At Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on October 31, Pakistan pulled off a remarkable chase in the 2026 ODI tri-series final against Sri Lanka, reaching a target of 326 with three wickets and nine balls to spare. The victory equalled the highest successful chase in an ODI final, a record India had held since their famous 2002 NatWest Series win at Lord’s, where they also overhauled 326 against England.
Fakhar Zaman was the cornerstone of Pakistan’s reply, scoring 127 off 99 balls with 11 fours and six sixes. His knock set the platform for what became a composed and ultimately dominant chase. Salman Agha, however, was dismissed for just 17 during Pakistan’s pursuit, leaving the lower order with work to do.
The decisive contribution came from Arafat Minhas and Hasan Nawaz, who added 94 runs for a late wicket partnership that steadied the chase and carried Pakistan to the title. Pakistan won the tri-series, their second such title after their first came in 2008 when they defeated India in the Kitply Cup final in Bangladesh. The 2026 triumph also served as redemption after Pakistan lost a home tri-series final to New Zealand in 2025.
How did Sri Lanka set such a demanding total?
Sri Lanka posted 325 in the final at Gaddafi Stadium, built largely on a commanding third-wicket stand. Kamindu Mendis anchored the innings with 131 off 128 balls, while Pavan Rathnayake contributed 77. Together, the pair added 146 runs for the third wicket, giving Sri Lanka a total that looked well beyond Pakistan’s reach for much of the match.
Shaheen Shah Afridi was Pakistan’s most effective bowler in the Sri Lanka innings, returning figures of 2/50. Despite his efforts with the ball, the Sri Lankan batting unit ensured their side posted a competitive and challenging score heading into the final fifty overs of the contest.
What is the significance of Pakistan matching India’s 2002 Lord’s record?
The 2002 NatWest Series final at Lord’s remains one of the most celebrated moments in Indian cricket history. India, chasing 326 set by England, appeared to be heading for defeat before Mohammad Kaif, unbeaten on 87, and Yuvraj Singh, who scored 69, combined in a famous lower-order rescue. Their partnership turned the match on its head, and India won by two wickets, a result that sent shockwaves through world cricket at the time.
Fakhar Zaman’s 127 guides Pakistan past Sri Lanka
Pakistan’s chase at Lahore on October 31 now sits alongside that effort as the joint-highest successful run chase in an ODI final. The parallel is striking: both sides overhauled exactly 326, both won with wickets in hand, and both required contributions from multiple batters rather than a single dominant innings carrying the side home.
Pakistan’s 2026 tri-series title also adds a broader chapter to their ODI knockout record. Their previous tri-series title had come nearly two decades earlier in 2008, when they beat India in the Kitply Cup final held in Bangladesh. The 2026 win at Lahore, built on Zaman’s century and the Minhas-Nawaz partnership, now stands as their most significant ODI final chase on record.
