ODI

PAK vs SL Tri-Series 2026: Madushanka 5/34, SL Win by 8 Wkts

Published on October 27, 2026

Summary Overview: Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by 8 wickets in Lahore to reach the tri-series final. Dilshan Madushanka took 5 for 34 as Pakistan were bowled out for 110 in 25.3 overs, and Kamindu Mendis made 62 not out. England are knocked out, and the final is Pakistan vs Sri Lanka on October 31.

Who won? Sri Lanka, by 8 wickets with 191 balls to spare. Pakistan were bowled out for 110 in 25.3 overs, and Sri Lanka reached 114 for 2 in 18.1 overs at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.

Who starred? Left-arm seamer Dilshan Madushanka took 5 for 34 and was named Player of the Match. Kamindu Mendis finished the chase with 62 not out off 60 balls.

What does it mean? Sri Lanka are through to the final, and England are knocked out. England have lost all three of their games and can finish with one win at most, so they cannot catch Sri Lanka. The final on Saturday, October 31 will be Pakistan vs Sri Lanka.

Was this Pakistan's first defeat? Yes. They had won their first three games, including Sunday's thrilling 1-wicket win over England.

Match Report: Pakistan Crash, Sri Lanka Cruise

For readers new to cricket: in a One Day International (ODI), each team bats for up to 50 overs (an over is six legal deliveries). Pakistan were bowled out in barely half their allotted overs.

Pakistan's Innings: Madushanka Strikes at Both Ends of the Innings

Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis won the toss and chose to bowl, and his bowlers made it count. Madushanka had Fakhar Zaman caught in the fourth over, and Asitha Fernando trapped Maaz Sadaqat lbw. When Madushanka removed Saad Baig, Pakistan were 46 for 3 in the 10th over.

Babar Azam looked the best of Pakistan's batters with 29 off 33, but the middle order then collapsed. Off-spinner Sahan Arachchige had Salman Agha caught behind, Eshan Malinga trapped Babar lbw next ball, and Arachchige removed Shadab Khan, Sunday's match-winner, for 2. Pakistan lost four wickets for 18 runs and were 64 for 6.

Hasan Nawaz (17) and Arafat Minhas (10) added 27, but Madushanka came back to remove Arafat, Dunith Wellalage had Nawaz caught, and Madushanka took Haris Rauf next. Three wickets fell for 1 run, and Pakistan were 92 for 9. Captain Shaheen Afridi hit two sixes in 15 off 13 before Madushanka completed his five-for to end the innings at 110.

Sri Lanka's Chase: Kamindu in Control

Kamindu Mendis and Avishka Fernando (16) put on 50 for the first wicket before Shaheen struck. Arafat Minhas bowled Kusal Mendis for 8, but Kamindu and Pavan Rathnayake (23 not out) added an unbroken 52 to finish the job in the 19th over.

Kamindu hit eight fours and two sixes in 62 not out.

Turning Point: Two Wickets in Two Balls

At 61 for 3 in the 13th over, Babar and Salman were trying to rebuild. Arachchige had Salman caught behind with the last ball of the over, and Malinga trapped Babar lbw with the very next delivery. With their two most experienced batters gone, Pakistan went from 61 for 3 to 64 for 6, and the game was effectively over.

Stat Corner

Top Performers

Player	Team	Performance
Dilshan Madushanka	Sri Lanka	5 for 34 (8.3 overs, 1 maiden), Player of the Match
Kamindu Mendis	Sri Lanka	*62 (60)**, 8 fours, 2 sixes
Sahan Arachchige	Sri Lanka	2 for 24 (5 overs)
Eshan Malinga	Sri Lanka	1 for 8 (4 overs, 1 maiden)
Dunith Wellalage	Sri Lanka	1 for 4 (2 overs)
Pavan Rathnayake	Sri Lanka	23* (26)
Babar Azam	Pakistan	29 (33), 5 fours
Shaheen Afridi (c)	Pakistan	15 (13), 2 sixes, and 1 for 29
Arafat Minhas	Pakistan	1 for 23 (5 overs)

* not out

How the Game Turned

Moment	Score
Madushanka's first strike	Pakistan 11 for 1 (3.2 overs)
Top order gone	Pakistan 46 for 3 (9.2 overs)
Four wickets for 18 runs	46 for 3 to 64 for 6
Three wickets for 1 run	91 for 6 to 92 for 9
Pakistan all out	110 (25.3 overs)
Kamindu and Avishka stand	50 for the 1st wicket
Kamindu and Rathnayake stand	52* for the 3rd wicket
Sri Lanka win	114 for 2 (18.1 overs)

Powerplay Comparison

Team	First 10 overs
Pakistan	47 for 3
Sri Lanka	70 for 2

Squads

Pakistan

Role	Players
Playing XI	Maaz Sadaqat, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Saad Baig (wk), Salman Agha, Hasan Nawaz, Arafat Minhas, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi (c), Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf
Bench	Sahibzada Farhan, Razaullah, Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Sufyan Moqim, Ghazi Ghori

Pakistan made two changes from the win over England: Maaz Sadaqat and Naseem Shah came in for Saim Ayub and Razaullah.

Sri Lanka

Role	Players
Playing XI	Kamindu Mendis, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis (c, wk), Pavan Rathnayake, Janith Liyanage, Dasun Shanaka, Sahan Arachchige, Dunith Wellalage, Eshan Malinga, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka
Bench	Kamil Mishara, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Lahiru Udara, Sachindu Colombage

Sri Lanka were unchanged from their win over England.

Tri-Series Table After Match 5

Team	Played	Won	Lost	Net Run Rate
Pakistan (Q)	4	3	1	-0.114
Sri Lanka (Q)	3	2	1	+1.255
England (E)	3	0	3	-0.733

Q = qualified for the final. E = eliminated. Net run rate compares how fast a team scores with how fast its opponents score. A team that is bowled out is counted as having faced its full 50 overs.

What it means: England are out. They can finish with one win at most, so Pakistan and Sri Lanka are both through to the final. Thursday's Sri Lanka vs England game is a dead rubber. Pakistan's net run rate has dropped from +0.949 to -0.114 after this heavy defeat.

What's Next

Match	Date	Fixture	Venue	Local (PKT)	IST	UK	ET
6th Match	Thu, Oct 29	Sri Lanka vs England	Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore	1:00 PM	1:30 PM	8:00 AM	4:00 AM
Final	Sat, Oct 31	Pakistan vs Sri Lanka	Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore	1:00 PM	1:30 PM	8:00 AM	4:00 AM

Local time is Pakistan Standard Time (PKT, UTC+5). IST is India Standard Time (UTC+5:30). UK times are GMT. ET is US Eastern Daylight Time (UTC-4). In Sri Lanka, matches start at 1:30 PM.

Head to head in this series: Pakistan won the first meeting by 37 runs in Rawalpindi. Sri Lanka won the second by 8 wickets in Lahore. The final will break the tie.