Captain Azan Ahmed’s Unbeaten 63 Powers Pakistan U17 to Five-Wicket Win Over Sri Lanka and a 2-1 Series Lead

MULTAN: This Pakistan U17 victory was built by the captain. Azan Ahmed stayed until the end, scoring an unbeaten 63 from 94 balls, as the hosts beat Sri Lanka U17 by five wickets to move 2-1 ahead in the five-match one-day series at the Multan Cricket Stadium.

The bowlers did the first job

Sri Lanka batted first and never got away. They were bowled out for 159 in 44 overs, with Sandaru Malshan making 52 and Methuka Gunaratne 49, but no one turned a start into something bigger. Fahad Iqbal was the pick of Pakistan’s attack with three for 34, while Daud Rana and Ammar Khan took two wickets each.

The captain finished the chase

A target of 160 can still get awkward if wickets keep falling. Azan made sure they did not matter. His calm innings, with four boundaries, carried Pakistan to 160 for five in 41.5 overs. Mohammad Yousaf chipped in with 22 and Mohammad Naveed 20, while Adeesha Lakshan was Sri Lanka’s best bowler with two for 34.

Where the series stands

Sri Lanka took the opener by 99 runs; Pakistan hit back hard in the second match, winning by 151 runs. Now the third game has gone the hosts’ way too. The fourth match is at the same Multan venue on Wednesday, October 21, with the final game on October 24 — Sri Lanka can still save the series, but their room for error is nearly gone.