Sri Lanka post 325 in tri-series final as Mendis ton sets Pakistan 326 to win

LAHORE: Sri Lanka have posted 325 for eight in the ODI tri-series final at Gaddafi Stadium, leaving Pakistan chasing 326 runs for the trophy under lights. Captain Shaheen Shah Afridi won the toss and chose to field first, but Sri Lanka’s batters made that decision look shaky for most of the innings.

Mendis delivers his maiden ODI century

Kamindu Mendis built the innings. He put on 87 for the first wicket with opener Avishka Fernando, and stayed put even after Fernando fell for 38. Captain Kusal Mendis managed only eight, but Mendis then added 146 for the third wicket with Pavan Rathnayake, a stand that changed the shape of the match entirely.

Mendis reached his maiden ODI century off 107 balls and finished with 131 off 128, striking 12 fours and two sixes, before Shaheen trapped him lbw in the 42nd over. Rathnayake struck 77 off 65 balls, and Dasun Shanaka chipped in with a brisk 17 off nine deliveries.

Pakistan’s late fightback

At one stage Sri Lanka looked set for well beyond 350, but Pakistan’s bowlers dragged things back in the final ten overs, taking six wickets to hold the visitors to 325. Salman Ali Agha picked up two wickets, Shaheen finished with two, and Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf claimed two each. Maheesh Theekshana finished unbeaten on nine, with Asitha Fernando six not out.

Pakistan had already taken a blow before the final began: Shadab Khan was ruled out after being struck by the ball in the previous match, with Faheem Ashraf coming into the side. And this is the same Sri Lankan side that bowled Pakistan out for just 110 earlier in the series — so 326 is not merely a number, it is a test, and it will be settled under the Lahore floodlights.