Fakhar's century, Baig's fifty and Shaheen's finish: Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by three wickets

In a dramatic tri-series encounter, Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka by three wickets. Chasing a challenging target of 326, Pakistan lost seven wickets and at one point it seemed the match was slipping away, but Shaheen Afridi hit a six in the final moments to take his team across the line. Limiting this victory to Fakhar Zaman's century alone would do injustice to the several contributions that made it possible — Saad Baig's half-century, the 94-run partnership between Minhas and Nawaz, and Shaheen Afridi's all-round contribution with both ball and bat.

The final-overs thriller

When Pakistan needed just two runs, Minhas and Faheem fell in quick succession. Seven wickets were down with three in hand. Shaheen Afridi then walked in and sealed the game with a six. That was the moment that decided the match. Earlier, Haris Rauf had taken two crucial late wickets to keep Pakistan alive. This win shows that both Pakistan's lower-order batting and bowling played decisive roles.

At six wickets down, Pakistan were just two runs short of the target, but on the very next ball Minhas was dismissed and then Faheem also returned to the pavilion. Tension was at its peak, but Shaheen kept his composure and won the game for his team. Pakistan thus achieved the target with three wickets remaining.

Sri Lanka's innings: Kamindu's century

Batting first, Sri Lanka posted 325 for 8 in their 50 overs. The biggest story of the innings was Kamindu Mendis's century — a superb 131. It was his highest ODI score and more than double his previous best. Kamindu's Test average has long drawn Bradman comparisons, and this knock reinforced that perception, though it should be noted that his Test average is built on a limited sample.

Pavan Rathnayake played an important 77 alongside Kamindu. Rathnayake was in fine form in the series, with 427 runs at an average of 106.75 — though that average was based on only four dismissals and must be treated with statistical caution. Sri Lanka's innings also featured partnerships of 146 and 87 that put the team in a strong position.

Sri Lanka were 255 for 2 at the 41-over mark, and a total around 350 seemed likely. But they lost six wickets in the last nine overs and were bowled out for 325. That was the turning point. It was a big disappointment for Sri Lanka, who failed to convert a strong position into a big total.

Shaheen and Rauf's spell

In the last nine overs Pakistan took six wickets and stopped Sri Lanka from reaching a big score. It was the most decisive phase of the match. Shaheen Afridi dismissed Kamindu Mendis and Dasun Shanaka, while Haris Rauf took two late wickets. Shaheen not only took wickets but also controlled Sri Lanka's run rate. Though this report does not carry economy figures, it is clear that the tight final-overs bowling gave Pakistan their route back.

Pakistan's chase: a poor start

Chasing 326, Pakistan made a terrible start, reaching 14 for 2. Maaz was the first to go, and then Babar Azam returned without scoring. Babar's duck was a big blow, especially as he had gone nine innings without a half-century. The team looked lost at one stage and the target seemed distant.

After Babar's dismissal the pressure grew. Some commentators had suggested before the innings that the target was well within reach, but nothing of the sort was evident on the field. Babar's duck and the two early wickets proved that chasing 326 was not so easy. It was at this point that Saad Baig and Fakhar Zaman had to steady the ship, and together they did so.

Saad Baig's confident half-century

Young batsman Saad Baig produced a fine half-century under pressure. It was his first international fifty and it came just hours before his birthday. He made 74 and pulled the team out of trouble. Baig's fifty was not only a personal milestone but also the support Pakistan needed most.

Baig showed a good balance of patience and aggression. He accelerated when required and played within himself when wickets needed protecting. A young player is expected to absorb pressure on big occasions, and Baig proved he is ready for it. His innings also showed that Pakistan have good depth in young talent.

Fakhar Zaman's century — and three lives

Fakhar Zaman played a superb 127, the biggest contribution of the match. He reached his fifty off 52 balls and his century off 84, propelling Pakistan towards victory. But a key point about this century is that it came with three lives. Fakhar was dropped on 6, 69 and 106. Had any of those catches been taken, the result might have been different.

Maheesh Theekshana dropped Fakhar twice, a costly miss for Sri Lanka. This highlights that a century can sometimes be the product of luck and the opposition's errors. Fakhar's innings was undoubtedly excellent, but it would be unfair to treat it as the sole cause of victory. In reality, several players contributed and Fakhar was one of them, albeit the most spectacular.

Fakhar's innings also kept the scoring rate up. When the team was losing early wickets, he batted aggressively and pulled the team out of pressure. That is why his innings can be considered the biggest contribution of the match — but not the only cause.

Minhas and Nawaz's decisive partnership

In the middle order, Minhas and Nawaz shared a crucial 94-run stand. It pulled Pakistan out of trouble and brought them close to the target. When the team was under pressure and wickets were falling, the two batted with composure and steadied the innings. The 21-year-old Minhas and 24-year-old Nawaz showed that young players can shoulder responsibility on big occasions.

However, this partnership cannot be called match-winning, because Pakistan still had to struggle afterwards. When just two runs were needed, Minhas and Faheem fell in succession. This shows that the partnership made the game easier but did not fully secure it. It reflects the collective nature of the victory and the uncertainty that persisted until the end.

Pakistan's collective win

Attributing this victory to a single player would ignore several other contributions. Fakhar's 127, Saad Baig's 74, the Minhas-Nawaz 94-run stand, Shaheen Afridi's all-round contribution and Haris Rauf's two late wickets — all are essential parts of this win. The real story is that the victory was a team effort, not one man's magic.

Notably, Pakistan had been bowled out for 110 just four days earlier. Recovering from that defeat to chase 326 and win is proof of the team's morale and capability. However, it would be premature to say something special is brewing, because one win should not lead to grand conclusions.

Tri-series context

This match was part of a tri-series that also featured England as the third team. That fact is not always stated explicitly but emerges from the series context. A tri-series means every team had several matches to play and the points table mattered. This report does not carry a detailed points-table picture, but it is clear the win was significant in the series context.

The broader context is that Pakistan's squad included several young players. Minhas is 21, Nawaz 24 and Baig around 20. Their contribution is a good sign for the team's future, though big claims should not be made on the basis of one or two matches.

Conclusion

Pakistan's win was the result of a collective effort. Fakhar Zaman's century was the most spectacular aspect, but it alone could not have decided the match. Saad Baig's fifty, the Minhas-Nawaz partnership, Shaheen Afridi's final six and Haris Rauf's wickets — together they made the win possible. Any future analysis of this match should view it not as 'Fakhar's win' but as 'Pakistan's collective win'. That is the most accurate and fair portrayal.

The win will boost Pakistan's confidence, but the team must also address its weaknesses: top-order failures, Babar's form and bowling consistency. If those are resolved, Pakistan can become a stronger side. This win is a beginning, not the destination.