Pakistan Seal 3-0 Whitewash with 6-Wicket Cruise Over Sri Lanka in ODI Finale

Pakistan capped a flawless ODI tour of Sri Lanka with a polished six-wicket victory over the hosts in the 3rd ODI at the Galle International Stadium on November 16, completing a clinical 3-0 whitewash and extending their stranglehold in bilateral white-ball cricket. Chasing a modest 212, Pakistan eased home in 44.4 overs for 215 for 4, anchored by Fakhar Zaman’s elegant 55 off 78 balls and Mohammad Rizwan’s unbeaten 61 off 72, their 89-run fourth-wicket stand snuffing out any late drama. Sri Lanka, batting first after Charith Asalanka won the toss, limped to 211 all out in 44.4 overs, with Sadeera Samarawickrama’s defiant 48 the lone bright spot in a top-order implosion triggered by Mohammad Wasim Jr’s 3 for 47. This series sweep—Pakistan’s fifth consecutive ODI series win over Sri Lanka—propels them to No. 2 in the ICC ODI rankings, while the Lankans, mired in a ninth straight home series loss, confront a crisis ahead of the T20I leg starting November 19.

The coastal fortress of Galle, under a balmy afternoon sun giving way to floodlit resolve, hosted a 22,000-strong crowd whose lion roars turned to stunned silence as Wasim dismantled the middle order. The pitch—a dusty red-soil turner with variable bounce and sharp grip for spinners—made strokeplay treacherous, favoring the team that adapted quickest. Asalanka’s bat-first call aimed to exploit the conditions, but his side’s inability to build partnerships (highest 53-run stand) and 25 extras proved fatal. For Babar Azam, in his first full ODI series as captain, the whitewash was a masterclass in execution—his team’s fielding sharpness (just 12 extras) contrasting Sri Lanka’s sloppiness (five drops). As Rizwan dabbed the winning single off Pramod Madushan amid green fireworks, the tour’s white-ball chapter closed triumphantly: Pakistan’s transitional era thrives, Sri Lanka’s spin reliance under fire. The T20I series opens November 19 in Colombo, with the hosts hungry for redemption.

Babar’s XI was a well-oiled machine: Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Agha, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jr, and Zeeshan Zameer. Agha’s all-round utility over Mohammad Haris added depth, Wasim’s seam the enforcer on Galle’s bounce. Sri Lanka, led by Asalanka, fielded: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka (c), Janith Liyanage, Kamindu Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Pramod Madushan, Dushmantha Chameera, and Asitha Fernando. Samarawickrama’s inclusion over Avishka Fernando bolstered the middle, Hasaranga’s all-round threat the X-factor despite a nagging back niggle.

Umpires Raveendra Wimalasiri and Ruchira Palliyaguruge called play at 2:30 PM local time, Ayub and Fakhar facing Fernando’s probing swing amid a defiant lion roar.

Sri Lanka’s innings unraveled like a poorly spun yarn, the top order feasting briefly before Wasim’s seam fire ignited a collapse on a pitch that bit harder with each passing over. Nissanka clipped Fernando off his pads for four in the third over, his timing a beacon of hope, but Zameer struck in the seventh: his inswinger nipped back to lbw Mishara for 8 off 12 — 22 for 1. Kusal Mendis joined Nissanka, their partnership a fleeting dream: Kusal’s flicked four off Rauf, Nissanka’s nurdled single off Afridi. The powerplay yielded 45 for 1, boundaries sparse—Nissanka’s pulled six off Zameer a rare spark—but wides (six early) inflated the tally. Afridi’s bouncer hurried Kusal—top-edged to Rizwan for 22 off 38 — 67 for 2 in the 16th.

Samarawickrama arrived, her compact stance a shield: she swept Nawaz fine for four, rotating with Nissanka. Their 53-run stand off 68 balls—the highest of the innings—pushed to 120 for 2 at drinks, Samarawickrama reaching 20 off 38 amid dots. But Wasim erupted: his inswinger trapped Nissanka lbw for 28 off 52 — 120 for 3 in the 28th. Asalanka scratched 8 before lbw to Wasim’s arm ball — 128 for 4 in the 30th. Liyanage and Samarawickrama rebuilt: Liyanage’s reverse-sweep off Abrar for four, Samarawickrama’s driven boundary off Rauf. Their 35-run stand off 42 balls crawled to 163 for 4, but Rauf yorked Liyanage for 12 off 18 — 163 for 5 in the 36th.

Kamindu Mendis (22 off 28) and Samarawickrama (48 off 68) added 42, Samarawickrama’s flicked six off Nawaz, but Wasim returned: clean bowling Kamindu — 205 for 6 in the 40th. Hasaranga (18 off 22) fought: slog-swept six off Abrar, but holed out to long-on off Wasim — 211 for 7 in the 44th. Madushan (11 off 5) and Chameera (0 off 1) scratched. Sri Lanka’s total boosted by 25 extras. Pakistan’s seamers ruled: Wasim 3-47, Rauf 2-52, Afridi 1-38. Asalanka: “211 too few; Wasim’s spell broke us.”

Pakistan’s chase was a stroll in the Galle park, the openers laying a brisk foundation before Zaman and Rizwan’s poise dismantled the remnants on a dew-softened strip. Ayub pulled Chameera for six in the first over, his intent a statement. Fakhar and Ayub amassed 52 for 0 in 8 overs: Fakhar’s cover drive off Fernando for four, Ayub reaching 20 off 18. But Fernando bowled Ayub for 22 off 25 — 52 for 1 in the 9th. Babar joined Fakhar, their 45-run stand off 52 balls steady: Babar’s straight drive off Theekshana, Fakhar’s pulled six off Madushan. Babar scratched 28 off 42, lbw to Hasaranga — 97 for 2 in the 20th.

Zaman and Rizwan took charge: Zaman reaching 55 off 78 (5×4, 2×6) with a flicked four off Afridi, Rizwan’s swept six off Theekshana. Their 89-run stand off 92 balls pushed to 186 for 2 by the 38th, but Rauf? No, Zaman holed out to long-on off Hasaranga for 55 — 186 for 3 in the 39th. Agha (12 off 18) added 26 before caught behind off Chameera — 212 for 4 in the 42nd. Talat (0 off 2) run-out — 212 for 5. Nawaz (8 off 5) and Rizwan eked out 3 more, Rizwan reaching 61* off 72 (5×4, 2×6) with the winning single off Madushan in the 44.4th — 215 for 4. Sri Lanka’s attack leaked: Hasaranga 2-58, Fernando 1-62. Babar: “Fakhar’s 55 set it; Rizwan’s 61* class.”

Post-Match Reflections & Series Stakes

• Player of the Match: Fakhar Zaman (55 & 0-28)
• Series Lead: Pakistan 3-0; whitewash complete.
• Stats Spotlight: Rizwan’s 61* his 19th ODI fifty; Wasim’s 3-47 his best vs SL. Samarawickrama’s 48 her 9th ODI fifty.
• Milestone: PAK’s 5th straight bilateral ODI series win vs SL; Babar’s 23rd ODI fifty as captain.

Babar: “Team effort; Fakhar’s knock ignited it. T20Is next—keep the fire.”

T20I Series Ahead

• 1st T20I: Pallekele, January 28 (D/N)

Pakistan’s island tour rolls on; Sri Lanka seek T20 redemption. The green wave crashes.