AI Simulation, PAK vs SL | Pakistan complete series sweep as Babar, pace trio dominate Sri Lanka

‌Pitch and Weather

Rawalpindi offered a surface with noticeable early seam for pacers, gradually flattening to allow strokeplay through the middle overs. Evening dew was expected, providing some assistance for the batting side chasing under lights. Temperatures remained in the mid-20s Celsius, and clear skies allowed uninterrupted play.

Toss

Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bowl first, hoping to exploit early movement and restrict Pakistan to a par total before dew aided batting in the second innings.

Lineups

Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Agha, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi (c), Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf

Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis (wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka (c), Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Asitha Fernando, Dushmantha Chameera

Match Report

Opting to bat first, Pakistan started cautiously against the new ball as Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub negotiated early overs with discipline. Zaman punished anything short outside off stump, while Ayub rotated the strike efficiently. The openers added 60 runs before Zaman fell trying to accelerate the scoring, bringing Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan together at 73/2.

The pair shifted the innings up a gear, combining elegance and intent. Babar struck gaps through covers and midwicket with trademark poise, while Rizwan rotated strike and punished loose deliveries. Their partnership of 121 runs stabilized Pakistan’s innings and ensured a total beyond par. The introduction of spinners Theekshana and Hasaranga slowed scoring slightly, but late cameo hitting from Salman Agha and Mohammad Nawaz pushed Pakistan to a competitive 281/7 after 50 overs.

Sri Lanka’s chase began positively as Pathum Nissanka and Kamil Mishara rotated strike well, but the pacers soon struck. Shaheen Afridi removed both openers with full-length deliveries that swung under lights, exposing the middle order. Asalanka and Liyanage attempted to rebuild, putting on 50 for the fourth wicket, but Naseem Shah returned to the attack to dismiss Asalanka and Kamindu Mendis in quick succession.

From 158/4, Sri Lanka crumbled under pressure. The pace trio of Shaheen, Naseem, and Haris Rauf shared wickets regularly, as boundaries became difficult to find and the required rate climbed. Despite Liyanage’s resistance, Sri Lanka fell to 216/9, 65 runs short, as Pakistan’s bowlers executed disciplined plans across both powerplay and death overs.

Player of the Match

Babar Azam was named Player of the Match for his authoritative 88, anchoring Pakistan’s innings and providing the platform for a total that ultimately proved beyond Sri Lanka’s reach.

Scorecard