Pakistan Clinches ODI Series Victory, Defeats Sri Lanka.

Rawalpindi: Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka in the third and final One Day International (ODI) to secure the series win.

The match was played at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Pakistan won the toss and opted to field first, inviting Sri Lanka to bat.

Sri Lanka posted 211 runs in 46 overs, with all their players dismissed. Sudera Samaraweera top-scored for the visitors with 48 runs, while captain Koshal Mendis contributed 34, Pavon Rathnayake scored 32, Kamil Mishara 29, and Pathum Nissanka 24. Mendis also took 10 runs, and Pramod Madushan added 7.

For Pakistan, Mohammad Wasim took three wickets, while Haris Rauf and Faisal Akram claimed two wickets each. Shaheen Shah Afridi and Faheem Ashraf took one wicket apiece.

Chasing the target, Pakistan had a shaky start, losing Haseebullah Khan for a duck at 8 runs. However, Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam steadied the innings with a 74-run partnership. Fakhar Zaman scored 55 off eight boundaries before being dismissed, while Babar Azam added 34. Salman Agha managed only 6 runs before falling at 115.

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Mohammad Rizwan and Hussain Talat then formed a strong partnership, with Rizwan reaching a half-century.

Pakistan is captained by Shaheen Shah Afridi, while Sri Lanka’s regular captain Charith Asalanka was unavailable due to illness, with Koshal Mendis leading the team.

Speaking after the toss, Shaheen Shah Afridi said the decision to bowl first was based on the wicket conditions. He added that all players are in good form and that 290 runs would have been a competitive target on the Rawalpindi pitch.

Sri Lankan captain Koshal Mendis mentioned that four changes were made in the team and vowed to give their best effort to win the match.

Pakistan entered the third ODI with a decisive 2-0 lead in the three-match series, and this victory secured the series sweep.