Pakistan vs Sri Lanka: Fakhar Zaman century propels hosts to three-wicket win in tri-series final
Tri-series final in Lahore on Saturday sees Pakistan clinch victory by scoring 331-7 in 48.3 overs; Kamindu Mendis' 131, his maiden ODI century, had earlier propelled Sri Lanka to 325-8; Fakhar Zaman's entertaining hundred and Arafat Minhas' 61 off 31 balls clinched Pakistan win
Zaman's entertaining hundred and Arafat Minhas' robust 61 off 31 balls took Pakistan to a winning 331-7 in 48.3 overs as the Sri Lankan bowlers found it hard to control the wet ball because of dew.
Kamindu Mendis' 131, his maiden ODI century, earlier propelled Sri Lanka to 325-8 while batting first for the first time in the tournament.
Zaman came into the final with only 31 runs in his last four innings and spent most of the time in the dressing room after he injured his right knee while fielding.
Pakistan lost Maaz Sadaqat for five and Babar Azam for a five-ball duck, much to the disappointment of the 31,265 home fans at Gaddafi Stadium, but Zaman revived the chase with 19-year-old Saad Baig, who made 74 off 75 balls. They put up a 149-run stand.
Sri Lanka's Maheesh Theekshana, playing his first match in the tri-series, missed out on claiming Zaman on 69 and 106, when he couldn't hold onto a return catch. Theekshana dropped Zaman again, a sitter on the boundary, after he reached his century off 84 balls.
Zaman's 99-ball knock finally ended in the 34th over when he was clean bowled by Dilshan Madushanka with Pakistan still 106 runs from victory. Madushanka took 3-63.
The wet ball did not help Sri Lanka as the young pair of Minhas and Hasan Nawaz (37 not out) kept their nerves before Asitha Fernando (2-72) added to the drama by bagging the wickets of Minhas and Faheem Ashraf off successive balls. It was not enough.
England were knocked out after losing three of their four games.
Schedule for England's tour of Australia
ODIs 3.30am UK time, with T20s 8.15am UK time
Second ODI: Sunday November 15 (Adelaide)
Third ODI: Wednesday November 18 (Hobart)
First T20I: Saturday November 21 (Melbourne)
Second T20I: Tuesday November 24 (Carrara)
Third T20I: Friday November 27 (Brisbane)
Fourth T20I: Sunday November 29 (Sydney)
Fifth T20I: Wednesday December 2 (Canberra)
Topics in this story
Gathered from external sources. Rights to this text belong to whoever originally published it.