Pakistan on Wednesday defeated Sri Lanka by 5 wickets to win the three-match ODI series 2-0, courtesy Man of the Match Abid Ali who scored 74 runs off 67 balls.
Babar Azam was declared Player of the Series for his scores of 115 and 31 in the second and third ODI, respectively.
After the first rubber between the two sides got washed out, Pakistan won the second match by 67 runs and had taken an unassailable lead of 1-0 in the series.
Talking about the third match, chasing 298 for victory, Pakistan rode Zaman’s 76 from 91 balls and Ali’s 74 off 67 balls to set the tone early on as the pair added 123 for the opening wicket.
Leg spinner Wanindu Hasaranga trapped Ali in front to draw first blood for Sri Lanka before Nuwan Pradeep removed the dangerous Babar Azam (31) LBW.
Zaman was the next to go, with Pradeep getting his wicket as he caught by Dasun Shanaka at third man.
Skipper Sarfaraz (22) and Sohail then held fort to forge a 55-run fourth-wicket stand before the skipper chopped a Lahiru Kumara delivery on to his stumps.
Sohail then hit three fours and a six in a 50-ball 56 to guide the team to a win with 10 balls to spare.
Iftikhar Ahmed was not out on 28 along with Wahab Riaz (1 not out).
Earlier, the visitors rode Danushka Gunathilaka’s ton to post a fighting total of 297 for 9.
The 28-year-old southpaw scored a 134-ball 133 which included 16 boundaries and a six for his second hundred which lifted the islanders after they won the toss and batted on a flat National Stadium wicket.
Gunathilaka had stands of 88 with skipper Lahiru Thirimanne (36) for the second, 50 for the third with Angelo Perera (13) and 74 with debutant Minod Bhanuka (36) for the fourth in a brilliant display of batting.
He was removed in the 45th over, bowled by pacer Mohammad Amir who was the best bowler for the hosts with 3 for 50.
Besides Gunathilaka, all-rounder Shanaka smashed a quick-fire 24-ball 43 which included five fours and two sixes as Sri Lanka added 50 crucial runs in the last five overs. But the target couldn’t bother Pakistan as they well ahead throughout in the chase.
Brief scores: Sri Lanka 297 for 9 in 50 overs (Danushka Gunathilaka 133, Mohammed Amir 3/50) lost to Pakistan 299 for 5 (Fakhar Zaman 76, Abid Ali 74, Haris Sohail 56; Nuwan Pradeep 2/53) by 5 wickets.
(With inputs from IANS)