Pakistan are the champions of the Pakistan ODI Tri-Series 2026. In a thrilling final at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on Saturday, 31 October 2026, Pakistan chased down Sri Lanka’s 325 for 8 and reached 331 for 7 in 48.3 overs to win by three wickets, with nine balls to spare. It was a fitting finish to a high-scoring series: a record chase under lights, a century from each side, and a finish that stayed alive until the closing overs. This was the preview of the final that had promised a tense decider, and the match delivered exactly that.
A final that lived up to its billing
Pakistan won the toss and chose to field first, backing their bowlers and their chasing record at this ground. Sri Lanka made them work for it. After an opening stand of 87 between Avishka Fernando and Kamindu Mendis, Sri Lanka reached 255 for 2 in 41 overs and looked set for a total well beyond 350. Pakistan’s seamers then dragged the game back in the final nine overs, conceding only 70 runs and taking wickets at regular intervals, to hold Sri Lanka to 325 for 8. That late fightback proved decisive: a target of 326 was daunting, but it was gettable on a good batting surface with dew around in the evening.
The chase began in the worst possible way. Pakistan lost two early wickets for just 14 runs, and the same top-order fragility that had cost them so badly against Sri Lanka four days earlier — when they were bowled out for 110 in Lahore — threatened to return. Instead, Fakhar Zaman produced one of the great final innings by a Pakistan opener, and the middle order held its nerve when the game tightened again late on.
Fakhar Zaman’s 127 turns the final
Fakhar Zaman scored 127 from 99 balls, with 11 fours and six sixes, at a strike rate of 128.28. It was his 12th ODI century, his first in nearly three years, and it carried him past 4,000 ODI runs. More importantly, it changed the shape of the chase. After the early blows, Fakhar and wicketkeeper Saad Baig added 149 runs for the third wicket, with Baig contributing a valuable 74, and Pakistan went from crisis to control. Fakhar reached his century off 85 balls and was eventually bowled by Dilshan Madushanka, who finished with 3 for 63, but by then the required rate was under control and the belief in the dressing room was unmistakable.
The finish was not comfortable, though. Salman Ali Agha made 17, and Pakistan were 308 for 5 after 47 overs, then 324 for 7, needing two runs from 13 balls when Faheem Ashraf fell for a duck. Hasan Nawaz, unbeaten on 37 from 45 balls, kept his composure, and captain Shaheen Shah Afridi finished the job in style, pulling Madushanka for six to seal a three-wicket win. Arafat Minhas had earlier played a brisk hand of 61 from 31 balls, the kind of late-order push that keeps a big chase alive when the main batters fall.
Kamindu Mendis’ maiden century sets it up for Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka’s innings belonged to Kamindu Mendis, who scored a maiden ODI century — 131 from 128 balls, with 12 fours and two sixes. He shared an 87-run opening stand with Avishka Fernando, who made 38, and then a 146-run third-wicket partnership with Pavan Rathnayake, who struck 77 from 65 balls. At one stage Sri Lanka looked certain to post a match-winning total, and Kamindu’s innings, full of crisp timing and calm accumulation, deserved to be on the winning side.
Pakistan’s bowlers deserve credit for the way they closed the innings out. Shaheen Shah Afridi took 2 for 50 and dismissed Kamindu and Dasun Shanaka in quick succession, Salman Ali Agha took 2 for 44, and Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah took two wickets each. Sri Lanka lost five wickets for 52 runs after the big partnership ended, and their last nine overs produced only 70 runs. In a final decided by six runs’ worth of margin in effect — three wickets and nine balls — that death-bowling discipline was the difference between a par total and a winning one.
Match summary
| Sri Lanka | 325/8 (50 overs) — Kamindu Mendis 131, Pavan Rathnayake 77, Shaheen Shah Afridi 2/50, Salman Ali Agha 2/44 |
| Pakistan | 331/7 (48.3 overs) — Fakhar Zaman 127, Saad Baig 74, Arafat Minhas 61 (31), Hasan Nawaz 37 not out, Dilshan Madushanka 3/63 |
| Result | Pakistan won by 3 wickets (9 balls remaining) |
| Venue | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, 31 October 2026 |
| Toss | Pakistan, elected to field |
What this win means
For Pakistan, this is a first ODI tri-series title on home soil after finishing runners-up in 1994, 2004 and last year, and it is revenge of a sort for the eight-wicket defeat to the same opponents in the league stage. It also answers the biggest question of their tournament: could the batting stand up when the pressure was highest? On the evidence of this chase, the answer is yes — not flawlessly, but with enough match-winners to recover from 14 for 2 and still win with balls to spare.
For Sri Lanka, there is plenty to take forward despite the defeat. Kamindu Mendis finished as one of the standout batters of the series, Rathnayake continued a superb tournament, and Madushanka again showed he can trouble Pakistan’s best batters. They pushed the hosts all the way in a final played in front of a loud home crowd, and on another night 325 might have been enough. The gap between the sides in this series was small: one win each before the final, and a final settled in the 49th over.
FAQs
What was the result of the Pakistan vs Sri Lanka tri-series final 2026?
Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 3 wickets at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on 31 October 2026. Sri Lanka scored 325 for 8 in 50 overs and Pakistan replied with 331 for 7 in 48.3 overs.
Who scored the most runs in the final?
Kamindu Mendis top-scored in the match with 131 for Sri Lanka, while Fakhar Zaman’s 127 was the highest score for Pakistan and the innings that decided the chase.
How did Pakistan chase 326?
After slipping to 14 for 2, Fakhar Zaman and Saad Baig added 149 for the third wicket. Arafat Minhas scored a quick 61 off 31 balls, and Hasan Nawaz finished unbeaten on 37, with Shaheen Shah Afridi hitting the winning six.
Who took the most wickets in the final?
Dilshan Madushanka took 3 for 63 for Sri Lanka, including Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam and Maaz Sadaqat. For Pakistan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Salman Ali Agha, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah took two wickets each.
Where was the tri-series final played?
At Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on Saturday, 31 October 2026. Pakistan won the toss and chose to field first.
Conclusion
This final will be remembered for two centuries and one chase. Kamindu Mendis gave Sri Lanka a total to defend, and Fakhar Zaman took it away from them with an innings of power, patience and perfect timing. Pakistan’s late bowling, and then their calm finish from Hasan Nawaz and Shaheen Shah Afridi, completed a win that this home crowd will remember for a long time. The trophy stays in Lahore, and Pakistan head into the build-up to next year’s 50-over World Cup with a title in their hands and a chase to believe in. See the full scorecard on ESPNcricinfo.
Green Benn is a dedicated sports writer specializing in cricket, including IPL and international formats. Known for clear, engaging, and informative content, Green simplifies complex match analysis and player statistics for all readers. Passionate about sports storytelling, Green delivers reliable, SEO-friendly articles that keep fans updated and informed
