PAK vs SL ODIs: Babar Azam ends century drought as Pakistan wins collection towards Sri Lanka

Babar Azam’s first worldwide century in additional than two years anchored Pakistan’s snug chase of 289 towards scratchy Sri Lanka of their series-clinching one-day worldwide on Friday.

Pakistan gained by eight wickets, cruising to 289-2 in 48.2 overs on Babar’s fluent unbeaten 102 off 119 balls. They have an unbeatable 2-0 lead within the three-match collection, which ends on Sunday (November 16, 2025).

Sri Lanka was restricted to 288-8 on an ideal batting pitch after six of the highest seven batters could not convert good begins.

The collection was doubtful after Sri Lanka gamers wished to go away the nation when a suicide bomber killed 12 individuals outdoors a courtroom in Islamabad on Tuesday, hours earlier than the primary ODI in close by Rawalpindi.

However, Sri Lanka Cricket directed the workforce to complete the collection after it was reassured about safety by the Pakistan Cricket Board.

Babar lastly will get 100

Babar got here into Friday’s recreation with out a world century in 83 innings throughout the codecs, greater than 800 days since 100 towards Nepal within the Asia Cup at Multan in August 2023.

“I had been ready for this (century) just like the followers,” Babar mentioned. “I stored the assumption up. I obtained begins in just a few video games towards South Africa too (within the final ODI collection) however you solely get what you wished when God desires you to. I used to be attempting to spend as a lot time on the crease.” He dug in nicely towards the spin menace of Wanindu Hasaranga, who completed wicketless with 0-35, however the Sri Lanka seamers could not management the moist ball due to dew and constantly missed their lengths.

Babar raised his half-century off 68 balls with solely three fours and grew in confidence. He pulled Pramod Madushan to midwicket for a single to finish his much-awaited century off 115 balls with eight fours.

The crowd erupted and chanted “Babar, Babar” to rejoice the tip of the drought by Pakistan’s premier batter. His twentieth ODI century equaled Saeed Anwar’s Pakistan ODI report.

The opening pair of Fakhar Zaman (78) and Saim Ayub (33) offered a rollicking begin of 77 off 58 balls.

Zaman was dropped twice within the 20s and a 3rd time at effective leg simply earlier than his dismissal, an excellent catch by Janith Liyanage at brief midwicket. But by then he’d placed on 100 runs with Babar to take the sport away from Sri Lanka.

Mohammad Rizwan, unbeaten on 51 off 54 balls, and Babar shared a 112-run stand to the win.

“It’s a whole batting efficiency from us,” stand-in captain Salman Ali Agha mentioned. “We had three excellent partnerships. It was a 320-330 wicket for us so I used to be very pleased to maintain them to 290.”

Sri Lanka batters falter

Kamil Mishara (27) in his second ODI and Pathum Nissanka (24) made a good begin of 51 runs for Sri Lanka contained in the batting powerplay earlier than Nissanka was run out towards the run of play when he tried to go for a 3rd run.

Leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed, who recovered from sickness, pegged again the guests with three wickets. He dismissed Mishara, Kusal Mendis and captain Charith Asalanka and dropped the guests to 98-4 within the twenty second over.

Sadeera Samarawickrama (42) and Liyanage (54) revived the innings with a 61-run stand till Haris Rauf knocked again the off stump of Samarawickrama in his return spell.

Rauf adopted his four-wicket haul within the first ODI with 3-66 together with the very important wicket of Kamindu Mendis (44) within the dying overs.

Hasaranga’s late flurry of 37 off 26 balls helped to set a complete that was regarded as about 30-40 runs wanting par.

Asalanka rued a ton of missed alternatives, together with good begins by batters and dropped catches within the subject.

“A whole lot of wides and extras within the first two overs,” he mentioned. “It’s actually exhausting to come back again on these wickets. After 10-15 overs dew got here and issues obtained tougher.”