Unbeaten Pakistan return to Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium to face Sri Lanka in the ODI tri-series, after a dramatic one-wicket victory over England and a record-breaking last-wicket partnership.
LAHORE, PAKISTAN — WEB DESK Pakistan will face Sri Lanka in the fifth match of the ODI tri-series at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Tuesday, October 27, with both teams arriving after memorable victories over England.
The contest presents Pakistan with an opportunity to maintain their unbeaten run, while Sri Lanka will look to build on their historic successful chase of a 430-run target against England. The result could also determine whether Sri Lanka secure a place in the final or England retain a chance of qualifying.
Pakistan have already qualified for the October 31 final after winning their first three matches. Their latest victory came against England in Lahore, where they chased a target of 242 to win by one wicket in a dramatic finish.
Shadab Khan scored an unbeaten 113 off 96 balls, while Haris Rauf provided crucial support as the pair added an unbroken 89 runs for the final wicket. The partnership set a new record for the highest last-wicket stand in a successful chase in men’s ODI cricket.
Sri Lanka, meanwhile, produced a remarkable performance against England in Rawalpindi on October 22. Chasing 430, they reached the target with two wickets remaining, becoming the first Asian team to successfully chase more than 400 runs in men’s ODI cricket.
Pavan Rathnayake led the effort with 130 runs, while Avishka Fernando scored 97 and Dasun Shanaka added a rapid 97. The victory kept Sri Lanka in contention for a place in the tournament final.
Pakistan’s batting depth and ability to recover from difficult situations will be important against a Sri Lankan side that has demonstrated its capacity to chase exceptionally high totals. However, Sri Lanka’s bowling attack will need to respond after conceding more than 400 runs against England.
The Lahore pitch is generally considered favourable for batting, although conditions can slow as a match progresses. Both teams may therefore need to balance aggressive scoring with careful management of wickets.
Pakistan could also use the match to assess squad options ahead of the final, having already secured qualification. Sri Lanka, by contrast, have additional incentive to win as they seek to strengthen their position in the standings.
The match at Gaddafi Stadium is expected to attract considerable attention following the teams’ recent high-scoring performances and dramatic finishes.
