Pakistan cruise to six-wicket win to wrap up 3–0 whitewash

Pakistan eased to a six-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the final ODI in Rawalpindi, sealing a clinical 3–0 sweep as Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Rizwan anchored a measured chase after the hosts were set 212.

The reply began shakily when Haseebullah Khan nicked off for a duck, but Babar Azam joined Fakhar to steady the chase with a composed 74-run stand. Fakhar, timing it sweetly through both sides of the wicket, raised his 19th ODI fifty, striking 55 off 45 balls before Jeffrey Vandersay dragged Sri Lanka back with two wickets in quick succession — removing Babar (34) and Salman Ali Agha (6) to leave Pakistan wobbling at 101 for 4.

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With the chase threatening to drift, Rizwan and Hussain Talat rebuilt in risk-free, percentage cricket, nudging Pakistan into the driver’s seat. Their unbroken 100-run partnership ensured no late drama, with Rizwan finishing 61 off 92* and Talat 42*, closing the game out in the 45th over.

Sri Lanka, sent in earlier, produced another innings of scattered contributions rather than dominance. Openers Pathum Nissanka (24) and Kamil Mishara (29) gave them a brisk start, but Pakistan’s seamers and spinners continued to chip away. Stand-in skipper Kusal Mendis (34) and Sadeera Samarawickrama (48) hinted at a platform, but neither progressed beyond consolidation.

Left-armer Faisal Akram and all-rounder Faheem Ashraf struck at key moments before the tail was shepherded briefly by Pavan Rathnayake (32), who pushed the visitors past 200. Sri Lanka were eventually bowled out for 211 in 45.2 overs, a total that always felt shy of par on a true surface.

Pakistan now head into their next assignment – tri-nation series featuring Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe — having controlled all three matches with ball, bat and temperament.