the 100-run stand is up between these two as well. Full of a good length and on off, Rathnayake backs away a bit before driving it uppishly and between extra cover and mid off for another boundary.

FOUR! A real 'hit-me' ball from Faheem. Short and wide outside off, Rathnayake waits back well and hammers it with an angled bat, to the left of deep point for a boundary.

Just back of a good length, angled into the batter. Rathnayake shows the full face of the bat and punches it to mid on.

Shorter and wide of the off stump, cut away to deep backward point for a single.

Hard length around off. Rathnayake chops it down to cover.

Pitched up on middle and leg, Rathnayake stays leg side of the ball and clips it to the man at a straightish mid-wicket.

Bowled from around the wicket now, in and around off. Mendis glides it down to deep third for a single. 200 up for Sri Lanka.

Arafat Minhas has been spotted warming up. Maybe he will return to the attack pretty soon.

FOUR! Edged away! Good length, a bit wide of the off stump. Kamindu Mendis throws his hands at it and gets an outside edge that goes quickly and wide to the left of the keeper, running away to the deep third fence.

A skiddy bumper over middle, right at the batter. Rathnayake rocks back and mistimes the pull to the right of mid-wicket for a single.

Play halted! It seems Kamindu Mendis is having some discomfort in his right forearm. The physio is helping him with some stretching. Maybe it's because he has been batting for a long time. Alright, he is looking good to continue.

Bowled quite full and around leg stump, Kamindu stays back before flicking it off the pads to deep mid-wicket for a single.

The 34th over is complete, and now it's time for Pakistan to select which ball they want to continue with for the rest of the innings. The selection has been made, and we are good to go.

Back of a length and wide of the off stump. This is steered down to deep backward point for a single.

Pitched up at the stump, at a gentle pace as well. Rathnayake pushes it back past the bowler for a single.

Ashraf is lucky to get away with that one. Shortish length down leg, Rathnayake clips it off the hips but straight to short fine leg.

Hard length wide of the off stump, patted down past point for a single.

FOUR! What a way to bring up your MAIDEN ODI HUNDRED. Take a bow, Kamindu Mendis! Banged in well short and outside off. Mendis stays back and waits well before reaching up and ramping it down to deep third for a boundary. Kamindu gets a warm applause from the dugout and deservingly so.

Length ball around the top of off, hit away on the up and through covers for a single.

Good length around off, hit away sweetly towards sweeper cover for a single. 9 off the over.

FOUR! Good shot, but it was there to be hit as well. Short of a length over middle, angling into the swinging arc. Rathnayake swivels a bit before picking it off his waist and swatting it flat and in front of mid-wicket for a boundary.

Just one run! Short ball over middle, Kamindu Mendis picks it well and nails the pull but hits it straight to the fielder at deep backward square leg for a single. Mendis now moves to 99.

A bit of hesitation, but the batters eventually get across. Slower one, on a good length and around middle, Rathnayake pushes it down to the right of mid on and pinches a single.

Pitched a bit fuller and attacking the pads, Mendis presses back and flicks it through mid-wicket for one more.

Back of a length and outside off, Rathnayake stands tall and cracks a cut shot down to deep backward point for just a single.

DRINKS BREAK! Pakistan did well to strike a couple of times quickly after the drinks break, and all credit goes to Salman Agha for that. But Pavan Rathnayake has settled in nicely at the crease and given Kamindu Mendis the support he needed. Kamindu is now just three runs away from his maiden ODI century! The other bowlers need to step up. Yes, the pitch isn't offering much support, but they need to find a way to at least build pressure on the batters so the hosts can get an opening.

Short again, a bit straighter this time and Mendis takes it on, pulling it to the left of deep mid-wicket for a couple of runs. Kamindu Mendis moves to 97 now.

Well bowled. Dug in short over off, going a bit away from the left-hander. Kamindu Mendis stays watchful and drops the hands down to let it pass.

Good length around off, punched on the up but straight to mid off.

One more as Rathnayake flicks this full ball on the pads to deep square leg.

Back of a length, angling it across off. Mendis stands tall and punches it down square through the off side and rotates strike.

Fuller delivery to start, on middle, and clipped down to long on for a single.

Faheem Ashraf joins the attack for the first time. Will he be able to break this partnership?

Slower delivery, floated up around off, Rathnayake leans on and pushes it through cover-point for one more. 8 runs off that over.

Angling down leg again, on the fuller side and this is tickled down to fine leg for a run.

Full ball, slanted into the pads, Mendis clips it away wide of the deep mid-wicket fielder and picks up a couple of runs.

Length ball on middle, angling it across. Rathnayake stays leg side of the ball and smacks it to deep point for another single.

Good length around off, nudged away to the right of cover for a quick single. The fielder attacks the ball well but fails to gather it cleanly and the batters make it through with ease.

Wide! Attempted slower ball, full and spilled down the leg side.

Afridi gets the bumper spot-on this time. Dug in short over off stump, coming in around helmet height. Kamindu Mendis looks to take it on but is well beaten. Afridi also asks his keeper whether there was a noise, but Saad Baig says no, there wasn't.

Wide! Too high. Banged in hlafway down the pitch and around off, Mendis ducks under it a bit but the ball sails well over his head.

Pitches it up, on middle, Mendis glances it to deep square leg for one.

Flighted up, fuller, on middle, Pavan Rathnayake punches it to long off for a single.

Fullish, around the pads of the batter. Mendis flicks it behind square leg for a single.

Tossed up, fuller, just outside off, Mendis comes down the track and blocks it down.

Flat and much fuller, Pavan Rathnayake knocks it to sweeper cover for a single.

Fuller, on middle, Pavan Rathnayake defends it to mid off.

Full toss, on middle, Kamindu Mendis flicks it to short mid-wicket.

Back of a length, wide outside off, Pavan Rathnayake heaves it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Hard length, around off, Pavan Rathnayake pushes it to mid off.

Bumper, slanting down the leg side, Kamindu Mendis tries to pull it away, but offers his shot early. The ball hits the gloves of the batter and bounces off to short third for a single.

Hard length, wide outside off, Pavan Rathnayake pushes it to sweeper cover for a single.

Much fuller, wide outside off, Pavan Rathnayake slaps it to the right of deep backward point for a brace.

Flighted and fuller, outside off, Kamindu Mendis reverse sweeps it to deep point for a brace.

Pitches it up, on off, defended by Mendis.

On a length, around off, Pavan Rathnayake steers it to point for a single.

Fuller, on middle, Kamindu Mendis pushes it to mid on for a single.

FOUR! Aggressive intent from Mendis! Pitches it up, on off, Kamindu Mendis charges down the track, makes it a full toss and drills it to the left of the diving cover fielder for a boundary.

Fuller, around off, Kamindu Mendis skips down the track and blocks it down.

Hard length, around off and middle. Kamindu Mendis works it to mid-wicket and gets a single.

Bumper, over middle, Kamindu Mendis attempts to pull it away, but later withdraws his bat and ducks under the delivery.

Short of a length, over off, Pavan Rathnayake pulls it down in control to deep square leg for a single.

Just a shade behind the good length, on off, Pavan Rathnayake stands tall and blocks it down.

Bangs hard onto the track, shaping it away from the batter. Kamindu Mendis upper cuts it to the right of deep third and gets a single.

On a length, outside off, Pavan Rathnayake drills it to sweeper cover for one.

Short of a length, outside off, Mendis steers it to the right of short third for a couple of runs.

Short, around off, Kamindu Mendis bunts it to cover.

Full-length delivery, outside off, Kamindu Mendis goes for the reverse sweep, but miscues it to short third.

Fuller, around off, Pavan Rathnayake drives it to long off for one.

Tossed up, on middle, Pavan Rathnayake defends it to mid on.

A touch fuller, outside off, Mendis dabs it to cover-point and gets a single.

Arafat Minhas is brought back into the attack.

Full-length delivery, on off, Mendis drives it with soft hands toward mid off and sprints across to retain the strike for the next over.

Pitches it up, just outside off, Pavan Rathnayake pushes it to cover and gets across for one.

Serves it much fuller, on off, Kamindu Mendis drives it toward the left of mid off and gets a single.

Pitches it up, around the pads, Pavan Rathnayake flicks it to deep square leg for a single.

Back of a length, outside off, Pavan Rathnayake dabs it through cover and gets a couple of runs.

FOUR! Thumped away! Full-length delivery, shaping in, on off and middle. Pavan Rathnayake goes deep into the crease and punches it over the mid on region for four runs.

A touch fuller, around off. Mendis guides it to backward point.

Flighted and fuller, at the stumps. Pavan Rathnayake pushes it to mid on and gets across for one.

Fuller, outside off, Kamindu Mendis eases it to cover for one.

FOUR! Exquisite! Flatter and much fuller, just behind the yorker length. Kamindu Mendis opens the face of the bat and jams hard to guide it past the short third fielder for another boundary.

FOUR! What a shot that is! Tossed up, fuller, outside off. Kamindu Mendis reverse sweeps it over the point region for four runs.

Full, on off, defended by Mendis.

Fuller, outside off, Kamindu Mendis drives it to mid off and gets a quick single.

Just a shade behind the good length, around off, Kamindu Mendis pushes it wide of point and gets a brace.

Just short of the fielder! Pitches it up, on off. Kamindu Mendis drives it toward cover, but ends up hitting it a bit uppish. The ball flies flat and drops just in front of the cover fielder.

Back of a length, around off, Pavan Rathnayake knocks it to cover and takes a quick single.

Pitches it up, outside off, Pavan Rathnayake drives it to mid off.

Full, on middle, Pavan Rathnayake punches it to mid on.

Naseem Shah (3-0-24-0) is back on.

FOUR! Deft touch! Short, just outside off. Mendis rocks back and steers it past the short third for four runs.

Full and wide outside off, Rathnayake strides forward and punches it to the left of mid-on. He calls for the run immediately, but Agha collides with Kamindu Mendis, leaving Mendis stranded and late to react. It’s a complete disaster in the middle, but Shaheen Afridi fumbles in mid on. He can't pick it up cleanly, and Mendis hustles through to safety just in time

Fuller, on off, Pavan Rathnayake defends it down.

Pavan Rathnayake is the new batter in.

OUT! CAUGHT AND BOWLED! That is absolutely stunning from Salman Agha and it's him again who gets the second breakthrough. Tossed up, fuller, no middle and leg. Kusal Mendis makes a bit of room and tries to drive it hard down the ground, but ends up chipping it back to the bowler. Kudos to Agha as he reacts lightning-quick and reverse-cups the catch just over his face.

Fuller, around off, Kusal Mendis drives it to cover.

A touch fuller, outside off, Kamindu Mendis pushes it to deep cover for one.

SIX! MAGNIFICENT! Fuller in length, on middle and leg, Kusal Mendis plants his front foot to the leg side of the delivery and launches it up and over long on with a full face of the bat.

Great stop! Back of a length, around off, Kusal Mendis cuts it wide of backward point, but Arafat Minhas dives to his right and makes a stop.

Bumper, over middle. Kusal Mendis crouches a bit low to let it travel to the keper.

Pitches it up, on off, Kamindu Mendis dabs it to the off side and gets a quick single.

FOUR! A touch of class! Fuller in length, just outside off. Kamindu Mendis just gives a mere push to beat the left of Naseem Shah, who dives to his left at mid off, to make a stop, but fails to do so as the ball races away for a boundary. Also, 100 is up for Sri Lanka.

Bangs hard onto the deck, just outside off. Kamindu Mendis sways away to make a leave.

Floated up outside off, stroked down to deep cover for a single.

Pushed through a bit quicker and on off, Kamindu leans on and smothers it away on the off side.

Fuller one on off and middle, Kusal Mendis knocks it down to long on and turns the strike over.

Eased down the ground for a single, and that will be FIFTY for Kamindu Mendis. Flighted delivery around off, Kamindu uses his feet to step out and drives it down to long off for a run.

FOUR! That's in the gap. Shorter one outside off, Kamindu Mendis hops back and cuts it late, down to the right of backward point for a boundary.

Fuller one on off and middle, jabbed out to extra cover.

Another tidy over from Rauf, and Sri Lanka have mustered up just 4 runs in the last 3 overs. Good length at the stumps, allowing no room to the batter, and Kusal blocks it off once again.

Length ball around off, angling back into the stumps. Kusal Mendis stays watchful in defence.

Full of a good length, on off and middle, Kusal ends up going deep in his crease and blocks it off.

Bashed on a hard length again, slanted sharply into the pads. Kusal Mendis is taken aback and ends up getting it high on the blade.

Hard length over leg stump, angling across. Kamindu Mendis ends up chopping it down past the leg stump and towards fine leg for a single.

Banged into the pitch, a touch shorter and at about 141 clicks. Mendis looks to turn it off the hips but misses and gets a blow around the midriff. That will sting for a bit.

Lobbed up wide of the off stump, Kamindu Mendis comes down the track and strokes it away to deep cover for a single.

Good length, sliding it in with the arm, and towards the off stump. Kamindu rocks back and stabs it down to short third.

Tossed up on off stump, this is driven down to long on for a single. Kusal Mendis is off the mark.

Nagging length, just outside off and pushed through. Kusal Mendis rocks back to defend.

Finally, a breakthrough for Pakistan. Can they build on it?Here's Kusal Mendis, walking out to bat at number 3 for Sri Lanka.

OUT! LBW! Salman Agha flattens it up, darting it in from outside off to middle and leg. Fernando gets a big stride across to sweep but misses and gets struck on the front pad, right in front of the stumps. There's an appeal for LBW, and up goes the umpire's finger. Did Avishka Fernando manage to get hit outside the line? He's reviewed it, but it seems more in hope. The third umpire has a look at it. Nothing on UltraEdge and Ball Tracking shows three reds. Sri Lanka lose their first wicket for 87 and lose a review as well.

Full and wide outside off, Mendis leans on and strokes it square through covers for a single.

A maiden! Good-length delivery, slanted in towards the stumps, Fernando moves inside the line and tucks it to mid-wicket.

Fernando continues to just block the ball. Full of a good length, around 145 clicks, and on middle. Fernando moves to the off side to cover the line and defends it off.

A bit fuller now, around off and angled in at 140.1 kph. Fernando gets onto the front foot and pushes it out.

Good length on middle, Fernando covers the line well and blocks it back down the pitch.

Inside the new guideline. A bit fuller and pushed into the pads, skidding through. Fernando moves inside the line to flick but misses and the ball goes past the leg stump.

Oh, nearly a breakthrough right after the break. Banged in on a hard length, around middle. Fernando looks to turn it to the leg side but the ball holds a bit and takes a leading edge, going wide to the left of the bowler.

DRINKS! Looks like a pretty dead pitch to begin with. Nothing in it for the quicker bowlers, and it hasn't spun either, at least not yet. Sri Lanka have scored at a pretty decent pace without being aggressive, but will feel that they need to be making the most of this start and find a few more boundaries. For Pakistan, it's all about patience, but their bowlers need to land the ball in the good areas consistently and try an force an error from the batters.

Tossed up on off and middle, eased down to long on for one more.

Finally, a run. Sliding it into the pads, and this is worked away 'round the corner on the leg side for a single.

Another dot. Nicely flighted, around middle, Mendis lunges ahead and blocks it off.

Bowled with a round-arm and drifted into the stumps. Mendis smothers it across to wide mid-wicket.

Nagging length, wider of the off stump, and this is dabbed down to backward point.

Held back a bit, floated up a bit fuller and outside off. Mendis gets forward and shoulders arms.

Full and straight, speared in at 140.7 kph. Fernando stays inside the crease and drills it to mid on. Sri Lanka are 84/0 after 15 overs.

Back of a length and outside off, Mendis stays upright an angles it away past point for a single.

Full of a good length, pushed wider of the off pole. Mendis leans on and creams it wide of sweeper cover for a couple of runs.

Rauf pitches it up on middle, looking to angle it across the left-hander. Kamindu Mendis gets forward and caresses it to extra cover.

Length again, sliding back in towards middle, Fernando tucks it neatly through mid-wicket and turns the strike over.

On a good length, around the top of off and middle, blocked off the front foot by Fernando.

Haris Rauf comes on to bowl now, replacing Arafat Minhas.

Tossed up around off, just eased down to long on for a single.

Length ball outside off, this is patted wide of point for a single.

Wide! Lobbed up, wide of the off stump, and Mendis leaves it alone for an extra.

Good length around middle, clipped away through mid-wicket for a run.

Full again, down the leg side. Fernando paddles it fine but there's not much pace on it. The fine leg fielder cuts it off to his right and keeps it down to two runs.

Fuller now and outside off, driven through the cover region for one more.

Dropped a bit shorter around off, Fernando goes back and across, pulling it down to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Excellent review! There's an appeal for caught behind, and the umpire has given it out. Kamindu Mendis does review it pretty quickly, though. Arafat Minhas comes over the wicket and bowls a quicker one outside off, sliding it back in a bit, and a touch full. Mendis stays back and looks to have a late poke at it but misses. The ball goes through and is nicely gloved by Saad Baig. The replays roll in, and UltraEdge shows that there's no outside edge, and it was the bat flicking the pad. NOT OUT!

Good length around off, punched away square through the off side for a single.

Wide! Goes with the arm again. Flatter on middle, darts down the leg side.

There's a slight halt in play as Fakhar Zaman is hobbling off the field. It seems like a couple of balls ago, when he stopped that reverse sweep from Kamindu Mendis, Zaman grazed his knee in the surface. Hopefully, he is fine.

Wide! Angled in with the arm, trying to fire it into the pads, but this is spilled down leg.

Tossed up around off, Mendis leans forward and clips it down to long on for a run.

On the other side now, but this time Mendis can't get it through. Fuller delivery on off, Mendis goes for the reverse sweep but hits it to backward point.

FOUR! Swept and swept well. Flighted delivery on off, Kamindu Mendis gets down on one knee and hammers it away to the right of Naseem Shah at fine leg for a boundary.

Slower through the air, gently turning away from off and middle. Fernando rocks back and dabs it down in front of square leg for a single.

Arafat Minhas to continue...

Flatter again, outside off, and this is cut away to the left of the point fielder and the batters race back for the second run. 8 easy runs off that over.

Dragged length on off, bowled with a round-arm and pushed into the pads. Fernando hops back and tucks it behind square leg for a single.

Wide! Tossed up, very full, and angled down leg. Fernando misses the sweep and a wide is called.

Make it four in four. Drifted into the legs, nurdled away to the right of square leg for a quick single.

A bit flatter now and on off, Fernando sits down and sweeps it to deep backward square leg to make it a hat-trick of singles in this over.

Lobbed up, very full and around off. Mendis leans on and stabs it through mid off for another single.

A loosener down leg, full as well, and Fernando shovels the sweep firmly down to fine leg for just a single.

Salman Agha to have a bowl now.

Floated up on off, Fernando leans on and strokes it down to long off for a run.

Flighted delivery on middle, Mendis looks to step out but is beaten in the flight and just nudges it wide of short fine leg for a single.

A touch fuller, and on off. Kamindu Mendis presses back to defend.

Quicker and flatter, outside off. Mendis gets across and taps it down to mid-wicket.

Good length, in line with the stumps. Fernando has more than enough time to rock back and punch it down to long on for one more.

Nagging length, wide of the off stump. Kamindu Mendis hops across and works it past square leg for a single.

End of the first Powerplay. It's been very easy for Sri Lanka with the bat and the ball hasn't done anything. Pakistan will now be allowed a maximum of 4 fielders outside the inner ring.

Hard length, shaping it wide outside off. Avishka Fernando rolls his wrists and just dabs it to point with one bounce.

Short of a length, on middle, Kamindu Mendis pulls it to deep backward square leg for one.

Much fuller, outside off, Kamindu Mendis works it to mid on.

Short of a length, down the leg side, Kamindu Mendis yet again tries to pull it away, but misses the connection.

SIX! Up, up and over! Bumper, over off and middle. Kamindu Mendis stays on his back foot and pulls it up and over the deep fine leg fence for half a dozen. Also, Sri Lanka have crossed the 50-run mark.

Short of a length, outside off. Avishka Fernando miscues his pull. The ball flies and drops safely to the left of deep square leg for a single.

A touch fuller, on off, Kamindu Mendis works it to mid-wicket.

Turning it in, on off, fuller in length. Kamindu Mendis eases it back to the bowler.

Flat and fuller, just outside off, Avishka Fernando drives it to long off and gets a single.

Pitches it up, on off, Avishka Fernando drives it back to the bowler.

Fuller, on off, Avishka Fernando defends it down.

Short, on middle, Avishka Fernando dabs it to the leg side.

Off the outside edge! Fuller, shaping it away from the batter. Avishka Fernando tries to drive it from his front foot, but gets nicked off the outside edge before it rolls toward deep backward point for a single.

Hard-length delivery, shaping it away from the batter. Avishka Fernando makes a leave at it.

Pushes the length fuller again, angling in, on middle. Kamindu Mendis clips it through backward sqaure leg for a single.

Just a shade behind the good length, around off. Kamindu Mendis dabs it to cover.

Serves it fuller, on off, Kamindu Mendis nudges it to mid-wicket.

Good-length delivery, just outside off, Kamindu Mendis blocks it to cover.

A switch of ends now for Shaheen Afridi.

A bit more flight on this one, around off, Kamindu Mendis nudges it across the line to left of mid on for a single.

Nice and fuller, on off, turning in. Kamindu Mendis works it to mid-wicket with the spin.

Flighted and fuller, on off, Kamindu Mendis eases it back to the bowler.

Short, on middle, Kamindu Mendis nudges it to the leg side.

FOUR! Predetermined and effective! Tossed up, fuller, on off. Kamindu Mendis reverse sweeps it through backward point for four runs.

Arafat Minhas joins the attack now! Fuller, on off, Kamindu Mendis works it to short mid-wicket.

Pitches it up, on off, Avishka Fernando works it to mid-wicket.

FOUR! SHOT! Fullish, outside off, Avishka Fernando drills it through mid off for a boundary.

Pitches it up, on middle, Avishka Fernando nudges it to mid-wicket.

SIX! BANG! The runs are coming thick and fast. Short of a length, over middle. Avishka Fernando stands tall and pulls it aerially to sail it over deep square leg for six runs. That is the first biggie of the game.

Angling in, fuller, on middle, Avishka Fernando works it to mid-wicket.

FOUR! Avishka Fernando is looking pretty confident with his blade! Pitches it fuller, does Shah, just outside off. Avishka Fernando plants his front foot toward the delivery and drives it beautifully through the cover gap for four runs.

WIDE! Shaping down the leg side, hitting the length hard. Avishka Fernando fails to connect his pull.

On a length, outside off, Kamindu Mendis pats it to cover.

Shortish, just outside off. Kamindu Mendis attempts to pull it, but late withdraws his bat and lets it pass through.

Back of a length, on middle, Kamindu Mendis pulls it to the leg side.

FOUR! That is an excellent shot from Mendis! Slanting in, on a good length, around middle. Kamindu Mendis covers the stumps and then pulls it late through fine leg for four runs.

Fuller, shaping in, just outside off, Kamindu Mendis defends it down.

Good length, outside off, Kamindu Mendis pushes it to cover.

Commitment at its best! Just a shade behind the good length, angling outside off. Kamindu Mendis opens the face of the bat to dab it into the gap between point and backward point. Arafat Minhas sprints back all the way and dives to flick it just before it touches the boundary ropes to save a run for the team.

On a length, angling outside off. Kamindu Mendis pushes it away from his body to cover.

Pitching it fuller, outside off, Kamindu Mendis drives it to mid off.

Fuller, just outside off. Avishka Fernando punches it from his back foot, to the left of the mid off fielder and gets a single.

Back of a length, over off, Avishka Fernando defends it right under his eyes.

WIDE! On a length, wide outside off, beyond the tramline. Avishka Fernando tries to lash at it but misses.

In the air... SAFE! Hits the deck hard, over off. Kamindu Mendis tries to pull it away, but connects it from the upper part of his bat. The ball loops up and drops safely to the right of the chasing deep square leg fielder. Single taken.

A touch fuller, at the stumps, Avishka Fernando defends it to mid-wicket.

Much fuller, just behind the yorker length, on middle. Avishka Fernando jams it to the right of the bowler.

FOUR! Easy pickings for Fernando! Back of a length, around the hips of the batter. Avishka Fernando stays back and rolls his wrists to clip it away through fine leg for a boundary.

Bangs another bouncer, does Afridi, shaping it away from the batter. Avishka Fernando tries to pull it away, but misses due to the steep bounce.

Short of a length, outside off, Kamindu Mendis covers the stumps, swivels on his back foot and mistimes his pull to deep square leg for a single.

On a good length, spraying it way outside off. Kamindu Mendis lets it through.

Hard length, outside off, Avishka Fernando fends it to cover.

Back of a length, outside off, Kamindu Mendis slices it to deep backward point to get across for a single.

Hits the deck hard, does Shah, over off. Kamindu Mendis gets on his toes and bunts it to the right of the bowler.

Fuller in length, shaping it just a shade outside off. Kamindu Mendis drives it with straight bat to mid off.

Much fuller, on the leg stump, Kamindu Mendis clips it behind deep square leg for a brace.

Good-length delivery, outside off, swinging it back. Kamindu Mendis lunges forward and shoulders arms at it.

Naseem Shah to operate from the other end.

Pitching it up, around the pads of the batter. Avishka Fernando clips it to the right of deep square for a couple of runs. Sri Lanka and Avishka Fernando are underway!

Wtth an hint of an outswinger, pitching it fuller, on off. Avishka Fernando strides out and taps it back to the bowler.

Fires fuller, at the stumps, Avishka Fernando defends it down the deck.

Fuller in length, around off, Avishka Fernando drives it to cover.

Fuller, around off, Avishka Fernando blocks it down.

A dot to begin with! Pitching it fuller, just down the leg side with a little bit of inswinger. Avishka Fernando misses on his flick.

Done with the pre-match proceedings, it is now time to play. The umpires are out in the middle, and so are the players of Pakistan. It will be the duo of Avishka Fernando and Kamindu Mendis to open the innings for Sri Lanka. Shaheen Afridi will kick things off with the ball himself. Let's play...

We are just a few minutes away from the start of the game. But first, the two sets of players will line up for their respective national anthems. It will be the national anthem of Sri Lanka first, followed by that of Pakistan.

PITCH REPORT - Aamer Sohail is inspecting the deck. He starts by lauding the groundsmen for producing what looks like an excellent surface. Sohail then adds that there is hardly any grass, as it has been nicely rolled in. Sohail feels that the surface is going to be excellent for batting, but also mentions that there might be some help for the spinners later in the game, if there isn't much dew.

Pakistan (Playing XI) - Fakhar Zaman, Maaz Sadaqat, Babar Azam, Saad Baig (WK), Salman Agha, Hasan Nawaz, Arafat Minhas, Faheem Ashraf (In for Shadab Khan), Shaheen Afridi (C), Haris Rauf, and Naseem Shah.

Sri Lanka (Playing XI) - Kamindu Mendis, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis (C/WK), Pavan Rathnayake, Dasun Shanaka, Janith Liyanage, Sahan Arachchige, Maheesh Theekshana (In for Eshan Malinga), Dunith Wellalage, Asitha Fernando, and Dilshan Madushanka.

The skipper of Sri Lanka - Kusal Mendis says they are prepared to bat first, and the wicket looks better than in the last couple of matches. Mendis further adds that the team is confident, they have done well in a couple of matches, and everyone knows their roles well. On playing three games on the bounce, he says that the recovery has been going well, and ends by informing that Eshan Malinga is out and Maheesh Theekshana is in.

The captain of Pakistan - Shaheen Afridi starts off by saying that the dew comes in late and they want to use the fresh wicket, so they will be bowling first. Also adds that they batted second in all games and he reckons they have done well chasing. About the team changes, the skipper says that Shadab Khan isn't well and, for that reason, Faheem Ashraf is in.

TOSS - The coin flip lands in favour of Shaheen Afridi. Pakistan opt to BOWL first.

Big runs, brittle finish - Sri Lanka’s batting has been the story of the tournament. In their second game of the series, they chased down 430 against England, the second-highest chase in ODI history. Pavan Rathnayake, who made 130 in that win, then hit 118 off 77 balls in the defeat that followed in their final game. Kusal Mendis made 89 off 71 in the same chase of 387, before Sri Lanka lost their last five wickets for 16 runs. The runs are there, and the question is whether the tail can hold. 

Greetings folks - Hello and a very warm welcome to all the viewers joining us as two weeks of white-ball cricket comes down to a single match, and it's Pakistan taking on Sri Lanka in the tri-series final. Pakistan won their first three matches and qualified for the final early. Sri Lanka then joined them with a game to spare. The final is the third meeting between these two sides in two weeks, and the previous two went one way each. Pakistan won the opener by 37 runs, and Sri Lanka won the fifth match by eight wickets with 191 balls to spare. So the decider is level on form, and the trophy is up for grabs.

... MATCH DAY ...

Bring on the Finale - The stage is set for an exciting finale as Pakistan and Sri Lanka prepare to face each other in the final of the 2026 ODI Tri-Series in Pakistan. With England also part of the competition, both finalists have had to negotiate a challenging series, but it is the hosts and Sri Lanka who have earned the opportunity to compete for the trophy. The final promises an intriguing contest between Pakistan's pace-heavy bowling attack and Sri Lanka's increasingly confident batting and spin-bowling combination. Pakistan will enjoy home advantage and the backing of a passionate Lahore crowd, but Sri Lanka arrive with considerable confidence after producing a commanding victory over the hosts in their most recent meeting. That result has added another dimension to the final, making this a contest in which Pakistan will be eager to respond, and Sri Lanka will look to demonstrate that their previous performance was no coincidence. Pakistan's road to the final - Pakistan have been one of the strongest sides in the competition, qualifying for the final after winning their first three league matches. They opened their campaign with a 37-run victory over Sri Lanka, scoring 305 before dismissing the visitors for 268. Their batting depth and ability to defend a competitive total provided an encouraging start to the tournament. The hosts followed that performance with an impressive 87-run victory over England. Pakistan posted 302 for nine, with their batting unit showing its ability to build a substantial total and apply pressure through the middle overs. Their bowlers subsequently dismantled England for 215, demonstrating the effectiveness of their pace attack and the importance of early breakthroughs. Their third victory was perhaps the most dramatic performance of the competition. Facing England at Gaddafi Stadium, Pakistan were involved in a remarkable last-wicket partnership between Shadab Khan and Haris Rauf, which helped them secure a thrilling one-wicket win while chasing 242. Shadab produced a memorable maiden ODI century, rescuing his team from a difficult position and underlining his value as a genuine all-rounder. However, Pakistan suffered a significant setback in their final league encounter against Sri Lanka. Batting first, they were bowled out for just 110 in 25.3 overs. Dilshan Madushanka produced a devastating spell of left-arm pace bowling, claiming five wickets for 34 runs. Babar Azam top-scored with 29, while the rest of the batting lineup struggled to establish partnerships. Sri Lanka comfortably completed the chase in 18.1 overs, winning by eight wickets. Despite that defeat, Pakistan finished strongly enough to secure their place in the final. Head coach Mike Hesson has acknowledged that the side has not yet delivered its best overall performance, and he will expect his experienced players to produce a more complete display in the title match. Sri Lanka's journey so far - Sri Lanka have demonstrated considerable resilience throughout the tournament, particularly with their ability to compete in high-scoring encounters. Their campaign began with a 37-run defeat against Pakistan, but they responded impressively against England in Rawalpindi. The highlight of their league campaign was an extraordinary chase against England. After England posted 429 for four, Sri Lanka successfully chased down the target, reaching 430 for eight in 49.5 overs to win by two wickets. It was a remarkable batting performance that demonstrated the team's depth, temperament, and ability to handle pressure in a demanding run chase. Sri Lanka then produced their most convincing performance against Pakistan. Their bowlers exploited the conditions brilliantly, with Madushanka leading the attack and restricting Pakistan to a disappointing 110. Kamindu Mendis subsequently guided the chase with an unbeaten 62, ensuring that Sri Lanka qualified for the final in emphatic fashion. Their final league match against England, however, exposed some concerns. Chasing 387, Sri Lanka reached 331 before being dismissed in 45.1 overs. Pavan Rathnayake continued his outstanding tournament with 118, while Kusal Mendis contributed 89. Nevertheless, the middle and lower order failed to maintain the required momentum, allowing England to secure a 55-run victory. Sri Lanka will therefore enter the final with confidence from their previous victory over Pakistan, but they will also understand that their bowling attack needs to be more consistent against a dangerous home batting lineup. The tactical battle - One of the most important aspects of the final will be Pakistan's approach with the new ball. Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah are capable of generating movement and pace, while Haris Rauf provides an aggressive option through the middle and death overs. Pakistan will particularly target the Sri Lankan top order, knowing that early wickets could expose the middle order to sustained pressure. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, will need to be patient against Pakistan's fast bowlers. Kusal Mendis, Avishka Fernando and Kamindu Mendis will have important responsibilities in negotiating the opening overs before attempting to accelerate. Pavan Rathnayake's form gives the visitors another major advantage, particularly if he can build a substantial partnership with one of the experienced batters. The other major contest will be between Pakistan's middle order and Sri Lanka's left-arm pace attack. Madushanka's success against Pakistan in the previous encounter will give him considerable confidence. His ability to bring the ball back into right-handed batters and attack the stumps could again create problems for Babar Azam and the other Pakistan middle-order players. Pitch in focus - The final could see another competitive batting surface, although the previous match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka at this venue demonstrated that the bowlers can dominate when they maintain disciplined lines and lengths. Madushanka's five-wicket haul was particularly significant, highlighting the importance of exploiting early movement. The surface is expected to offer reasonable assistance to both pace and spin. Fast bowlers could benefit from bounce and movement during the opening overs, while spinners may become increasingly important as the innings progresses. Batting should become easier once players settle, but teams will need to avoid losing wickets in clusters. Form (Last 5 ODIs, recent first) - PAK - LWWWW | SL - LWWLL. Prediction time - Pakistan will enter the final with the advantage of home conditions, a strong fast-bowling attack and the experience of several established international players. Their ability to win three consecutive matches earlier in the competition demonstrates their potential, but their batting collapse against Sri Lanka remains a significant concern. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, have displayed excellent batting depth, with Pavan Rathnayake, Kusal Mendis and Kamindu Mendis providing important contributions. Their bowling attack also has the ability to exploit any weaknesses in Pakistan's top order, as demonstrated by Madushanka's outstanding performance. The 2026 ODI Tri-Series final promises to be a fascinating battle between two teams with contrasting strengths. Pakistan will be determined to finish their home campaign with silverware, while Sri Lanka will be eager to build on their impressive recent victory and complete a successful tournament. Pakistan's pace attack, Shadab Khan's all-round ability and the experience of Babar Azam will be central to their chances. Sri Lanka will rely heavily on Rathnayake's remarkable batting form, Kusal Mendis' leadership and Madushanka's ability to strike early. Who are you backing for the win?