RAWALPINDI: Pakistan has secured another victory in the second One Day International (ODI) match of the series played at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Friday.
Pakistan secured a decisive victory against Sri Lanka in the second ODI, taking a 2-0 lead in the three-match series. Captain Babar Azam’s outstanding century was key to the team’s impressive win.
This century marked Babar Azam’s first appearance in ODI cricket in two years and the 20th of his overall ODI career. With this achievement, he also matched Saeed Anwar’s record for the most ODI centuries by a Pakistani player.
Babar’s responsible innings not only contributed significantly to the team’s success but also reaffirmed his status as one of the best batsmen in the world. The final match of the series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka is expected to be a mere formality.
Read also: Pakistan defeats Sri Lanka in opening ODI of the series
Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka by six runs in a thrilling opening match of the One-Day series held at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
In this encounter, Pakistan scored 299 runs for the loss of 5 wickets, with Salman Ali Agha’s outstanding century being the highlight. Agha’s innings of 105 runs came off 87 balls and included 9 fours. Hussain Talat also made a significant contribution, scoring 62 runs from 63 balls.
In response, Sri Lanka managed to score 293 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in their allotted 50 overs while chasing Pakistan’s target of 300 runs. Vinod Hasaranga was a standout bowler for Sri Lanka, taking three wickets.
The Sri Lankan captain chose to bowl first after winning the toss, citing humid conditions in the second innings as a factor in the decision. This match marks Shaheen Shah Afridi’s second ODI series as captain, and under his leadership, Pakistan recently claimed a 2-1 series victory against South Africa.
Historically, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have faced each other in 157 ODIs, with Pakistan winning 93 matches, Sri Lanka winning 59, one match resulting in a tie, and four matches ending with no result. In their previous meetings at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, both teams have won one ODI each.
