Sri Lanka seized control of the tri-series one-day international final against Pakistan at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, underpinned by a magnificent maiden ODI century from Kamindu Mendis.
After Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi won the toss and elected to field under fading light, Sri Lanka navigated an initial testing period before asserting dominance. Pakistan made one change to their lineup, bringing in Faheem Ashraf to replace an unwell Shadab Khan, while Sri Lanka replaced Eshan Malinga with Maheesh Theekshana.
Openers Avishka Fernando and Kamindu Mendis weathered the early threat posed by Shaheen and Naseem Shah, bringing up Sri Lanka’s half-century inside the powerplay. Avishka contributed a fluent 38 before he was trapped lbw by Salman Ali Agha in the 18th century, ending an 87-run opening partnership. Captain Kusal Mendis fell shortly after for 8, brilliantly caught and bowled by Salman.
Unfazed by the breakthroughs, Kamindu pressed forward with immaculate poise, reaching his fifty off 62 balls before accelerating toward three figures. He found an ideal partner in Pavan Rathnayake, with the pair constructing a century partnership that kept the scoreboard ticking at nearly six runs an over. Kamindu reached his milestone century off 107 balls, celebrating with an upper cut for four off Faheem Ashraf amidst applause from the dressing room.
As dusk fell over Lahore, Kamindu’s brilliant knock of 131 finally ended in the 42nd century when he missed a scoop against Shaheen and was pinned lbw, reviewing unsuccessfully. Rathnayake pushed on to record an accomplished half-century, supported by Dasun Shanaka’s aggressive cameo of 17. Shanaka eventually holed out to Maaz Sadaqat off Shaheen as Sri Lanka pushed toward a formidable total in the closing overs of the innings.
