Sri Lanka’s tour ended in bitter disappointment as Pakistan sealed a convincing six-wicket win to complete a 3–0 whitewash. A well-rounded display, anchored by Fakhar Zaman’s fluent fifty and Mohammad Wasim’s sharp bowling, crushed any hopes Sri Lanka had of finishing the series on a high in Rawalpindi.
After bowling Sri Lanka out for 211, Pakistan chased down the target with ease, reaching 215 for 4 with more than five overs to spare. The finish was as professional as it was dominant, reflecting the hosts’ grip on the series and Sri Lanka’s recurring batting struggles.
The visitors got off to a promising start, with signs of a big total brewing. Pathum Nissanka and Kamil Mishara looked in excellent touch, finding the middle of the bat and racing past fifty in just eight overs. Mishara took the attack to Shaheen Shah Afridi early, capitalising on errant lengths as Sri Lanka notched their sixth consecutive fifty-plus opening stand in ODIs.
But the familiar unraveling followed soon after. Nissanka chopped one onto his stumps, and the momentum shifted quickly. Wasim struck next, drawing Mishara’s edge with clever bounce, and Sri Lanka’s brisk scoring came to a halt.
Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama tried to consolidate, but the innings stalled. Debutant left-arm wristspinner Faisal Akram impressed with control and subtle variations, making run-scoring difficult. He trapped Samarawickrama lbw, though the decision was overturned on review due to excessive turn. Even so, Sri Lanka never regained momentum. In a crucial stretch, they crawled to just 43 runs off 75 balls, allowing Pakistan to tighten the noose.
Wasim returned to knock over stand-in skipper Mendis with a searing yorker. Akram then dealt a twin blow—removing Samarawickrama two runs short of fifty and snagging a return catch off Kamindu Mendis. The collapse deepened.
Youngster Pavan Rathnayake showed promise on debut, grinding out a gutsy 32 that included a standout back-foot six over cover. He guided the lower order as best he could, but Pakistan chipped away relentlessly. His run out while trying to farm the strike summed up Sri Lanka’s innings. A total of 211 was never likely to be enough.
Zaman made that clear from the outset. After Haseebullah Khan fell for a duck, Zaman took control—pouncing on width, piercing gaps, and putting Pakistan firmly in charge. The entry of Babar Azam lifted the home crowd, and together the duo dictated the first 15 overs with command. Babar looked assured, hinting at a return to form.
Jeffrey Vandersay, playing his first game of the series, gave Sri Lanka a flicker of hope. After Zaman hit him for four, a mistimed shot was caught brilliantly by Kamindu Mendis. Vandersay then bowled Babar with a textbook googly and followed it with a lovely legbreak to dismiss Agha Salman.
Yet with only 97 required and the pitch flattening out, Sri Lanka didn’t have the firepower to sustain the pressure. Mohammad Rizwan and Hussain Talat dug in, prioritising composure over urgency. Their 32-run stand over ten steady overs all but closed the door on Sri Lanka’s chances.
Talat had a narrow escape when an lbw shout by Maheesh Theekshana was overturned on review—a moment symbolic of Sri Lanka’s misfortunes throughout the tour. Rizwan soon brought up his fifty, and Pakistan eased home.
Sri Lanka’s inconsistent displays and lack of finishing edge were the story of this series, as Pakistan signed off with a dominant clean sweep in Rawalpindi.
