Pakistan win tri-series final as Fakhar Zaman century denies Sri Lanka in thrilling chase

Opener scores 127 from 99 balls in Lahore Kamindu Mendis’s 131 proves in vain for Sri Lanka This mini-tournament has been a welcome change of pace, carrying more meaning than your bog-standard three-match white-ball slog between two teams. And then there’s the gift of a final. Th

Opener scores 127 from 99 balls in Lahore Kamindu Mendis’s 131 proves in vain for Sri Lanka This mini-tournament has been a welcome change of pace, carrying more meaning than your bog-standard three-match white-ball slog between two teams. And then there’s the gift of a final. This was a fitting conclusion under the lights in a packed-out Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, settled in the penultimate over as Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by three wickets to win the tri-series.

Fakhar Zaman, Pakistan’s hero from the 2017 Champions Trophy final, crashed his way to 127 in a chase of 326. But plenty of work remained after his dismissal, and the new boys needed to stay calm. Arafat Minhas, 21, and Hasan Nawaz, 24, played like old-timers, their partnership of 94 securing the game.

Minhas and Faheem Ashraf fell with two runs still required, but Shaheen Afridi finished the evening with a wallop over the ropes. Continue reading...