Pakistan takes the series with an easy chase

Pakistan team takes the series ©PCB

The 3rd ODI started with Pakistan in the quest of a series-win and Sri Lanka, a team of some inexperienced players, were also determined to level the series with a win as only two results were possible due to the first ODI getting abandoned due to rain. 

This time it was Sri Lanka who won the toss and wanted to have a bat. Changing their lineup, Avishka, unlike the previous ODI, was sent as an opener with Danushka Gunathilaka. It didn't mattered much as he tried an audacious shot walking down the track and edged behind. 

After his dismissal, Gunathilaka held his shape amd played some beautiful shots to not give Pakistan any kind of advantage. Sri Lankan captain, however, hit ome back to Nawaz and he held on to it. 

Danushka Gunathilaka writes his name on NSK's honour board after he crafts a hundred. 

Angelo Perera obliged with an uppish flick straight into the hands of Harrid Sohail at midwicket. The debutant wicketkeeper-batsman, Minod Bhanuka, assisted Gunathilaka until he was trapped in a confusion and got runout. 

It was a day where Pakistan's fielding looked toothless at the latter part of Sri Lankan innings. There were misfields, overthrows and all. Dasun Shanaka, once again, showed how good a lower-order batsman he can be. He made 43 of just 24 balls and took Sri Lanka close to 300. 

At the end, Sri Lanka missed that three-hundred mark by just three runs. Pakistan started their innings well. Imam ul Haq was out of this match and Abid Ali was in his place and boy did he play well. He started his innings with an eye-catching straight drive. Sri Lankan bowlers didn't help their team either by feeding him on his pads which he gleefully clipped for fours. 

He failed to read a wrong'un from Hasaranga and found himself plumb in front of the sticks. Fakhar Zaman was in runs, although not at a strike-rate he would like but still was a good effor to reach the seventies. Babar was trapped Pradeep and Sarfraz chopped on to his stumps. 

Times like this are identical to a Pakistan collapse but lower order handled well. Harris Sohail scored a fifty and Iftikhar lend him a helping hand to reach the target without much of a fuss. 

Requiring 9 from 12, Pradeep bowled probably the worst balls to bowl at the death. First, a full toss on leg which Iftikhar helped for six and second again a legside full delivery which was helped towards the fine leg for four. 

Abid Ali was awarded Player of the Match award while Babar Azam booked the man of the series award. 

Now, the action moves to Lahore for the T20Is for an exciting shorter format fun.