Fakhar's Fireworks: Pakistan Chase Down 326 to Clinch Tri-Nation Glory
Pakistan chase down 326 to win the tri-nation series final in Lahore. Fakhar Zaman hits a clutch century to equal India's historic record.
In a high-octane finale at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Pakistan pulled off a historic chase to defeat Sri Lanka and lift the tri-nation series trophy. The match was a statistical goldmine, featuring a massive successful run-chase and a masterclass in batting from Fakhar Zaman, who ensured the Men in Green emerged victorious in a thriller that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
A Record-Breaking Chase
Pakistan's successful pursuit of 326 runs has etched their name into the record books. This target now stands as the joint-highest chase ever achieved by a team in an ODI tournament final. In doing so, Pakistan has levelled the iconic feat achieved by India during the 2002 NatWest tri-series final against England in the UK.
The game was not just about the chase but the sheer volume of runs. A staggering 656 runs were scored in total during the clash, marking the highest match aggregate in any ODI tournament final, narrowly surpassing the 651 runs scored in that same 2002 NatWest final between India and England.
Fakhar Zaman: The Big-Match Specialist
Fakhar Zaman once again proved why he is one of Pakistan's most dangerous batters in high-pressure situations. Scoring a blistering 127 off just 99 balls, Fakhar anchored the chase and propelled his team toward victory. This performance marks his second century in three ODI finals, a feat shared only with the legendary Saeed Anwar among Pakistani batters.
Fakhar's dominance in finals is evident in his numbers: across three finals, he has amassed 251 runs at an impressive average of 83.66 and a strike rate of 114.09. For comparison, while Saeed Anwar scored more total runs (914) across 29 finals, Fakhar's efficiency in these championship games has been remarkable.
Rewriting the Record Books
Beyond the final, Fakhar has established himself as the king of the "big chase" for Pakistan. He has now scored four ODI centuries in chases of 300 runs or more, surpassing the tallies of former greats Babar Azam and Younis Khan, who both have three such centuries.
Additionally, Fakhar reached a personal milestone during the match, completing 4,000 ODI runs for Pakistan in just 96 innings. This makes him the second-fastest Pakistani batter to reach the mark, trailing only Babar Azam (82 innings). In 97 ODIs, Fakhar now boasts 4,019 runs with 12 centuries and 19 fifties.
Sri Lanka's Valiant Effort
Sri Lanka did not go down without a fight. After opting to bat first, they posted a formidable 325/8 in their 50 overs. The innings was headlined by Kamindu Mendis, who smashed his maiden ODI century (131 off 128 balls). This is the third-highest score by a Sri Lankan in an ODI final, trailing only Sanath Jayasuriya's 189 and Marvan Atapattu's 132*.
Pavan Rathnayake also played a crucial role with a quick-fire 77 in the final. Rathnayake ended the tri-series as the leading run-scorer with 427 runs at a massive average of 106.75, the third-best performance by a Sri Lankan in a tri-nation tournament.
How the Match Unfolded
The Sri Lankan Innings:
- Sri Lanka opened strongly with an 87-run partnership between Avishka Fernando (38) and Kamindu Mendis.
- Mendis and Pavan Rathnayake further strengthened the total with a 146-run stand for the third wicket.
- Pakistan's bowling attack shared the spoils, with Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, and Salman Agha each claiming two wickets.
The Pakistani Chase:
The chase started disastrously for Pakistan, as they slumped to 14/2 early on. However, a monumental 149-run partnership between Fakhar Zaman (127) and Saad Baig (74) steadied the ship and put Pakistan in a winning position.
After Fakhar's departure, Pakistan still needed 106 runs, but Hasan Nawaz (37*) and Arafat Minhas (61 off 31 balls) finished the job with clinical precision, guiding Pakistan to victory with three wickets and nine balls remaining.