 |
| Muhammad Wasim picked up 3 wickets |
The Pakistan cricket team finished their ODI series against Sri Lanka with another confident and controlled performance in Rawalpindi. With a six-wicket win in the third ODI, Pakistan completed a 3–0 whitewash, showing strong bowling, disciplined batting, and calm game management. The match had moments of pressure, but Pakistan handled every challenge and chased the 211-run target comfortably with more than five overs to spare.
The win was shaped mainly by Mohammad Wasim’s three wickets and Fakhar Zaman’s 55-run knock, while Mohammad Rizwan guided Pakistan home with an unbeaten 61. Sri Lanka showed promise in patches, especially early in their innings and during the middle overs while bowling, but they lacked consistency. Their total of 211 was simply not enough to stop Pakistan from sealing the whitewash.
A Bright Start for Sri Lanka, but a Familiar Collapse Follows
Sri Lanka walked into the final ODI hoping to end the series on a positive note. And for a brief period, they looked good enough to post a big total. Openers Pathum Nissanka and Kamil Mishara began confidently, timing the ball nicely and rotating the strike without trouble. Their early aggression helped them reach a 50-run partnership inside eight overs, giving the visitors a strong platform.
Shaheen Shah Afridi struggled in his first spell as Sri Lanka showed intent. Mishara, in particular, punished any loose deliveries and seemed ready for a long innings. It was also the sixth ODI in a row where Pakistan allowed an opposition team to put up a 50-run opening partnership.
However, Sri Lanka’s promising start soon turned into a predictable collapse—something that has troubled them throughout the series.
Nissanka got an inside edge onto his stumps, opening the door for Pakistan. Then Mishara, who had survived a few risky shots earlier, edged a delivery from Mohammad Wasim that bounced a little more than expected. These two wickets quickly slowed down the scoring rate and shifted momentum Pakistan’s way.
A Slow, Pressure-Building Middle Phase
After the fall of the openers, Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama took charge of rebuilding the innings. However, it was clear that Sri Lanka were unable to maintain the same scoring pace. Pakistan’s bowlers tightened their lines, and the pitch continued to improve for batting, which should have helped Sri Lanka accelerate—but they couldn’t take advantage.
Pakistan introduced Faisal Akram, the young left-arm wristspinner replacing Abrar Ahmed for this match. Akram bowled an excellent first spell. His variations, drift, and turn made life difficult for the batsmen.
He almost trapped Samarawickrama lbw early, but the decision was overturned on review because the ball turned too much. Even though he did not get the wicket at that moment, Akram helped create pressure by stopping the flow of runs.
The Sri Lankan batters took 75 balls to score just 43 runs during this phase, which allowed Pakistan to regain full control. This slow scoring rate put pressure back on Mendis and Samarawickrama, who knew they would eventually need to take risks.
When Mohammad Wasim returned to the attack, the urgency to pick up the scoring led to mistakes.
Wasim and Akram Trigger a Collapse
Wasim bowled a brilliant yorker that knocked over stand-in captain Kusal Mendis, who scored 34. That dismissal broke Sri Lanka’s last stable partnership and opened the floodgates.
Soon after, Faisal Akram took charge again. He produced one of the best deliveries of the match—a ball that dipped, turned sharply, and crashed into Samarawickrama’s stumps just two runs short of a half-century. A few deliveries later, he dismissed Kamindu Mendis with a simple return catch.
Sri Lanka were suddenly struggling at 166 for 6, and the lower order had yet another rescue job to perform.
Pavan Rathnayake Fights Alone
Sri Lanka handed a debut to Pavan Rathnayake, a 23-year-old talented batsman. Even though he came in lower than ideal, he showed great maturity. Knowing the team had collapsed, he tried to guide the tail and add important runs.
One of the standout moments of the match came from Rathnayake, who hit a stunning back-foot punch over cover for six—a shot that displayed both confidence and excellent technique.
Rathnayake scored a fighting 32 runs, but he received very little help from the tail. Pakistan kept taking wickets at the other end, and as he tried desperately to get back on strike, he was eventually run out.
Sri Lanka finished at 211 all out, a total that looked well below par considering the improving conditions.
Pakistan’s Chase Begins with Fire and Pressure
Chasing 212, Pakistan had a shaky start. Haseebullah Khan, the young wicketkeeper-batter, struggled throughout his short stay. He faced 12 balls but never looked comfortable and eventually hit a catch to mid-on.
This early wicket brought Babar Azam to the crease, and the crowd roared in excitement. Babar played some elegant shots, showing signs of regained confidence.
On the other end, Fakhar Zaman wasted no time. He scored freely, finding gaps and hitting boundaries with ease. His aggressive approach took pressure off Babar, and Pakistan reached 80 for 1 inside 15 overs.
Vandersay Brings Sri Lanka Back—Temporarily
Sri Lankan legspinner Jeffrey Vandersay, playing his first match of the series, sparked hope for his team. He took on the challenge of bowling to Zaman, and after being hit for two boundaries, he trapped him with a smart variation. Kamindu Mendis pulled off a brilliant diving catch to dismiss Zaman for 55.
Moments later, Vandersay bowled a beautiful googly to dismiss Babar Azam, sneaking the ball through the gate. This wicket gave Sri Lanka genuine belief for the first time since the powerplay.
Vandersay continued his strong spell by dismissing Salman Agha with a legbreak that drifted in and spun away sharply. Suddenly, Pakistan were 115 for 4 and needed 97 more runs. For a moment, Sri Lanka felt they could turn this match around.
Rizwan and Talat Shut the Door
At a time when the match seemed to open up again, Mohammad Rizwan and Hussain Talat brought calmness. They knew the required run rate was low, so they focused on protecting their wickets rather than scoring quickly.
For the next ten overs, Pakistan added only 32 runs. It looked slow, but that was exactly what they needed—control, not risk.
Sri Lanka kept trying to break the partnership but couldn’t find a wicket. The bowlers were disciplined, but the batters were even more patient.
Rizwan eventually reached his half-century, playing with maturity and showing why he is considered one of Pakistan’s most reliable middle-order batsmen in ODIs. Talat also added important runs in what has been a successful series for him.
In the 43rd over, Maheesh Theekshana trapped Talat lbw, but the decision was overturned because the ball was bouncing over the stumps. It reflected Sri Lanka’s luck throughout the tour—close but never quite enough.
Pakistan finally reached 215 for 4, winning by six wickets and securing a 3–0 whitewash.
What This Win Means for Pakistan
This series showed several positives for Pakistan:
-
Bowling depth with Wasim, Shaheen, and the impressive Faisal Akram.
-
Batting stability with Zaman returning to form.
-
Rizwan’s reliability, especially in pressure situations.
-
Babar Azam regaining confidence before major tournaments.
The Pakistan cricket team looked balanced and confident throughout the series, and this whitewash boosts their momentum going forward.
Sri Lanka’s Struggles Continue
Sri Lanka had moments of promise but lacked consistency:
-
Their top order started well but collapsed too often.
-
Middle-order rebuilding was slow and pressure-filled.
-
Their bowlers created chances but could not get consistent breakthroughs.
-
They struggled to finish innings strongly, both with bat and ball.
The team needs tactical adjustments and better mental control to compete more effectively in foreign conditions.
Final Thoughts
The final ODI between Pakistan vs Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi wrapped up a series dominated by Pakistan’s discipline and skill. Mohammad Wasim’s wickets, Fakhar Zaman’s aggressive fifty, and Rizwan’s calm finishing highlighted why Pakistan completed the whitewash with confidence.
Sri Lanka showed heart but could not match Pakistan’s execution across the three games. The 3–0 result reflects Pakistan’s control and the visitors’ inconsistency.
No comments:
Post a Comment