PAK beat SL by 5 wickets | Sri Lanka vs Pakistan, Highlights And Cricket Score 3rd ODI Match

Right then! Pakistan earn their first bilateral series win in ODIs in 15 months, after beating Zimbabwe in July 2018. What do the T20Is hold in store? Some exciting names are cropping up. That format of the tour will be played in Lahore. Join us on Saturday, 5th October, 2019 at 6.30 pm local (1330 GMT). ADIOS! TAKE CARE!

Victorious Pakistan captain, Sarfaraz Ahmed, thanks the almighty as well. Praises Abid Ali for handling the pressure and then credits every batsman for chipping in. Admits that Pakistan's fielding was not up to the mark and believes that if his team continues to field like this, they will not win against bigger teams. Thanks the crowd for coming in large numbers to support the home team. On the upcoming T20I series, Sarfaraz stresses that Sri Lanka are a very strong team in this format and his unit won't take them lightly.

Sri Lankan skipper, Lahiru Thirimanne, feels proud of his team for fighting hard. Feels that scoring 297 was great but the bowling did not execute its plans in the first 10-15 overs. In the series overall, Thirimanne agrees that the youngsters are making the world take notice of the Lankans, with Shanaka, Jayasuriya and Gunathilaka making out some noises. On his experience of playing in Pakistan, Lahiru feels it was exciting and encourages other teams to come here and play.

PAKISTAN'S BABAR AZAM HAS BEEN NAMED THE MAN OF THE SERIES. He too, thanks the almighty for his performance. Feels proud of scoring his first international century in Pakistan. On his score in the previous innings, Azam says that he wanted to take the innings deep and then accelerate. Hopes to take this momentum and form into the T20I series as well.

PAKISTAN'S ABID ALI HAS BEEN NAMED THE MAN OF THE MATCH. Thanks the almighty and feels how much ever he thanks the one above, it will always be less. Thanks the team and support staff for backing him. On the feeling of playing international cricket in Pakistan, Abid thanks the fans and hopes that more international cricket will come to Pakistan.

The match referee and the umpires are given their medallions.

Earlier in the day, a fine century from Danushka Gunathilaka and a cameo from Dasun Shanaka carried Sri Lanka close to 300. Pakistan struggled with the ball in the early parts but will believe that they came back nicely towards the latter stages. Please stay tuned for the presentation...

Sri Lankan bowling, well, they tried hard but were inconsistent. Pradeep and Shanaka started well, only to have their efforts spoilt by Lahiru Kumara. Then, when the spinners brought them back into the game, the new-ball bowlers erred at the death. A tough learning curve but this is one game where they will believe, was lost from the bag. Take for instance, that 46th over, which went for 18. Pakistan needed 37 in 30 before that over.

A rare failure it was for Babar Azam but the others chipped in nicely. Abid Ali made full use of Imam-ul-Haq's absence while Fakhar Zaman got some much-needed runs with consecutive fifties. Sarfraz came in at number 4 but remained invisible while Haris Sohail once again strutted his importance to the team. And then, that factor which was missing for many months in the Pakistan unit - the death batting factor. Iftikhar Ahmed comes in as a breath of fresh air and he has shown that he has the acceleration punch in him to play quickfire knocks.

Fakhar Zaman and a new opener, Abid Ali, laid the platform with a solid 123-run stand but even after that was broken, there was never a 'familiar' Pakistan collapse. There was of course a period in between when the hosts slipped, losing 2 quick wickets for 8 runs in 15 balls but the middle order handled things efficiently.

A rare scenario where Pakistan's batting has won them a game. It is a very good scorecard if your openers get a century stand and each scores a half century. And it reads even better if there are three 50-plus stands in the first four partnerships.

'Sri Lanka lose but are not disgraced,' says Roshan Abeysinghe on air. Ummm... not quite sure in terms of agreement to that statement. The Lankans were in with a decent chance to win but some poor fielding and indifferent bowling saw them lose their grip.

Nuwan Pradeep to Iftikhar Ahmed. FOUR! More freebies from Pradeep. Another full toss, down the leg side again, this time a lower one, Iftikhar just tickles it towards the fine leg fence once more! PAKISTAN WIN BY 5 WICKETS AND 10 BALLS TO SPARE, TAKE THE SERIES 2-0!

Nuwan Pradeep to Iftikhar Ahmed. SIX! Oh dear. A poor, poor, poor ball. A high full toss, down the leg side, Iftikhar pulls it over fine leg and the ball clears the ropes!

Shehan Jayasuriya to Iftikhar Ahmed. Outside off, dabbed to short third man for a quick single.

Shehan Jayasuriya to Wahab Riaz. Full and outside off, Riaz announces his intentions straightaway, getting down and slogging it towards deep mid-wicket. Lakshan Sandakan over there does not charge in but plays it safe, staying back and taking it on the bounce. A single taken.

Shehan Jayasuriya to Haris Sohail. OUT! BOWLED! That has gone right through. How did he miss that? 'Am I out?' asks Haris to Iftikhar. Even he is dumbfounded. A nothing delivery, full and straight. Haris backed away and looked to force it through the off side but perhaps it was a quicker delivery. He missed it and the ball hit the middle stump. Too late for some drama? End of a wonderful innings from Haris Sohail. 11 more needed from 14 balls.

Shehan Jayasuriya to Iftikhar Ahmed. Around of, worked through mid-wicket for a run.

Shehan Jayasuriya to Iftikhar Ahmed. Around off, watchfully defended.

Shehan Jayasuriya to Haris Sohail. Full on middle, eased down to long on for a single.

Nuwan Pradeep to Iftikhar Ahmed. Full and around off, driven straight back to the bowler.

Nuwan Pradeep to Haris Sohail. On middle, pushed towards long on for a run.

Nuwan Pradeep to Haris Sohail. FOUR! Excellent placement! Sohail backs away to the leg side and Pradeep decides to go wide outside off. But it is a full toss and Haris places it perfectly between backward point and short third man!

Nuwan Pradeep to Iftikhar Ahmed. Full and outside off, driven straight to sweeper for a single.

Nuwan Pradeep to Iftikhar Ahmed. Outside off, dabbed straight to point.