Pakistan won the ODI tri-series title after beating Sri Lanka by three wickets in a thrilling final at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Saturday.
Fakhar Zaman led the chase with a brilliant 127 off 99 balls as Pakistan reached 326-7 in 48.3 overs. Saad Baig scored 74, while Arafat Minhas played a vital innings of 61 to help the hosts secure the trophy.
Pakistan made a poor start to their chase of 326. Dilshan Madushanka removed Maaz Sadaqat for five before dismissing Babar Azam for a duck. The hosts were struggling at 14-2.
However, Fakhar and Saad Baig steadied the innings with a 149-run stand for the third wicket.
Saad reached his maiden ODI fifty and continued to score freely. He made 74 before Maheesh Theekshana caught him off his own bowling.
Fakhar kept Pakistan on course with an attacking innings. He completed his 12th ODI century in just 83 balls before Madushanka bowled him for 127.
Pakistan were 220-4 at that stage and still needed 106 runs to win. Sri Lanka increased the pressure when Dunith Wellalage bowled Salman Ali Agha for 17. Pakistan slipped to 230-5, leaving the match open with 96 runs still required.
Arafat Minhas and Hasan Nawaz then took control of the chase. The pair added 94 runs for the sixth wicket and brought Pakistan close to victory. Minhas attacked the bowlers in the closing overs and struck two successive sixes followed by a four off Asitha Fernando.
However, Fernando dismissed Minhas for 61 and removed Faheem Ashraf for a duck with the next ball. Pakistan were left needing just two runs with three wickets remaining.
Captain Shaheen Shah Afridi then struck a six to seal the victory with nine balls to spare.
Earlier, Sri Lanka scored 325-8 after Pakistan won the toss and elected to bowl. Kamindu Mendis starred with 131, his first ODI century, while Pavan Rathnayake contributed 77.
Kamindu and Avishka Fernando gave Sri Lanka a strong start with an opening partnership of 87 runs. Salman Ali Agha dismissed Avishka for 38 before taking a fine return catch to remove Kusal Mendis for eight.
Kamindu then joined Rathnayake to rebuild the innings. The pair added 146 runs for the third wicket and put Sri Lanka in a strong position.
Kamindu reached his century off 107 balls and went on to score 131 before Shaheen trapped him lbw. Rathnayake continued the attack but fell to Haris Rauf for 77. Dasun Shanaka made 17 before Shaheen removed him.
Sri Lanka lost six wickets in the final 10 overs as Pakistan fought back with the ball. The visitors finished on 325-8 despite looking set for a much bigger total. Shaheen, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf and Salman Ali Agha took two wickets each.
Pakistan then completed one of the highest successful chases in an ODI final to lift the tri-series trophy.
