Pakistan won the Tri-Series 2026 final by three wickets with nine balls remaining, reaching 331/7 after Sri Lanka made 325/8 at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. A century-led recovery and an attacking sixth-wicket stand carried Pakistan through despite wickets on consecutive deliveries near the finish. The full scorecard recorded a chase that required two substantial rebuilding efforts.
Kamindu's century gives Sri Lanka a strong platform
Asked to bat, Sri Lanka built their innings around Kamindu Mendis, who made 131 from 128 balls. His opening partnership with Avishka Fernando brought 87 before Salman Agha trapped Fernando lbw for 38 from 49 deliveries in the 18th over.
Salman then caught Kusal Mendis off his own bowling for 8, leaving Sri Lanka 109/2 in the 22nd. Those breakthroughs interrupted the start without removing the batter who would shape the innings, and Kamindu found a productive partner in Pavan Rathnayake.
Their third-wicket stand of 146 gave Sri Lanka the platform for a substantial total. Rathnayake contributed 77 from 65 balls, with eight fours, while Kamindu's innings included 12 fours and two sixes. Together they carried Sri Lanka into the closing ten overs with only two wickets lost.
Shaheen Afridi finally dismissed Kamindu lbw at 255/3 in the 42nd over. Dasun Shanaka added impetus with 17 from nine balls, but his dismissal to Afridi was followed by Rathnayake's departure, caught by Babar Azam off Haris Rauf at 283/5.
Pakistan kept taking wickets rather than allowing Sri Lanka's remaining batters an uninterrupted finish. Naseem Shah removed Janith Liyanage and Sahan Arachchige, while Rauf accounted for Dunith Wellalage. An unbroken ninth-wicket stand of 18 between Maheesh Theekshana and Asitha Fernando supplied useful closing runs.
Afridi finished with 2/50, the least expensive of Pakistan's bowlers to complete ten overs. Salman, Rauf and Naseem also took two wickets apiece, ensuring Sri Lanka's commanding third-wicket partnership did not lead to an unchecked late surge.
Two recoveries carry Pakistan through
Pakistan's reply faltered immediately against Dilshan Madushanka. Maaz Sadaqat fell for 5 and Babar for a duck, both caught by Rathnayake, leaving the chase at 14/2 in the fourth over.
Fakhar Zaman made 127 from 99 balls, providing both the recovery and the attacking weight Pakistan needed. Saad Baig helped rebuild with 74 from 75 deliveries, striking 11 fours during a third-wicket partnership of 149.
Theekshana ended that stand with a return catch in the 27th over. Fakhar then added 57 with Salman before Madushanka bowled him at 220/4. His 11 fours and six sixes had transformed the chase, but Pakistan still needed another substantial contribution. Salman's dismissal for 17, bowled by Wellalage at 230/5, made that requirement sharper.
Arafat Minhas supplied 61 from 31 balls, including three fours and four sixes. His sixth-wicket partnership of 94 with Hasan Nawaz brought Pakistan close, with Hasan providing continuity while Minhas accelerated.
Asitha briefly reopened the contest by catching Minhas off his own bowling and having Faheem Ashraf caught by Theekshana from the next delivery. Pakistan were 324/7, but the late double strike did not deny them. Hasan finished unbeaten on 37 from 45 balls, and Afridi contributed 6 not out from three as Pakistan completed the chase in 48.3 overs and secured the title.