Pakistan claimed a comfortable eight-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the second ODI in Rawalpindi, taking an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-match Pakistan vs Sri Lanka series. The match was marked by a special moment for Babar Azam, who scored his first international century in more than two years. His calm and well-controlled innings helped Pakistan chase down Sri Lanka’s 288 with 10 balls to spare.
The game offered several talking points — from Sri Lanka’s inconsistent bowling to Pakistan’s steady and experienced batting. On a flat Rawalpindi pitch, the contest remained mostly in Pakistan’s control, especially once their top order settled in. The result gave Pakistan another series victory at home and added another chapter to Babar Azam’s growing list of ODI achievements.
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| Babar Azam broke century drought |
A Long Wait Ends: Babar Azam Brings Up Century No. 20
One of the biggest stories from the match was Babar Azam’s return to the three-figure mark. His last international century came in August 2023, and since then he had several starts but no hundreds. This innings finally broke the drought. Babar made 102 not out off 119 balls, a steady and controlled knock that once again showed why he remains one of the best batters in world cricket.
The century also helped him equal Saeed Anwar’s record for the most ODI centuries for Pakistan. Babar now has 20 ODI hundreds, and considering his form and consistency in the format, he seems likely to pass that record soon.
Throughout the chase, Babar looked comfortable. He scored heavily in the cover and midwicket regions, collecting six of his eight fours in those two areas. He did offer one early chance, when Pramod Madushan failed to hold onto a simple return catch, but after that, Babar settled nicely and rarely looked under pressure. The required rate stayed stable, and Pakistan’s batting lineup ensured no panic was needed.
Pakistan’s Strong Start Sets Up the Chase
Though Babar’s century grabbed the headlines, Pakistan’s chase began with a positive and fast start from young opener Saim Ayub, who made 33 off 25 balls. His attacking approach immediately put Sri Lanka on the back foot. Pakistan reached 73 for no loss in the first eight overs, which gave them full control of the chase.
The Sri Lankan bowlers struggled early on. Asitha Fernando went for ten runs an over in the powerplay, and Pramod Madushan, returning to international cricket after 18 months, leaked 19 runs in his first two overs. Captain Charith Asalanka quickly switched plans, but even the change of tactics could not slow Pakistan down.
Saim Ayub’s innings was short but impactful. His early boundaries created the momentum that Pakistan needed. He struck the ball cleanly, punished anything short, and kept rotating the strike. Even though he fell after 25 balls, he had already done his job by giving Pakistan a flying start.
Fakhar Zaman Helps Build the Partnership
After Ayub’s dismissal, Fakhar Zaman joined Babar Azam in the middle and played a key role in stabilizing the chase. Fakhar made 78 off 93 balls, an innings that had moments of struggle but still provided Pakistan with the partnership they needed to stay ahead of the game.
Sri Lanka dropped Fakhar three times — on 21, 33, and 78. Their fielding issues continued to hurt them throughout the match. Even though Fakhar was dismissed the ball after his third drop, by that time he had already helped Pakistan reach a commanding position.
The 100-run stand between Babar and Fakhar ensured that Pakistan never lost momentum. They scored freely whenever Sri Lanka erred in line and length, and defended well when the visiting bowlers tried to create pressure. There were moments when the boundaries dried up, especially after Fakhar crossed his fifty, but Sri Lanka could not maintain the pressure for long.
Rizwan Finishes the Job With Another Calm Knock
When Fakhar Zaman eventually departed, Mohammad Rizwan walked in and continued Pakistan’s steady chase. He made 51 not out off 54 balls, and together with Babar, added an unbeaten 112-run partnership to take Pakistan over the line.
Rizwan played risk-free cricket, focusing on singles and doubles while putting away loose balls. His presence gave Babar the support he needed to play deep into the innings. The pair’s confidence showed as they calmly worked through the final overs without giving Sri Lanka any real hope.
The game ended with Pakistan scoring 289 for 2 and sealing the series 2-0. The victory came with 10 balls remaining, reflecting how controlled the chase had been from start to finish.
Sri Lanka’s Struggles in Both Innings
For Sri Lanka, the match exposed two major issues: inconsistency in the top order and lack of discipline with the ball. They were 90 for 3 at one point, and then 98 for 4 soon after. Despite some resistance from the middle order, the early damage proved hard to overcome.
Middle Order Shows Fight
Sri Lanka’s best phase in the match came during the middle overs, when Sadeera Samarawickrama, Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage, and Wanindu Hasaranga contributed important runs. Liyanage top-scored with 54, the only half-century for the visitors.
Hasaranga played well again, continuing his strong form with another useful knock. His late flourish helped Sri Lanka finish on 288 for 8, a total that appeared decent but still a little below par on a batting-friendly Rawalpindi surface.
Bowling Fails to Apply Pressure
Sri Lanka’s bowling performance was disappointing. The seamers, especially Pramod Madushan and Asitha Fernando, struggled to control the new ball, giving Pakistan too many loose deliveries. Their lines were inconsistent, and the lack of movement meant the Pakistan batters could play through the line easily.
Wanindu Hasaranga, their top bowler from the previous match, appeared to struggle with a back issue. He left the field twice for treatment, and though he continued bowling, he was not at full strength. Without a fully fit Hasaranga and with the seamers leaking runs, Sri Lanka found it difficult to apply sustained pressure.
Abrar Ahmed Leads Pakistan’s Bowling Effort
Before Pakistan’s strong batting display, their bowlers had done a good job of restricting Sri Lanka. Legspinner Abrar Ahmed was the standout performer with 3 for 41. His wickets came at crucial moments, breaking partnerships and pushing Sri Lanka back whenever they looked set to build momentum.
Abrar’s variations troubled almost every batter. He dismissed opener Kamil Mishara, then took the important wicket of Kusal Mendis, and later trapped captain Charith Asalanka lbw. His spell was important in keeping Sri Lanka under control in the middle overs.
Fast bowler Haris Rauf also took three wickets, two of which came in the death overs. His pace and accuracy helped Pakistan prevent Sri Lanka from finishing even stronger.
What This Win Means for Pakistan
The victory gives Pakistan yet another series win at home, and with one match remaining, they will look to complete a clean sweep. More importantly, the match restored confidence in their top order, especially in Babar Azam.
Babar Azam Back in Form
Babar’s return to century-scoring form is a major boost for Pakistan cricket. His consistency in ODIs has always been one of Pakistan’s strengths, and with this hundred, he showed that he remains a central figure in their lineup.
Equalling Saeed Anwar’s record also highlights the level of performance Babar has maintained throughout his career. With time on his side, he is likely to become Pakistan’s most successful ODI batter in terms of centuries.
Strong Middle Order
The performances of Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Rizwan showed that Pakistan’s experienced players still carry the chase well. Their calm approach underlined Pakistan’s growing stability in the limited-overs format.
Sri Lanka’s Concerns Moving Forward
Sri Lanka’s main concern will be their inconsistent bowling attack. The lack of discipline in the opening overs cost them the match. Even during the middle overs, they failed to build pressure for long stretches.
Fielding was another major weakness. Dropped catches allowed Pakistan’s batters to settle and stretch partnerships. In ODI cricket, especially away from home, fielding mistakes often make the difference between winning and losing.
In batting, Sri Lanka’s top order will need to show more responsibility. Losing wickets in clusters continues to hurt them, even when the middle order puts up a fight.
Conclusion
The second ODI in Rawalpindi was a comfortable and controlled win for Pakistan. Babar Azam’s long-awaited century was the highlight of the chase, supported by solid contributions from Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Rizwan. Pakistan’s bowlers, led by Abrar Ahmed and Haris Rauf, played their part by restricting Sri Lanka to a modest total.
For Sri Lanka, there were moments of fight, but inconsistency in both batting and bowling made it difficult for them to stay competitive. With one match left, they will aim to finish the series on a high, but Pakistan will enter the final ODI as strong favorites.
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