Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Live Score ODI Tri-Series Final

Pitching it up, around the pads of the batter. Avishka Fernando clips it to the right of deep square for a couple of runs. Sri Lanka and Avishka Fernando are underway!

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Shaheen Afridi to Avishka Fernando

Wtth an hint of an outswinger, pitching it fuller, on off. Avishka Fernando strides out and taps it back to the bowler.

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Shaheen Afridi to Avishka Fernando

Fires fuller, at the stumps, Avishka Fernando defends it down the deck.

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Shaheen Afridi to Avishka Fernando

Fuller in length, around off, Avishka Fernando drives it to cover.

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Shaheen Afridi to Avishka Fernando

Fuller, around off, Avishka Fernando blocks it down.

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Shaheen Afridi to Avishka Fernando

A dot to begin with! Pitching it fuller, just down the leg side with a little bit of inswinger. Avishka Fernando misses on his flick.

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Done with the pre-match proceedings, it is now time to play. The umpires are out in the middle, and so are the players of Pakistan. It will be the duo of Avishka Fernando and Kamindu Mendis to open the innings for Sri Lanka. Shaheen Afridi will kick things off with the ball himself. Let's play...

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We are just a few minutes away from the start of the game. But first, the two sets of players will line up for their respective national anthems. It will be the national anthem of Sri Lanka first, followed by that of Pakistan.

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PITCH REPORT - Aamer Sohail is inspecting the deck. He starts by lauding the groundsmen for producing what looks like an excellent surface. Sohail then adds that there is hardly any grass, as it has been nicely rolled in. Sohail feels that the surface is going to be excellent for batting, but also mentions that there might be some help for the spinners later in the game, if there isn't much dew.

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Pakistan (Playing XI) - Fakhar Zaman, Maaz Sadaqat, Babar Azam, Saad Baig (WK), Salman Agha, Hasan Nawaz, Arafat Minhas, Faheem Ashraf (In for Shadab Khan), Shaheen Afridi (C), Haris Rauf, and Naseem Shah.

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Sri Lanka (Playing XI) - Kamindu Mendis, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis (C/WK), Pavan Rathnayake, Dasun Shanaka, Janith Liyanage, Sahan Arachchige, Maheesh Theekshana (In for Eshan Malinga), Dunith Wellalage, Asitha Fernando, and Dilshan Madushanka.

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The skipper of Sri Lanka - Kusal Mendis says they are prepared to bat first, and the wicket looks better than in the last couple of matches. Mendis further adds that the team is confident, they have done well in a couple of matches, and everyone knows their roles well. On playing three games on the bounce, he says that the recovery has been going well, and ends by informing that Eshan Malinga is out and Maheesh Theekshana is in.

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The captain of Pakistan - Shaheen Afridi starts off by saying that the dew comes in late and they want to use the fresh wicket, so they will be bowling first. Also adds that they batted second in all games and he reckons they have done well chasing. About the team changes, the skipper says that Shadab Khan isn't well and, for that reason, Faheem Ashraf is in.

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Big runs, brittle finish - Sri Lanka’s batting has been the story of the tournament. In their second game of the series, they chased down 430 against England, the second-highest chase in ODI history. Pavan Rathnayake, who made 130 in that win, then hit 118 off 77 balls in the defeat that followed in their final game. Kusal Mendis made 89 off 71 in the same chase of 387, before Sri Lanka lost their last five wickets for 16 runs. The runs are there, and the question is whether the tail can hold. 

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Greetings folks - Hello and a very warm welcome to all the viewers joining us as two weeks of white-ball cricket comes down to a single match, and it's Pakistan taking on Sri Lanka in the tri-series final. Pakistan won their first three matches and qualified for the final early. Sri Lanka then joined them with a game to spare. The final is the third meeting between these two sides in two weeks, and the previous two went one way each. Pakistan won the opener by 37 runs, and Sri Lanka won the fifth match by eight wickets with 191 balls to spare. So the decider is level on form, and the trophy is up for grabs.

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Bring on the Finale - The stage is set for an exciting finale as Pakistan and Sri Lanka prepare to face each other in the final of the 2026 ODI Tri-Series in Pakistan. With England also part of the competition, both finalists have had to negotiate a challenging series, but it is the hosts and Sri Lanka who have earned the opportunity to compete for the trophy. The final promises an intriguing contest between Pakistan's pace-heavy bowling attack and Sri Lanka's increasingly confident batting and spin-bowling combination. Pakistan will enjoy home advantage and the backing of a passionate Lahore crowd, but Sri Lanka arrive with considerable confidence after producing a commanding victory over the hosts in their most recent meeting. That result has added another dimension to the final, making this a contest in which Pakistan will be eager to respond, and Sri Lanka will look to demonstrate that their previous performance was no coincidence. Pakistan's road to the final - Pakistan have been one of the strongest sides in the competition, qualifying for the final after winning their first three league matches. They opened their campaign with a 37-run victory over Sri Lanka, scoring 305 before dismissing the visitors for 268. Their batting depth and ability to defend a competitive total provided an encouraging start to the tournament. The hosts followed that performance with an impressive 87-run victory over England. Pakistan posted 302 for nine, with their batting unit showing its ability to build a substantial total and apply pressure through the middle overs. Their bowlers subsequently dismantled England for 215, demonstrating the effectiveness of their pace attack and the importance of early breakthroughs. Their third victory was perhaps the most dramatic performance of the competition. Facing England at Gaddafi Stadium, Pakistan were involved in a remarkable last-wicket partnership between Shadab Khan and Haris Rauf, which helped them secure a thrilling one-wicket win while chasing 242. Shadab produced a memorable maiden ODI century, rescuing his team from a difficult position and underlining his value as a genuine all-rounder. However, Pakistan suffered a significant setback in their final league encounter against Sri Lanka. Batting first, they were bowled out for just 110 in 25.3 overs. Dilshan Madushanka produced a devastating spell of left-arm pace bowling, claiming five wickets for 34 runs. Babar Azam top-scored with 29, while the rest of the batting lineup struggled to establish partnerships. Sri Lanka comfortably completed the chase in 18.1 overs, winning by eight wickets. Despite that defeat, Pakistan finished strongly enough to secure their place in the final. Head coach Mike Hesson has acknowledged that the side has not yet delivered its best overall performance, and he will expect his experienced players to produce a more complete display in the title match. Sri Lanka's journey so far - Sri Lanka have demonstrated considerable resilience throughout the tournament, particularly with their ability to compete in high-scoring encounters. Their campaign began with a 37-run defeat against Pakistan, but they responded impressively against England in Rawalpindi. The highlight of their league campaign was an extraordinary chase against England. After England posted 429 for four, Sri Lanka successfully chased down the target, reaching 430 for eight in 49.5 overs to win by two wickets. It was a remarkable batting performance that demonstrated the team's depth, temperament, and ability to handle pressure in a demanding run chase. Sri Lanka then produced their most convincing performance against Pakistan. Their bowlers exploited the conditions brilliantly, with Madushanka leading the attack and restricting Pakistan to a disappointing 110. Kamindu Mendis subsequently guided the chase with an unbeaten 62, ensuring that Sri Lanka qualified for the final in emphatic fashion. Their final league match against England, however, exposed some concerns. Chasing 387, Sri Lanka reached 331 before being dismissed in 45.1 overs. Pavan Rathnayake continued his outstanding tournament with 118, while Kusal Mendis contributed 89. Nevertheless, the middle and lower order failed to maintain the required momentum, allowing England to secure a 55-run victory. Sri Lanka will therefore enter the final with confidence from their previous victory over Pakistan, but they will also understand that their bowling attack needs to be more consistent against a dangerous home batting lineup. The tactical battle - One of the most important aspects of the final will be Pakistan's approach with the new ball. Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah are capable of generating movement and pace, while Haris Rauf provides an aggressive option through the middle and death overs. Pakistan will particularly target the Sri Lankan top order, knowing that early wickets could expose the middle order to sustained pressure. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, will need to be patient against Pakistan's fast bowlers. Kusal Mendis, Avishka Fernando and Kamindu Mendis will have important responsibilities in negotiating the opening overs before attempting to accelerate. Pavan Rathnayake's form gives the visitors another major advantage, particularly if he can build a substantial partnership with one of the experienced batters. The other major contest will be between Pakistan's middle order and Sri Lanka's left-arm pace attack. Madushanka's success against Pakistan in the previous encounter will give him considerable confidence. His ability to bring the ball back into right-handed batters and attack the stumps could again create problems for Babar Azam and the other Pakistan middle-order players. Pitch in focus - The final could see another competitive batting surface, although the previous match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka at this venue demonstrated that the bowlers can dominate when they maintain disciplined lines and lengths. Madushanka's five-wicket haul was particularly significant, highlighting the importance of exploiting early movement. The surface is expected to offer reasonable assistance to both pace and spin. Fast bowlers could benefit from bounce and movement during the opening overs, while spinners may become increasingly important as the innings progresses. Batting should become easier once players settle, but teams will need to avoid losing wickets in clusters. Form (Last 5 ODIs, recent first) - PAK - LWWWW | SL - LWWLL. Prediction time - Pakistan will enter the final with the advantage of home conditions, a strong fast-bowling attack and the experience of several established international players. Their ability to win three consecutive matches earlier in the competition demonstrates their potential, but their batting collapse against Sri Lanka remains a significant concern. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, have displayed excellent batting depth, with Pavan Rathnayake, Kusal Mendis and Kamindu Mendis providing important contributions. Their bowling attack also has the ability to exploit any weaknesses in Pakistan's top order, as demonstrated by Madushanka's outstanding performance. The 2026 ODI Tri-Series final promises to be a fascinating battle between two teams with contrasting strengths. Pakistan will be determined to finish their home campaign with silverware, while Sri Lanka will be eager to build on their impressive recent victory and complete a successful tournament. Pakistan's pace attack, Shadab Khan's all-round ability and the experience of Babar Azam will be central to their chances. Sri Lanka will rely heavily on Rathnayake's remarkable batting form, Kusal Mendis' leadership and Madushanka's ability to strike early. Who are you backing for the win?