PAK vs SL Tri-Series Final 2026: Fakhar 127, Pakistan Win
Published on October 31, 2026
Summary Overview: Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 3 wickets in the tri-series final in Lahore, chasing 326 with nine balls to spare. Fakhar Zaman hit 127 off 99, Saad Baig 74 and Arafat Minhas 61 off 31. Kamindu Mendis's 131 was not enough for Sri Lanka.
Who won? Pakistan, by 3 wickets with nine balls to spare. Sri Lanka made 325 for 8, and Pakistan reached 331 for 7 in 48.3 overs at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.
Who starred? Fakhar Zaman hit 127 off 99 balls with six sixes. Saad Baig made 74, and Arafat Minhas smashed 61 off 31. For Sri Lanka, Kamindu Mendis made 131 and Dilshan Madushanka took 3 for 63.
How did Pakistan come back? They were 14 for 2 after Madushanka removed Maaz Sadaqat and Babar Azam early, then 230 for 5 needing 96 more. Arafat and Hasan Nawaz (37 not out) added 94 off 65 balls to turn the game.
What does it mean? Pakistan are tri-series champions, winning four of their five games, and avenge Tuesday's 8-wicket defeat to Sri Lanka.
Match Report: A Final Worth Waiting For
Four days after Sri Lanka bowled Pakistan out for 110 on this ground, the two sides served up a classic.
For readers new to cricket: in a One Day International (ODI), each team bats for up to 50 overs (an over is six legal deliveries). A team wins by wickets when it chases down the target; "3 wickets" means Pakistan had three of their ten wickets left.
Sri Lanka's Innings: Kamindu's Century
Shaheen Afridi won the toss and chose to bowl. Kamindu Mendis and Avishka Fernando (38) put on 87 for the first wicket before Salman Agha trapped Avishka lbw and then caught and bowled captain Kusal Mendis for 8.
Kamindu and Pavan Rathnayake then took the game away from Pakistan, adding 146 off 118 balls for the third wicket. Kamindu reached a superb 131 off 128 balls, with 12 fours and two sixes, and Rathnayake made 77 off 65. At 255 for 2 in the 42nd over, Sri Lanka were heading for a huge total.
Pakistan's seamers fought back. Shaheen trapped Kamindu lbw, then removed Dasun Shanaka, and Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah took two wickets each. Sri Lanka lost six wickets for 52 runs, but Maheesh Theekshana and Asitha Fernando added an unbeaten 18 to lift them to 325 for 8.
Pakistan's Chase: Fakhar, Then Arafat
The chase started badly. Madushanka, who took five wickets against Pakistan on Tuesday, had Maaz Sadaqat and Babar Azam caught by Rathnayake in his first two overs. Babar went for a duck, and Pakistan were 14 for 2.
Fakhar Zaman and Saad Baig rebuilt with a stand of 149 off 140 balls. Baig hit 11 fours in 74 off 75 before Theekshana caught and bowled him. Fakhar went on to 127 off 99 balls, with 11 fours and six sixes, before Madushanka bowled him at 220 for 4. When Dunith Wellalage bowled Salman soon after, Pakistan were 230 for 5, needing 96 from 79 balls.
Turning Point: Arafat Minhas's 61 Off 31
Arafat Minhas changed the final. He hit four sixes in 61 off 31 balls, adding 94 off 65 balls with Hasan Nawaz, who held the other end with 37 not out.
Asitha Fernando caught and bowled Arafat and had Faheem Ashraf caught first ball, leaving Pakistan 324 for 7, still 2 short. Nawaz took a single, and captain Shaheen Afridi finished it with a six, with nine balls to spare.
Stat Corner
Top Performers
| Player | Team | Performance |
| Fakhar Zaman | Pakistan | 127 (99), 11 fours, 6 sixes |
| Saad Baig (wk) | Pakistan | 74 (75), 11 fours |
| Arafat Minhas | Pakistan | 61 (31), 3 fours, 4 sixes |
| Hasan Nawaz | Pakistan | 37* (45) |
| Shaheen Afridi (c) | Pakistan | 2 for 50 (10 overs), and 6* (3) |
| Salman Agha | Pakistan | 2 for 44 (7 overs) |
| Kamindu Mendis | Sri Lanka | 131 (128), 12 fours, 2 sixes |
| Pavan Rathnayake | Sri Lanka | 77 (65), 8 fours |
| Dilshan Madushanka | Sri Lanka | 3 for 63 (9.3 overs) |
| Asitha Fernando | Sri Lanka | 2 for 72 (9 overs) |
* not out
How the Final Turned
| Moment | Score |
| Kamindu and Avishka stand | 87 for the 1st wicket |
| Kamindu and Rathnayake stand | 146 off 118 balls for the 3rd wicket |
| Sri Lanka in command | 255 for 2 (41 overs) |
| Six wickets for 52 runs | 255 for 2 to 307 for 8 |
| Sri Lanka total | 325 for 8 (50 overs) |
| Madushanka's early strikes | Pakistan 14 for 2 (3.3 overs) |
| Fakhar and Baig stand | 149 off 140 balls for the 3rd wicket |
| Pakistan in trouble | 230 for 5, needing 96 |
| Arafat and Nawaz stand | 94 off 65 balls for the 6th wicket |
| Pakistan win | 331 for 7 (48.3 overs) |
Powerplay Comparison
| Team | First 10 overs |
| Sri Lanka | 51 for 0 |
| Pakistan | 50 for 2 |
Squads
Pakistan
| Role | Players |
| Playing XI | Fakhar Zaman, Maaz Sadaqat, Babar Azam, Saad Baig (wk), Salman Agha, Hasan Nawaz, Arafat Minhas, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi (c), Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf |
| Bench | Shadab Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Sahibzada Farhan, Ghazi Ghori, Sufyan Moqim, Razaullah |
Pakistan made one change from their defeat to Sri Lanka: Faheem Ashraf came in for Shadab Khan.
Sri Lanka
| Role | Players |
| Playing XI | Avishka Fernando, Kamindu Mendis, Kusal Mendis (c, wk), Pavan Rathnayake, Sahan Arachchige, Janith Liyanage, Dasun Shanaka, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka |
| Bench | Eshan Malinga, Dushmantha Chameera, Kamil Mishara, Lahiru Udara, Sachindu Colombage |
Sri Lanka made one change from their defeat to England: Maheesh Theekshana came in for Eshan Malinga.
Pakistan's Road to the Title
| Match | Result |
| vs Sri Lanka, Rawalpindi | Won by 37 runs (Salman Agha century) |
| vs England, Rawalpindi | Won by 87 runs (Arafat Minhas six wickets) |
| vs England, Lahore | Won by 1 wicket (Shadab 113*, 89-run last-wicket stand) |
| vs Sri Lanka, Lahore | Lost by 8 wickets (all out for 110) |
| Final vs Sri Lanka, Lahore | Won by 3 wickets |
Pakistan won four of their five games to lift the trophy.
Player of the Series: Arafat Minhas
Arafat Minhas was Pakistan's all-round star of the tournament. He took 9 wickets, including a stunning 6 for 40 against England in Rawalpindi, where he also hit 59 and ran out the last batter. In the final he smashed 61 off 31 balls, the innings that turned the chase.
| Match | Batting | Bowling |
| vs Sri Lanka, Rawalpindi | 18 | 0 wickets |
| vs England, Rawalpindi | 59 | 6 for 40 |
| vs England, Lahore | 1 | 2 for 26 |
| vs Sri Lanka, Lahore | 10 | 1 for 23 |
| Final vs Sri Lanka | 61 | 0 for 64 |
| Total | 149 runs | 9 wickets |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Pakistan tri-series final 2026?
- Pakistan, who beat Sri Lanka by 3 wickets in Lahore.
How many did Fakhar Zaman score?
- 127 off 99 balls, with 11 fours and six sixes.
Who scored a century for Sri Lanka?
- Kamindu Mendis, with 131 off 128 balls.
How did Pakistan finish the chase?
- Needing 2 at 324 for 7, Hasan Nawaz took a single and Shaheen Afridi hit a six, with nine balls to spare.
How many games did Pakistan win in the tri-series?
- Four of five, losing only to Sri Lanka in the group stage.
Who was Player of the Match in the final?
- Fakhar Zaman, for his 127 off 99 balls.
Related Guides and Series Coverage
📋 Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, Tri-Series: Dilshan Madushanka's Five-For Skittles Pakistan for 110