Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 3 wickets to win ODI tri-series final

Fakhar Zaman scored 127 and captain Shaheen Shah Afridi hit the winning six as Pakistan chased down 326 to beat Sri Lanka in a high-scoring ODI tri-series final in Lahore on Saturday.

By StoryTimesNow News Desk — 31 October 2026, 11:08 PM IST

Symbolic illustration of three cricket stumps and a red cricket ball on a green field under floodlights, with no players shown.
Symbolic illustration of stumps and a cricket ball. No photograph from the match is carried with this report.

Key Takeaways

  • What happened: Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by three wickets in the ODI tri-series final at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on 31 October 2026, reaching 331 for seven in 48.3 overs in reply to Sri Lanka's 325 for eight.
  • Who stood out: Fakhar Zaman scored 127 off 99 balls for Pakistan, while Kamindu Mendis made 131 for Sri Lanka, his maiden ODI century.
  • What next: Pakistan lift the tri-series trophy after a tournament played in Rawalpindi and Lahore; Sri Lanka leave as runners-up after reaching the final by beating Pakistan earlier in the week.

Pakistan won the ODI tri-series final on Saturday, 31 October 2026, beating Sri Lanka by three wickets at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore after a chase that swung repeatedly before finishing with nine balls to spare. Set a target of 326, Pakistan reached 331 for seven in 48.3 overs, with captain Shaheen Shah Afridi striking the winning six.

What Happened?

Sri Lanka batted first after Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi won the toss and chose to field. Kamindu Mendis anchored the innings with 131 from 128 balls, sharing a 146-run stand with Pavan Rathnayake, who scored 77. Sri Lanka reached 325 for eight in their 50 overs, but lost six wickets in the final ten overs as Pakistan's bowlers fought back.

Pakistan's chase began badly. Maaz Sadaqat was dismissed for five and Babar Azam fell for a duck, leaving the hosts at 14 for two. Fakhar Zaman then took charge, scoring 127 off 99 balls with 11 fours and six sixes, and Saad Baig added 74 as Pakistan rebuilt.

Arafat Minhas changed the tempo late in the innings, smashing 61 off just 31 balls. He was dismissed with Pakistan on 324, and Faheem Ashraf fell for a first-ball duck, leaving three wickets in hand and two runs still needed. Shaheen Shah Afridi, who finished on six not out, then hit a six off Dilshan Madushanka to seal the title, with Hasan Nawaz unbeaten on 37 at the other end.

Why Does This Matter?

A target of 326 is among the largest ever successfully chased in an ODI final. Reports noted that the chase matched the target India overhauled against England in the 2002 NatWest Series final at Lord's, putting Pakistan's pursuit alongside one of the most famous chases in the format's history.

Important Details

  • Result: Pakistan 331 for seven in 48.3 overs beat Sri Lanka 325 for eight in 50 overs by three wickets, with nine balls to spare.
  • Venue and date: Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, Saturday, 31 October 2026; ODI tri-series final.
  • Toss: Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi won the toss and chose to field.
  • Sri Lanka batting: Kamindu Mendis 131 off 128 balls; Pavan Rathnayake 77; the pair shared a 146-run stand.
  • Pakistan batting: Fakhar Zaman 127 off 99 balls, including 11 fours and six sixes; Saad Baig 74; Arafat Minhas 61 off 31 balls; Hasan Nawaz 37 not out; Shaheen Shah Afridi six not out, hitting the winning six.
  • Pakistan bowling: Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf took two wickets each.
  • Sri Lanka bowling: Dilshan Madushanka took three wickets for 63 runs; Asitha Fernando took two for 72.
  • Closing sequence: Minhas was dismissed at 324, Faheem Ashraf fell first ball, and Afridi hit a six off Madushanka to finish the match.

Background and Context

The tri-series, played in Rawalpindi and Lahore, brought together Pakistan, Sri Lanka and England in ODI cricket. Sri Lanka reached the final after bowling Pakistan out for just 110 in Lahore on 27 October 2026 and chasing the target down in 18.1 overs to win by eight wickets, a result that knocked England out of contention.

That earlier defeat made Pakistan's final win a reversal rather than a routine home victory. In the final, Sri Lanka again posted a commanding total, built around Mendis's first ODI century, but Pakistan's batting depth proved decisive in the closing overs.

What Happens Next?

Pakistan lift the tri-series trophy, while Sri Lanka take the runners-up place after a tournament in which they beat the hosts heavily in the group stage but could not defend 325 in the final.

FAQs

Who won the Pakistan vs Sri Lanka ODI tri-series final?

Pakistan won by three wickets, chasing down a target of 326 to reach 331 for seven in 48.3 overs at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on 31 October 2026.

Who scored the most runs in the final?

Kamindu Mendis top-scored in the match with 131 for Sri Lanka, while Fakhar Zaman's 127 was the highest score for Pakistan and the decisive innings in the chase.

How did Pakistan win the match?

After Arafat Minhas fell at 324 and Faheem Ashraf was dismissed first ball, captain Shaheen Shah Afridi hit a six off Dilshan Madushanka to finish the match with nine balls to spare.

Sources and Verification

Result, scores, venue and date: ESPNcricinfo scorecard and NDTV match report (31 October 2026). Fakhar Zaman 127 off 99 balls, Saad Baig 74, Minhas 61 off 31 balls, early wickets and closing sequence: NDTV and The Tribune (ANI) (31 October 2026). Kamindu Mendis 131, Pavan Rathnayake 77, 146-run stand and bowling figures: NDTV, The Tribune (ANI) and Ada Derana (31 October 2026). Joint-highest chase comparison with the 2002 NatWest final: The Tribune (ANI).

Verification notes: (1) All scores are from the completed final on 31 October 2026, not from the earlier group match between the same teams. (3) The 326 figure is the target (Sri Lanka's 325 plus one run to win); Pakistan's final total was 331 for seven.

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Editorial Note

This article reports a completed sporting result. Scores, individual performances and the closing sequence are drawn from the ESPNcricinfo scorecard and from NDTV, The Tribune (ANI) and Ada Derana reports dated 31 October 2026; where outlets differ on the spelling of a player's name, the article notes the variation. No result has been projected beyond the completed final.