Fast bowler Dilshan Madushanka took five wickets as Sri Lanka made short work of Pakistan, denying the home side the No. 3 spot on the ICC ODI Team Rankings and sending England home earlier than expected.

Madushanka returned figures of five for 34, his career-best figures in 34 ODIs, as Pakistan were bundled out for 110 in 25.3 overs. Sri Lanka ensured the game finished before the sun set at the Gaddafi Stadium, racing to victory in 18.1 overs for the loss of two wickets.
Like Madushanka, opener Kamindu Mendis struck form at the right time, scoring 62 not out from 60 balls with eight fours and two sixes. Pavan Rathnayake, one of Sri Lanka’s stars in the 430-run chase in Rawalpindi last Thursday, scored 23 not out.

Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis’ run of bad luck continued when he dragged a harmless Arafat Minhas delivery onto his stumps. Against England, he was run out without facing a ball.

Sri Lanka’s emphatic victory meant Pakistan will stay at No. 4 behind South Africa on the ICC ODI Team Rankings. In fact, they will now have to beat Sri Lanka in Saturday’s final to retain their No. 4 ranking.

Sri Lanka’s clinical victory also ended England’s tri-series campaign with a match still to play. After three successive defeats, England will play their last match against Sri Lanka on Thursday and then return home, licking their wounds after losing to Sri Lanka and Pakistan in matches they should have won hands down.

Madushanka bowled with plenty of pace and heart and was rightly rewarded with figures of 8.3-1-34-5 and the player of the match award after Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to field.

Madushanka started the riot in the fourth over when a nasty rising delivery accounted for a struggling Fakhar Zaman. A similar delivery dismissed Saad Baig after Asitha Fernando and Eshan Malinga had trapped Maaz Sadaqat and Babar Azam lbw.

Maaz and Babar burned their reviews, so none was left for Shadab Khan when he was given caught behind, even though television replays showed the ball had hit his forearm. The sight was a complete contrast to Sunday, when Shadab took a review half-heartedly, only for the technology to confirm the ball had hit the bat before striking the pads.

Like Fakhar and Saad, Arafat Minhas was bounced out by Madushanka after the left-hander, in partnership with Hasan Nawaz, had taken the score from 64 for six to 91 for seven.

Madushanka completed his figures when dismissing Haris Rauf and Shaheen Shah Afridi as Pakistan’s innings wrapped up in less than 26 overs.

Apart from Madushanka, off-spinner Sahan Arachchige took the wickets of Salman Ali Agha, caught at the wicket while trying a cheeky late-cut, and Shadab Khan. Left-arm spinner Dunith Arachchige dismissed Hasan Nawaz.

For Pakistan, Babar Azam scored 29 from 33 balls with five exquisitely timed boundaries before he missed the line and was out lbw. Hasan Nawaz scored 17, Shaheen Shah Afridi 15 with two sixes and Arafat Minhas 10.

Pakistan made two changes to the side that defeated England by one wicket. Maaz Sadaqat replaced Saim Ayub but managed only eight from 11 balls, while Naseem Shah returned in place of Razaullah and finished with figures of none for 29 from four overs.

Scores in brief

Match 5 – Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by eight wickets, Lahore

Pakistan 110 all out, 25.3 overs (Babar Azam 29, Hasan Nawaz 17, Shaheen Shah Afridi 15, Arafat Minhas 10; Dilshan Madushanka 5-34, Sahan Arachchige 2-24)

Sri Lanka 114-2, 18.1 overs (Kamindu Mendis 62 not out, Pavan Rathnayake 23 not out)

Player of the match – Dilshan Madushanka (Sri Lanka)

Next match – Sri Lanka v England