Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by eight wickets in the ODI tri-series, with Dilshan Madushanka's career-best 5/34 dismissing Pakistan for 110. The result eliminated England from final contention and set up a Saturday title match against Pakistan. Here is a data-focused breakdown of the key numbers.
Match Summary: A One-Sided Contest
Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis won the toss and chose to field. The decision paid off quickly, as Pakistan were bowled out for just 110.
Sri Lanka then reached the target of 111 with more than 31 overs to spare. That means the chase finished inside 19 overs, at a minimum run rate of roughly 5.84 per over against a required rate of about 2.22.
| Metric | Pakistan | Sri Lanka |
|---|
| Total | 110 all out | 111 for 2 (target reached) |
| Wickets lost | 10 | 2 |
| Margin | Sri Lanka won by 8 wickets |
| Overs remaining | - | 31+ |
Madushanka's Career-Best Spell
Madushanka finished with figures of 5/34, the best of his ODI career. He took half of Pakistan's wickets in the innings.
His figures work out to an average of 6.8 runs per wicket. He also conceded only 34 of Pakistan's 110 runs, about 31 percent of the total, while claiming 50 percent of the dismissals.
Why the Spell Mattered
A total of 110 gave Sri Lanka's top order very little pressure to manage. Few ODI chases begin with a target this small, and the early collapse shaped the whole match.
| Bowler | Wickets | Runs Conceded | Average | Share of Pakistan Wickets |
|---|
| Dilshan Madushanka | 5 | 34 | 6.80 | 50% |
Kamindu Mendis finished unbeaten on 62 off 60 balls, a strike rate of 103.33. He hit eight fours and two sixes in his innings.
Those ten boundaries produced 44 runs, about 71 percent of his total. The remaining 18 runs came from singles, twos and threes.
Key Moments in the Innings
Kamindu was dropped by the wicketkeeper before he had scored. On 44, he successfully overturned an on-field lbw decision through a review.
He reached his half-century with a pull for six. The substitute fielder Ghazi Ghori had touched the boundary with his foot while completing a catch on that delivery, so the shot counted as a six.
| Batter | Runs | Balls | Fours | Sixes | Strike Rate | Boundary Runs |
|---|
| Kamindu Mendis | 62* | 60 | 8 | 2 | 103.33 | 44 (71%) |
Tri-Series Implications
Pakistan had already qualified for the final by beating England twice, including a one-wicket win on Sunday. They also beat Sri Lanka by 37 runs in the opening game of the tournament.
This eight-wicket defeat for Pakistan sends Sri Lanka into the final and ends England's chances of progressing. The head-to-head record in the tournament now shows how closely matched the finalists are.
What Comes Next
Sri Lanka will face England in a dead rubber on Thursday at the Gaddafi Stadium. The final between Sri Lanka and Pakistan is scheduled for Saturday.
Sri Lanka go into the final with the result that matters most: a heavy win over the same opponent that beat them in the opener. Pakistan, by contrast, must address a batting collapse to just 110.
Analytical Takeaway
The match was decided by two clear numbers: a 110 all-out total and a chase completed with more than 31 overs in hand. Madushanka's 5/34 and Kamindu's 62 not out off 60 balls supplied the individual impact.
Whether Sri Lanka can repeat this performance in the final will depend on how well their seam attack and middle order handle a stronger Pakistan batting display.