Match

Pakistan won by 3 wkts

• Sri Lanka: 325/8 (50 overs)
• Pakistan: 331/7 (48.3 overs)

Sri Lanka - 325/8 (50 overs)

Extras: 15

Pakistan - 331/7 (48.3 overs)

Extras: 4

Commentary

• The return of the tri-series format in ODIs after a while was a welcome one, and this tournament was a timely reminder of just how competitive and entertaining these contests can be. Perhaps something cricket boards should consider more often. Across the seven games, there were plenty of memorable moments and a few surprises along the way. Who would have thought England would lose their first three matches and miss out on the final? Pakistan and Sri Lanka, meanwhile, played excellent cricket and more importantly unearthed exciting talent. Pavan Rathnayake was the standout, finishing as the series' leading run-scorer with 427 runs, while Arafat Minhas made a valuable impact with both bat and ball. Both sides have shown that the talent is there; the challenge now is for their respective managements to nurture these youngsters and help them grow into future stars. And with that, it's time to draw the curtains on our coverage. We hope you enjoyed following the action with us. Until next time, goodbye and stay safe!
• Shaheen Shah Afridi | Pakistan captain - [On the bowling plans that helped Pakistan pull things back in the final overs] Yeah, I think that was crucial. When we started bowling, the first three, four overs had gone, and then we just decided to go cross-seam and bowl some bouncers. And then later on, there might be reverse. And then we can take wickets later on. So I think we had a great comeback after that. And also, the way our batting started, it collapsed again, but it was good Fakhar in the batting and he played such a good knock. [On Fakhar's importance to Pakistan in big matches] Yeah, I always say, whenever Fakhar scores for us, that is a big game. [On the youngsters and their contributions during the tournament and the final] Yeah, they were really impressive. Like, first game, Saad Baig played in Pindi, really impressive. And the way he played here, even Fakhar was struggling and he took on that game. And Arafat and Hasan Nawaz with bat. So I think that was a good sign for Pakistan cricket. So youngsters coming and they had a perform. [On Pakistan's ongoing World Cup preparations and the significance of winning the tri-series] Yeah, we already had started our preparation three series ago. So we had a great series again. Last time Pakistan won a tri-nation series, I think, was in 2008. And now, first time after a long time. It's really happy, proud of this team.
• Kusal Mendis | Sri Lanka captain - [What did you make of 325?] We played really well in the first couple of overs. And Madushanka bowled really well and Kamindu batted really well. I enjoyed the way batting. But we have to score another 25-30 runs more. [On whether not having a fifth frontline bowler, given Sri Lanka's all-rounder combination, made a difference during the defence] Yeah, I'm honestly a little bit hard to bowl with a fifth bowler because the dew is coming in and the conditions are a little bit better in the second innings. I think our bowling unit done really well in the first couple of overs, putting the powerplay. Dilshan bowled really well. And Dunith bowled really well. I think we did a mistake in the field a little bit. That's, I think, what we have to improve going forward. I think we improve a little bit in the fielding part. [On the positives from the tri-series] Yeah, of course, we have so many positive things. And Pavan batted really well. Dunith bowled really well. And Kamindu batted really well. And Avishka, everybody, some matches doing something in special areas. Then as a captain, I'm very happy when I played the whole tournament. And we have to improve some areas as I mentioned before. And honestly, everybody happy when I played in Pakistan, again in England also. Then when going forward, I think we have to improve some areas.
• Arafat Minhas (2/2): [On how they assessed Sri Lanka's bowling options and capitalised on an opportunity towards the end] Absolutely, we had an idea. Even when from outside (dugout), we had been told that they might have a bit of an issue with their overs because their frontline bowlers had already bowled a lot. We were calculating that and playing accordingly. And towards the end, when I got the opportunity, I charged and got a really good big over. So I think we were playing with that kind of calculation, and we took the game right till the end. [On his identity as an all-rounder and his commitment to contributing in both departments] Absolutely, winning a final brings its own happiness. And I think I've been saying from the beginning that I am an all-rounder, and I always try to give 100 per cent with both my batting and bowling.
• Arafat Minhas | Player of the Series (1/2) - [On his bowling improvement and his batting contributions] Absolutely. Just as the team needed today. When I went in, we were talking about belief, that we had to believe in each other. And I think that belief was there. We enjoyed those moments in the middle, and we won the match. [On staying calm and executing his skills under pressure] Yes, absolutely, there is pressure. I think the more you enjoy that pressure, the calmer you remain and the better you execute your skills. That was exactly what I tried to do, to stay calm in the middle. Both of us knew each other's abilities, so we were playing after calculating things, and that's what helped us win the match.
• Fakhar Zaman (2/2): [On the mental preparation, given his lack of runs in the previous four matches and the pressure of chasing more than 300 in a final] No, look, I've played enough cricket now to know that when it's my day and the ball starts coming nicely off my bat, I'll score big. So I was just waiting for that moment. I didn't do anything particularly different from the way I had approached the previous four matches. I prepared for this game in exactly the same way. But that's the thing: when you score runs, we start talking about how mentally ready you were, how your fitness was and all of that. I prepared for this match in the same way I had prepared for the other games. Luckily, the runs came today. [On the joy of contributing to a title-winning performance] Absolutely. Look, whatever performances you put in throughout the tournament, you do them with the aim of winning the trophy. And when you score runs in the final, the happiness is even greater. I consider myself lucky that I managed to score runs in the final today.
• Fakhar Zaman | Player of the Match (1/2) - [On his knock] Look, the way my first four matches had gone, I felt a good performance was due, and I was putting in the effort. But cricket is such a game that sometimes you're in really good touch, but the runs just don't come. Even today, I was struggling a little at the start, but luckily the runs came, and that's a good thing for me. Whenever there is a final, I seem to score runs. [On the partnership with Saad Baig after Pakistan lost two early wickets] I've played domestic cricket with him as well, and he's a very talented player. Even today, when I was struggling at that stage, he came in and scored quite quickly. That allowed me to relax and take my time. If he had also played slowly like me, perhaps I would have tried to take a few more chances, and if you take those chances, you can end up losing your wicket. So the credit goes to him for the way he started and the way he built his innings. In my opinion, his was the best innings of the match.
• 21:24 Local Time, 16:24 GMT, 21:54 IST: A fitting finale to a cracking tri-series! The game ebbed and flowed, with both teams having their moments, but Pakistan held their nerve when it mattered most to chase down the target and lift the title. Sri Lanka made a terrific start with Madushanka striking twice early, removing Maaz Sadaqat and Babar Azam. Fakhar Zaman, however, was given three lives and made Sri Lanka pay dearly. He first stitched together a 100+ stand with youngster Saad Baig, who chipped in with an impressive 74, before shifting gears and racing to a century. In the process, Zaman became only the second Pakistan batter to score two centuries in ODI finals. He looked set to take Pakistan home with a few overs to spare, but Madushanka returned to dismiss him, and Agha followed soon after. That brought two youngsters, Hasan Nawaz and Arafat Minhas, together at the crease. Showing remarkable composure under pressure, the duo put on a 94-run stand, with Minhas smashing a 28-ball fifty and though he wasn't there to finish it off, skipper Shaheen took them over with nine balls to spare. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, will rue their finish with the bat. They were on course for a total in the 340-350 range but lost their way in the final 10 overs, eventually settling for 325. Those 20-25 runs proved costly in the end. Stay tuned for the presentations..
• 48.3: Dilshan Madushanka to Shaheen Afridi, SIX, Pakistan win by 3 wickets. The skipper finishes it off in style. If there were roofs in the Gaddafi Stadium then it would be coming down right now - that's how loud the noise is. This is the joint highest chase in an ODI final, level with that India v England game at Lord's in 2002. Another short of length delivery from Madushanka, but he didn't get the bounce as the previous delivery, Shaheen rocks back and nails the pull over deep mid-wicket
• 48.2: Dilshan Madushanka to Shaheen Afridi, no run, 131.1ks bouncer angling in, Shaheen tries to take it on but the ball climbs over the top-edge
• 48.1: Dilshan Madushanka to Hasan Nawaz, 1 run, 131.9ks short of length delivery, Nawaz rides the bounce and steers to backward point
• 47.6: Asitha Fernando to Shaheen Afridi, no run, 136.1ks full and at the stumps, Shaheen eases it to mid-on
• Shaheen Afridi, left handed bat, comes to the crease
• 47.5: Asitha Fernando to Faheem Ashraf, out Caught by Maheesh Theekshana!! Faheem goes for a duck. Asitha is on a hat-trick. Finally a catch is taken at third man. Short and outside off, Faheem tries to ramp it over third man but does not get enough to clear the rope. Theekshana runs to his left and takes it safely. Faheem Ashraf c Maheesh Theekshana b Asitha Fernando 0(1)
• Asitha Fernando to Faheem Ashraf, THATS OUT!! Caught!!
• Faheem Ashraf, left handed bat, comes to the crease
• 47.4: Asitha Fernando to Arafat Minhas, out Caught&Bowled!! Oh no! Minhas won't be there to see Pakistan over the line. But he's done his part. A 31-ball 61 when the team needed, take a bow! Asitha goes short and into the pitch, Minhas is backing away and is rushed on the pull, the ball hits the splice of the bat and lobs towards cover. Asitha runs across and takes a good catch. Arafat Minhas c and b Asitha Fernando 61(31) [4s-3 6s-4]
• Asitha Fernando to Arafat Minhas, THATS OUT!! Caught&Bowled!!
• 47.3: Asitha Fernando to Arafat Minhas, FOUR, smashed! Pakistan are almost there. This is exceptional hitting from Minhas. He's been helped by Asitha ofcourse - full toss outside off, Minhas hammers it straight down the ground, with mid-off inside the ring, there's no need to run for that
• 47.2: Asitha Fernando to Arafat Minhas, SIX, back to back sixes! They are just one hit away from sealing it. This is higher, longer and better than the previous delivery. Asitha is not nailing those yorkers and is paying the price. Minhas gets under the length and launches it over long-on