Pakistan Win 2nd ODI vs Sri Lanka in Style

RAWALPINDI: With a brilliant unbeaten hundred, Babar Azam illuminated the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium to give Pakistan a decisive victory in the 2nd ODI, and capped off the series against Sri Lanka on Friday.  

There was a 289 run target that Pakistan pursued, and the chase was made very easy as Pakistan reached their target with 10 balls remaining.  

The opening stand was 77 in 9.4 overs. The early wicket was of Saim Ayub, who scored 33 off 25 (five fours and a six).  

His wicket united Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam, and the duo took the game away from Sri Lanka by a partnership of 100 runs. Their position took Pakistan to 177 within 30.5 overs, with poor fielding contributing to their support as Fakhar was dropped thrice.  

Fakhar was dismissed on 78 off 93 balls with eight fours and one six.  

Pakistan's dominance continued with Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan completing an unbeaten 112-run stand for the 3rd wicket. Babar scored 102 out of 119 balls, having eight boundaries, and Rizwan composed 51 out of 54 balls with 5 fours and a six.

For Sri Lanka, Dushmantha Chameera was the only bowler to claim wickets.

Sri Lanka’s First-Innings Effort

Earlier, Janith Liyanage’s fighting half-century and a lively cameo from Wanindu Hasaranga pushed Sri Lanka to a competitive total.

Asked to bat first, Sri Lanka reached 288-8 in their 50 overs.

Pathum Nissanka and Kamil Mishara got them going with a 51-run opening stand in 9.1 overs before a run-out ended the partnership. Nissanka made 24 off 31 with four boundaries.

Pakistan struck back quickly as Abrar Ahmed’s brilliant spell shredded the visitors’ middle order.

Mishara was the next to fall, scoring 27 off 39 balls. Abrar followed this by removing Kusal Mendis (20) and the captain Charith Asalanka (6) closely one after another, leaving Sri Lanka at 98/4 in the 22nd over.  

The game was leveled as Sadeera Samarawickrama and Liyanage put together a 61-run partnership. During the 32nd over, Samarawickrama was dismissed by Haris Rauf after making 42 runs on 52 balls.  

Liyanage remained the anchoring figure in the innings and was another vital 73-run partnership with Kamindu Mendis. They both made a score of less than nine deliveries, Liyanage with 54 off 63 balls, including two fours and a six, and Kamindu with 44 out of 38, including four fours and two sixes.  

Har Rauf forced his way in the 45th over and caught Dushmantha Chameera for a duck, which left Sri Lanka in 244/8.  

Hasaranga provided late momentum of 37 off 26 balls with the backing of an 11 by Pramod Madushan.  

For Pakistan, Abrar Ahmed and Haris Rauf each had three wickets, with Mohammad Wasim Jr. getting one.