Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Highlights 2025 – 3rd ODI

Pakistan concluded the Sri Lanka tour of Pakistan 2025 ODI series with a comprehensive performance in the 3rd match at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, securing a six-wicket victory to complete a clean 3-0 series sweep.

Captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, returning to lead the side, won the toss and elected to bowl first, a decision that proved correct on a pitch that offered significant assistance to the spinners.

Sri Lanka Innings: Restricted by Cohesive Bowling

Sri Lanka failed to bat out their full quota of overs, folding for 211 runs in 45.2 overs.

• Promising Start: The openers, Pathum Nissanka (24) and Kamil Mishara (29), provided a stable start, but they, like many of their teammates, failed to convert promising starts into big scores.
• Middle-Order Contributions: Captain Kusal Mendis (34) and Sadeera Samarawickrama (48) were the mainstays of the middle order, attempting to rebuild the innings against sharp Pakistani bowling.
• Tail-end Collapse: The entire team was unable to sustain pressure, with the later order falling cheaply. Pavan Rathnayake (32) was the only tail-end batsman to offer resistance.
• Pakistan’s Attack: The bowling was a cohesive unit. Mohammad Wasim Jr. led the pacers with 3 wickets for 47 runs, while Haris Rauf (2/38) and Faisal Akram (2/29) provided crucial support. Shaheen Afridi, in his return, chipped in with a wicket.

Pakistan Innings: Rizwan and Talat Navigate the Chase

Chasing a modest target of 212, Pakistan faced an early wobble but relied on their experience to guide them home.

• Fakhar’s Blitz: Opener Fakhar Zaman gave the chase a flying start, smashing 55 runs off just 45 balls before falling to spinner Jeffrey Vandersay.
• The Spin Trap: Sri Lanka’s spinners, benefiting from the conditions, managed to exert pressure, removing Haseebullah Khan (0) and then the experienced pair of Babar Azam (34) and Salman Agha (6), courtesy of Jeffrey Vandersay (3/42). Pakistan was reduced to 115/4, briefly putting the chase in jeopardy.
• The Match-Winning Partnership: Wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan (61* off 92 balls) and Hussain Talat (42* off 57 balls) then took complete control. The pair absorbed the pressure, built a match-winning, unbroken 100-run stand, and navigated the tricky spin conditions with maturity.
• Victory Sealed: Hussain Talat hit the winning boundary off Maheesh Theekshana in the 45th over, securing the win by 6 wickets and completing the series whitewash.

Match Summary

IMAGE CREDITS : CRIC12

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