Pakistan Match India's 24-Year-Old World Record After Tri-Series Final Win Against Sri Lanka

Pakistan not only won the tri-series final by beating Sri Lanka on Saturday but also equalled a world record set by India in 2002. Fakhar Zaman's century helped Pakistan defeat Sri Lanka by three wickets in the final of the ODI tri-series at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Saturday, as the hosts chased down a target of 326 to lift the trophy. Pakistan reached 331/7 in 48.3 overs, completing the chase with nine balls to spare. The successful pursuit is the joint-highest run chase in an ODI final, level with arch-rivals India's chase against England in the 2002 NatWest final at Lord's.

Highest successful chases in multi-team ODI tournament finals

India vs England - Target 326 (2002, Lord's)

Pakistan vs Sri Lanka - Target 326 (2026, Lahore)

India vs Pakistan - Target 315 (1998, Dhaka)

West Indies vs Pakistan - Target 285 (1993, Sharjah)

New Zealand vs India - Target 277 (2005, Harare)

Zaman led the charge with 127 off 99 deliveries, including 11 fours and six sixes. With this innings, he became only the second Pakistan batter to score two centuries in ODI finals.

Chasing 326, Pakistan suffered an early setback as Maaz Sadaqat was dismissed for five and Babar Azam fell for a duck, leaving the side struggling at 14/2.

Zaman then joined wicketkeeper-batter Saad Baig to rebuild the innings. The pair added 149 runs for the third wicket, taking Pakistan back into contention. Baig scored 74 off 75 balls, hitting 11 boundaries, before Maheesh Theekshana dismissed him with the score on 163.

Zaman continued to anchor the chase and brought up his century before falling to Dilshan Madushanka for 127, with Pakistan at 220/4. Salman Agha was dismissed for 17 as Sri Lanka briefly regained control, reducing Pakistan to 230/5.

Hasan Nawaz and Arafat Minhas then took responsibility for the chase, putting together a crucial 94-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Minhas played an attacking innings of 61 off just 31 balls, striking three fours and four sixes, while Nawaz remained unbeaten on 37 off 45 deliveries.

Minhas fell with Pakistan on 324, and Faheem Ashraf was dismissed for a first-ball duck, leaving Pakistan needing two runs with three wickets in hand. Captain Shaheen Shah Afridi sealed the victory in style, smashing a six to take Pakistan to the title.

Earlier, after Pakistan captain Afridi elected to field, Sri Lanka posted 325/8 in their allotted 50 overs, built around a maiden ODI century from Kamindu Mendis.

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