Clinical Whitewash: Pakistan Sweep Sri Lanka 3-0 in Dominating Rawalpindi Finale
RAWALPINDI, PAKISTAN – Pakistan completed a flawless 3-0 ODI series clean sweep over Sri Lanka with a commanding six-wicket victory in the third and final match at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday, November 16, 2025. A disciplined bowling effort led by Mohammad Wasim Jr. and anchoring half-centuries from Mohammad Rizwan and Fakhar Zaman ensured the hosts chased down the target with 32 balls to spare.
The result underscored Pakistan’s current dominance in the 50-over format, while Sri Lanka’s inability to convert strong starts into substantial scores proved to be their series-long Achilles’ heel.
First Innings: Pakistan’s Bowlers Impress
After winning the toss, Pakistan captain Shaheen Afridi opted to bowl first, a decision that proved astute as the hosts restricted the tourists to a modest total.
Sri Lanka – 211 All Out (45.2 overs)
Sri Lanka’s innings was characterized by promising starts that lacked conversion into a match-winning score. Openers Kamil Mishara (29 off 30) and Pathum Nissanka (24) gave the side a quick start, and the middle order continued the momentum, with stand-in captain Kusal Mendis scoring 34 off 54 balls. The top individual score came from Sadeera Samarawickrama (48), who once again anchored the innings before falling victim to a peach of a delivery.
The pivotal moment of the innings was the collapse triggered by Pakistan’s mid-overs bowling rotation:
- Mohammad Wasim Jr. (3/47): The Player of the Match was the chief architect of the Sri Lankan downfall, bowling a menacing spell that included the crucial wickets of opener Kamil Mishara and captain Kusal Mendis.
- Haris Rauf (2/38): The Player of the Series maintained his consistency, breaking the initial opening stand and keeping the pressure tight.
- Faisal Akram (2/42): The left-arm spinner provided key breakthroughs in the middle order, including the dismissal of the set Samarawickrama, proving Pakistan’s depth in their spin attack.
Sri Lanka ultimately succumbed in the 46th over for 211, leaving their bowlers with a challenging, sub-par total to defend against a strong Pakistani batting line-up.
Second Innings: Fakhar Blitz and Rizwan Anchor
Chasing 212 under the lights, Pakistan displayed composure despite a slight wobble in the middle order, ultimately securing the victory in the 45th over.
Pakistan – 215/4 (44.4 overs)
Pakistan’s chase was built on two crucial partnerships, driven by the experience of their senior players:
| Player | Runs (Balls) | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate | Dismissal |
| Fakhar Zaman | 55 (45) | 8 | 0 | 122.22 | c Kamindu Mendis b Jeffrey Vandersay |
| Babar Azam | 34 (52) | 4 | 0 | 65.38 | b Jeffrey Vandersay |
| Mohammad Rizwan | 61* (92) | 4 | 0 | 66.30 | Not Out |
| Hussain Talat | 42* (57) | 1 | 0 | 73.68 | Not Out |
- Fakhar Zaman’s Blitz: Fakhar Zaman provided the early impetus, slamming a fluent 55 off just 45 balls (his second successive half-century), sharing a crucial 76-run stand with Babar Azam.
- Rizwan’s Resilience: After a middle-order hiccup saw Pakistan fall to 115/4, Mohammad Rizwan showcased his trademark calm, anchoring the innings with a patient, unbeaten 61 off 92 balls.
- The Match-Sealing Stand: Rizwan and Hussain Talat (42*) put on an unbroken 100-run partnership to steer Pakistan home, ensuring no further scares and highlighting the depth of Pakistan’s batting bench.
Sri Lanka’s veteran leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay (3/42) was the standout bowler, briefly threatening to derail the chase by dismissing Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, and Salman Agha. However, his efforts were ultimately insufficient to defend the meagre total.
Awards and Series Summary
- Player of the Match: Mohammad Wasim Jr. for his decisive opening spell of 3/47.
- Player of the Series: Haris Rauf for his consistent pace and wicket-taking ability across all three ODIs.
The 3-0 whitewash serves as a significant confidence booster for Pakistan, demonstrating a balanced attack and a batting line-up capable of chasing down targets with maturity. For Sri Lanka, the series highlights a need for greater application and the ability of their top-order batters to convert promising starts into substantial individual hundreds.
