Pakistan secured a comprehensive 3-0 series whitewash over Sri Lanka with a comfortable six-wicket victory in Rawalpindi, as Mohammad Wasim’s three wicket haul restricted the visitors to 211 before Fakhar Zaman’s half-century guided the hosts to victory with 5.2 overs remaining.
The result caps a dominant series performance from Pakistan, who outplayed Sri Lanka across all three matches to claim their first ODI series clean sweep in recent memory. While Sri Lanka showed occasional fight, particularly through debutant Pavan Rathnayake’s spirited lower-order resistance and Jeffrey Vandersay’s middle-overs comeback, Pakistan’s superior depth and execution proved decisive throughout.
Sri Lanka’s Promising Start Fades
Sri Lanka began their innings with genuine ambition, suggesting they harbored designs on posting a total above 300. Opening batsmen Pathum Nissanka and Kamil Mishara timed the ball beautifully during the initial phase, racing to a 50-run partnership inside the first eight overs with fluent stroke-play that troubled Pakistan’s bowling attack.
Shaheen Shah Afridi, Pakistan’s premier pace bowler, endured particular punishment from Mishara, who exploited gaps in the field with intelligent placement and aggressive intent. The half-century opening stand represented the sixth consecutive ODI where Pakistan conceded a 50-run opening partnership a concerning pattern that suggests vulnerability in the powerplay overs despite ultimately prevailing in matches.
However, as has become characteristic of Sri Lanka’s batting throughout this series, early promise dissolved once wickets began falling. Nissanka’s dismissal, bowled by an inside edge that clattered into the stumps, triggered a familiar collapse pattern that has plagued the visitors throughout their Pakistan tour.
Mohammad Wasim exploited extra bounce in the surface to draw Mishara’s outside edge shortly afterward, and suddenly the free-flowing runs that had characterized the opening phase dried up completely. Sri Lanka’s inability to maintain momentum after strong starts has been a recurring theme one that explains their comprehensive series defeat despite showing occasional quality.
Middle-Order Struggles and Akram’s Impact
Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama attempted to rebuild Sri Lanka’s innings, but their accumulation proceeded far too slowly on a wicket that appeared to improve as the match progressed. The pair consumed 75 balls to score just 43 runs a scoring rate that placed immense pressure on batsmen following them to accelerate against a disciplined Pakistan attack.
Left-arm wrist-spinner Faisal Akram, replacing Abrar Ahmed in Pakistan’s lineup, enjoyed an excellent debut spell that showcased his variations and control. The young spinner deployed his repertoire intelligently, keeping batsmen honest and building pressure through dot balls and tight lines.
Akram nearly claimed Samarawickrama early when he trapped him in front, but the batsman successfully reviewed the decision as ball-tracking showed excessive turn would have missed the stumps. However, the pressure Akram generated through his first spell contributed significantly to Sri Lanka’s inability to accelerate during the crucial middle overs.
When Mohammad Wasim returned to the attack, the mounting pressure produced immediate dividends. He demolished stand-in captain Kusal Mendis’ stumps with a perfectly executed yorker before Akram struck twice in quick succession to blow the innings open. His wickets included a splendid delivery that breached Samarawickrama’s defenses two runs shy of his half-century, followed by a soft return catch that dismissed Kamindu Mendis.
At that stage, with half the side back in the pavilion and runs coming slowly, Sri Lanka’s innings appeared headed for complete capitulation well short of competitive totals.
Rathnayake’s Spirited Resistance
Twenty-three-year-old debutant Pavan Rathnayake provided Sri Lanka with unexpected lower-order resistance that salvaged some respectability from a deteriorating situation. Batting perhaps deeper in the order than ideal for someone with his talent, Rathnayake displayed impressive temperament as he shepherded the tail and accumulated valuable runs.
His back-foot punch that sailed over cover for six represented arguably the shot of the day a moment of genuine class amid Sri Lanka’s struggles. However, Rathnayake received limited support from partners at the other end as Pakistan’s bowlers chipped away methodically at the remaining wickets.
With nine wickets down and overs running out, Rathnayake’s desperation to retain strike ultimately cost him his wicket. His spirited 32 demonstrated promise for Sri Lanka’s future but couldn’t mask the reality that 211 represented a significantly below-par total on a good batting surface.
Zaman’s Aggressive Response
Fakhar Zaman’s approach to Pakistan’s chase immediately signaled confidence about the modest target. He launched into the bowling with aggressive intent, almost as if compensating for time lost after Haseebullah Khan’s brief, tortured stay at the crease resulted in a 12-ball duck.
The young wicketkeeper-batsman grew increasingly desperate with each delivery before ultimately smearing one straight to mid-on a dismissal that briefly threatened to inject uncertainty into the chase. However, Babar Azam’s arrival to join Zaman quickly steadied matters while lifting the crowd’s spirits considerably.
Zaman took control of run-scoring responsibilities, freeing his arms and finding gaps either side of the wicket with regularity during the powerplay overs. His fluent stroke-play contrasted with Babar’s more measured approach, though the former captain looked increasingly confident, timing the ball beautifully as Pakistan cruised through the first 15 overs without major alarm.
The partnership built steadily until Zaman targeted Jeffrey Vandersay, the leg-spinner playing his first match of the series. After smacking him for boundaries, Zaman attacked again only for Kamindu Mendis to take a spectacular diving catch in the deep. The dismissal provided Sri Lanka with their first genuine opening since the powerplay.
Sri Lanka’s Brief Fightback
Vandersay’s introduction transformed the contest temporarily, giving Sri Lanka hope of creating a competitive finish from an unpromising position. Shortly after dismissing Zaman, the leg-spinner deceived Babar Azam with a googly that beat him comprehensively, sneaking through the gate and shattering his stumps.
The quick double strike energized Sri Lanka’s fielding unit and created the first sustained pressure Pakistan faced since the opening powerplay. Vandersay continued his impressive spell by beating Salman Agha with a lovely leg-break that drifted in before ripping away to trap him lbw, reducing Pakistan to a position where they still required 97 runs with only six wickets remaining.
For the first time in the match, doubt crept into the equation. While Pakistan remained favorites, their sudden loss of momentum against quality spin bowling created opportunities for Sri Lanka to force a dramatic finish if they could maintain pressure and claim further quick wickets.
Rizwan and Talat Close Out Victory
Mohammad Rizwan and Hussain Talat responded to Sri Lanka’s fightback with patient, risk-minimized batting that prioritized wicket preservation over aggressive run-scoring. For a period, accumulating runs became secondary; the next ten overs produced just 32 runs as both batsmen focused on keeping Sri Lanka out of the wickets column.
With the asking rate remaining comfortably manageable throughout, Pakistan could afford this cautious approach. They methodically dragged themselves toward the finish line without taking unnecessary risks, recognizing that time and wickets in hand favored them decisively.
The final hour settled into a holding pattern where the outcome became certain but Pakistan showed no urgency to accelerate toward victory. Rizwan coasted toward his half-century while Talat capitalized on the opportunity to accumulate additional runs in what had been a successful series for him personally.
Maheesh Theekshana trapped Talat lbw in the 43rd over, but the batsman successfully overturned the decision as ball-tracking showed the delivery bouncing over the stumps. The reprieve summarized Sri Lanka’s struggles throughout the series even when they created chances, fortune favored Pakistan and denied them breakthrough moments.
Eventually, Pakistan limped over the finish line with more than five overs remaining, sealing a comfortable victory that reflected their superiority throughout the contest and across the entire series.
Series Reflections
Pakistan’s 3-0 whitewash represents a comprehensive statement of intent and demonstrates the team’s growing cohesion under current leadership. While Sri Lanka occasionally showed quality particularly through individual performances they lacked the consistency and depth required to challenge Pakistan across complete matches.
The visitors’ repeated pattern of promising starts followed by middle-order collapses proved fatal throughout the series. Their inability to build substantial partnerships or recover momentum after losing wickets allowed Pakistan to dominate despite occasional vulnerabilities in their own performance.
For Pakistan, the clean sweep provides valuable confidence and momentum ahead of future assignments. The emergence of players like Faisal Akram, consistent performances from established stars like Mohammad Rizwan, and the return to form of players like Babar Azam all bode well for Pakistan’s ODI ambitions.
Mohammad Wasim’s three-wicket haul in the final match capped an excellent series for Pakistan’s bowling unit, which repeatedly restricted Sri Lanka below competitive totals. The batting lineup, despite occasional wobbles, demonstrated sufficient depth and composure to chase modest targets comfortably.
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Conclusion
Pakistan’s six-wicket victory in Rawalpindi completed a dominant 3-0 series whitewash that reflected their superiority across all departments. Mohammad Wasim’s three wickets helped restrict Sri Lanka to 211, a total that never threatened Pakistan despite Jeffrey Vandersay’s brief fightback.
Fakhar Zaman’s aggressive half-century set the tone for Pakistan’s chase before Mohammad Rizwan and Hussain Talat closed out victory with professionalism if not flair. The comfortable win with more than five overs remaining emphasized the gulf between the sides throughout this series.
For Sri Lanka, the whitewash highlights ongoing struggles with batting consistency and the inability to compete with stronger teams in challenging away conditions. The Rawalpindi cold provided an uncomfortable backdrop for their stuttering series performance one they’ll be eager to forget as they prepare for future assignments.
Pakistan, meanwhile, celebrate a comprehensive series victory that validates their current approach and provides momentum for upcoming challenges. The whitewash demonstrates that when their bowling and batting units click together, Pakistan remain a formidable ODI opponent capable of dominating series from start to finish.
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