Fakhar Zaman's superb century powered Pakistan to a three-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the one-day international tri-series final in Lahore on Saturday, ending the hosts' long wait for a home title. Zaman's 127 off 99 balls anchored a chase of 326 after an early wobble, and Pakistan finished on 331 for 7 in 48.3 overs, with nine balls to spare, to complete the joint-highest successful chase in an ODI final.

Pakistan had made the worst possible start. Maaz Sadaqat fell for 5 and Babar Azam for a duck, leaving the hosts at 14 for 2. Zaman revived the chase with 19-year-old Saad Baig, who made 74, in a 149-run third-wicket stand off 140 balls, and then added 57 with Salman Ali Agha. Zaman, who had managed only 31 runs in his previous four innings and had bruised a knee while fielding, brought up his 12th ODI century off 84 balls and passed 4,000 ODI runs during the innings.

Minhas turns the finish

Zaman's innings ended in the 34th over, bowled by Dilshan Madushanka with 106 still needed, and Sri Lanka sensed a way back. Instead, Arafat Minhas produced a breathtaking counter-attack, scoring 61 off 31 balls, and with Hasan Nawaz unbeaten on 37, the pair added 94 for the sixth wicket to seal the win. Captain Shaheen Shah Afridi hit the winning six to send a packed stadium into celebration. For Sri Lanka, Kamindu Mendis's maiden ODI century, 131, had set the platform, but it was not enough.

The victory secured Pakistan's first ODI tri-series title since the Kitply Cup final in Bangladesh in 2008, and their first-ever tri-series title at home after losing finals in 1994, 2004 and 2025. Zaman's century was also his second in an ODI tournament final, equalling Saeed Anwar's Pakistan record.