Fakhar Zaman ended his three-year century drought, while Saad Baig and Arafat Minhas strengthened their credentials as Pakistan won their first multi-team series on home soil by defeating Sri Lanka by three wickets at the Gaddafi Stadium.

Fakhar Zaman reminded fans of his match-winning 114 in the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy final, in only his fourth ODI, when he belted 127 in his 97th ODI to help Pakistan overhaul Sri Lanka’s competitive 325 for eight with nine balls and three wickets to spare. This was Fakhar’s 12th ODI century and first since his 126 not out against New Zealand in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 in Bengaluru.

The victory also cemented Pakistan’s No. 4 position on the ICC ODI Team Rankings after they started the series in fifth place. They are level with South Africa on 104 points, with India leading the table and New Zealand second.

Fakhar, named player of the match, slapped 11 fours and six sixes in his 99-ball innings, reaching his half-century from 59 balls with three fours and three sixes and his century from 84 balls with nine fours and five sixes.

Fakhar kept the innings moving despite losing Maaz Sadaqat (five) and Babar Azam (zero) at 14. At that stage, young Saad Baig joined Fakhar, and the two left-handers stitched a 149-run partnership for the third wicket from 140 balls.

Saad played excellently for his 74 from 11 fours, fully demonstrating his talent. In fact, he reached his maiden half-century before Fakhar, doing so in 52 balls with eight fours.

After Saad’s departure, Fakhar put on 57 runs from 41 balls with Salman Ali Agha (17) before becoming the fourth batter to be dismissed, at 220. When Salman joined Fakhar in the pavilion 10 runs later, Pakistan needed 96 runs from 79 balls.

At that stage, Arafat Minhas joined Hasan Nawaz, and the two young cricketers not only took control of the proceedings but also mauled the Sri Lanka bowling with a wide range of strokes.

Arafat Minhas, who scored a half-century and took six wickets against England earlier in the series and was later named player of the series, dominated a 94-run sixth-wicket stand from 65 balls by clobbering three fours and four sixes in a 31-ball 61. Hasan Nawaz returned not out on a crucial 37 from 45 balls with two fours.

Pakistan lost Arafat and Faheem Ashraf on successive deliveries when two were required. Befittingly, Shaheen Shah Afridi, who captains Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League, walked out and eventually struck the winning six that capped a brilliant series for Pakistan and lifted a great deal of pressure off the team management and cricket administration.

Earlier, opener Kamindu Mendis stroked his maiden ODI century to steer Sri Lanka to a competitive 325 for eight in 50 overs. Mendis scored 131 from 128 balls with 12 fours and two sixes.

Mendis put on 87 runs for the first wicket with Avishka Fernando (38) and 146 runs in 119 balls for the third wicket with Pavan Rathnayake, who carried his purple patch in the series while scoring a 65-ball 77 with eight fours. Rathnayake finished the seven-match series as the leading run-scorer with 427 runs.

After reaching 238 for two in 40 overs, Sri Lanka collected 87 runs in the last 10 overs as Pakistan picked up six wickets, which slowed the flow of runs.

For Pakistan, wickets were evenly shared between Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah.

Scores in brief

Match 7 (Final) – Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by three wickets, Lahore

Sri Lanka 325-8, 50 overs (Kamindu Mendis 131, Pavan Rathnayake 77, Avishka Fernando 38; Salman Ali Agha 2-44, Shaheen Shah Afridi 2-50, Haris Rauf 2-60, Naseem Shah 2-80)

Pakistan 331-7, 48.3 overs (Fakhar Zaman 127, Saad Baig 74, Arafat Minhas 61, Hasan Nawaz 37 not out; Dilshan Madushanka 3-63, Asitha Fernando 2-72)

Player of the match – Fakhar Zaman (Pakistan)

Player of the series – Arafat Minhas (Pakistan)