Fakhar Zaman’s Blazing 127 Hands Pakistan the Tri-Series Title in Lahore

Lahore got the finale it wanted. Fakhar Zaman smashed 127 off 99 balls, and Pakistan chased down 326 to beat Sri Lanka by three wickets in a packed Gaddafi Stadium. The hosts finished on 331 with nine balls to spare and ended a long wait for a tri-series crown.

Sri Lanka Post a Formidable Total

Put in to bat, Sri Lanka made a strong start. Avishka Fernando and Kamindu Mendis added 51 runs in the powerplay.

Fernando fell in the 18th over, and captain Kusal Mendis followed soon after, dismissed by Salman Agha. That left the visitors at 109-2 and Pakistan briefly in the contest.

Kamindu Mendis Reaches a Maiden Hundred

Kamindu and Pavan Rathnayake then took control with a fluent 146-run partnership off 119 deliveries. Kamindu brought up his maiden ODI century and fell for 131 off 128 balls, hitting 12 fours and two sixes.

Rathnayake contributed a classy 77 and kept the scoreboard moving. Sri Lanka looked well placed to push beyond 340.

Pakistan Strike Back at the Death

Pakistan hit back in the closing overs. Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf removed Dasun Shanaka and Rathnayake within the space of two overs, and the innings lost its momentum.

Sahan Arachchige smashed a quick 15 off 12 balls before falling to Naseem Shah. Sri Lanka finished on 325 for eight, with Afridi taking 2 for 50.

A Early Wobble in the Chase

Pakistan’s reply started in the worst way. Dilshan Madushanka struck twice in the powerplay, including the prized wicket of Babar Azam for a five-ball duck.

The Lahore crowd went quiet, and the chase suddenly looked steep.

Zaman and Baig Rebuild the Innings

Zaman and Saad Baig steadied things with a superb 149-run partnership. Baig brought up his maiden ODI fifty before Maheesh Theekshana ended his knock on 74 off 75 balls.

Zaman then shifted gears. After reaching his half-century, he accelerated and added a brisk 57 with Agha to keep Pakistan firmly on course.

Zaman’s 12th ODI Century Turns the Final

The left-hander reached the 12th ODI hundred of his career, a knock that recalled his heroics in the 2017 Champions Trophy final. He eventually fell to Madushanka, and Agha followed soon after for 17.

At 230-5, there was still plenty of work to do. Sri Lanka sensed a way back.

The Young Guns Stay Calm

Arafat Minhas, 21, and Hasan Nawaz, 24, stepped up with a 94-run partnership that carried Pakistan towards the target. The pair batted like old hands in a high-pressure final.

Minhas and Faheem Ashraf both fell with two runs still needed. Afridi then finished the job with a big hit over the ropes in the penultimate over.

A Title That Ends a Long Wait

The win is Pakistan’s first ODI tri-series title since 2008, when they beat India in the Kitply Cup final in Bangladesh. It also made amends for the defeat to New Zealand in the final of a home tri-series in 2025.

For a tournament that carried more meaning than a routine white-ball series, it was a fitting conclusion under the lights.

Final Match Snapshot

Result: Pakistan won by three wickets with nine balls remaining.

What It Means for Pakistan

Zaman delivered when it mattered, and the new faces showed nerve. The early collapse, the Babar duck and the late scare all added to the drama, and Pakistan still got over the line.

For Sri Lanka, Kamindu’s maiden century deserved a better ending. The visitors will reflect on a 325 total that fell just short in Lahore.