Ball-by-Ball Commentary
- —SL· 18 Oct 2026, 10:17 pm
So then! We had a spicy game today. Both teams had their noses ahead and one team completely threw it away. Both teams lost early wickets. Both had a good middle phase with the bat and both had collapses at the end overs. But in the end. Pakistan hung in there tight, kept wiping that wet ball and did not lose hope. The moment Sri Lanka blinked, they grabbed the game. Next up is Pakistan v England at the same venue. It could well be another exciting game folks. Can't wait for Tuesday! See you soon!
- —SL· 18 Oct 2026, 10:14 pm
Shaheen Afridi | Pakistan captain: (300 looked par on the surface) I think we were also going to bat first if we won the toss. But that was good because we are playing day after tomorrow again. We thought like we will see how to play the first ten overs and then go for 300. I think the way Agha batted was good. On Hasan Nawaz and Saad Baig doing well) Yeah, really happy about how Saad Baig was playing, and then Hasan Nawaz, after a long time, came into the ODI side. They played well with Agha and had a good partnership, which is really good for us. (You opted for your three-seam attack and Faheem Ashraf. All in all, what did you make of the bowling in the powerplay and then towards the death?) Yeah, we were just planning based on how the wicket was prepared for the games and the series. The wicket is good for fast bowlers, so we just went with three seamers. Maybe in the next few games, we'll go for four as well. So, I think we're just planning based on how the wicket is reacting and the way our batters are playing. That's good for us. (When Liyanage and Rathnayake were batting, what was the conversation like? Because it a matter of one wicket here or there? No, he was batting well. We just wanted a wicket at that time and tried to bowl a few bouncers, but yeah, he played well. That was a little bit of a funny conversation. (You can't tell us that funny one?) No (shakes his head and smiles).
- —SL· 18 Oct 2026, 10:12 pm
Kusal Mendis | Sri Lanka captain: (Pakistan got 305. What did you make of that total? Did you think it was par?) I think we had to play a little bit more positively in the powerplay. Those guys (Pakistan) batted really well. Then I think the runs were enough. Our bowlers bowled really well in the last ten overs. The bowling unit did really well. I think myself.. I took a few more dot balls in the powerplay. That's why we struggled a little bit in the powerplay. (But that middle order must have given you a lot of hope, when Liyanage and Rathnayake were batting) Yeah, of course. Janith and Rathnayake batted really well, and Kamindu Mendis batted really well in the powerplay. I think only a couple of guys didn't score runs, and we made a small mistake after the 40th over. But we have to learn a couple of things and be ready for the next match.
- —SL· 18 Oct 2026, 10:10 pm
Salman Agha | PoTM: (On his recent struggle and his decision to return to domestic cricket) I didn't have any other choice. Well, I didn't have much time. I struggled in those series (against West Indies and England), but I hadn't struggled before that in the last four years. But these kinds of times can come along as a cricketer. The only thing I was thinking was that I would go back and play domestic games and try to get things right, and that's what I did. I think that's paid off. (On building partnerships with Hassan Nawaz and accelerating the innings through the middle overs) I think the ball was coming really nicely at that time. So I just spoke to Hassan. I said, if we build a partnership here and play the way we play, we are both aggressive players, and we want to play the way we want to. If we do that, we can put pressure on them and score 300 runs, and that's what we did. (On his strike rate, running between the wickets and rotating the strike) I didn't want to take a risk at that time. I just wanted to score at a run-a-ball as well and didn't want to take a risk. So, for that, I had to run hard, and I was trying to hit the pockets, and I did. The outfield was slow as well, to be honest. Pindi usually has a very good outfield, but today it was a bit slow. That's why I had to run hard.
- —SL· 18 Oct 2026, 10:00 pm
Pakistan could not stem the flow, could not break the partnership. But then came the sudden shock from Sri Lanka. Both set batters Janith and Shanaka holed out in the space of 4 balls and coach Gary Kirsten was left fuming at the mindlessness in the middle. With enough time left, why will you give your wicket to Shaheen, who was finishing his spell he asked, pointing both fingers to the brain, pleading to use it better! Pakistan sniffed blood and they killed the game right there. Sri Lanka had very little resistance with the tail and Pakistan wiped out the last 5 wickets for just 15 runs. From 58 needed off 48 with 5 wickets in hand, Sri Lanka went on to lose by 37 runs! Pakistan holding their nerve under pressure, Sri Lanka throwing the game from the bag. That's the story for you.
- —SL· 18 Oct 2026, 09:53 pm
21:23 Local Time, 16:23 GMT, 21:53 IST: This is a good fighting win for Pakistan and a hurting loss for Sri Lanka. This will definitely sting the Lankans. Coach Gary was so animated because his boys made a brilliant recovery. In fact, they were cruising to victory, until they threw the towel in in a mad last 30 minutes or so. Pakistan had it in full control for a good part early in this chase. Sri Lanka were 91/4 in the 20th over. Kamindu threw it away after getting a solid base. But then Janith walked in determined. With him came dew and he instilled belief into Pavan Rathnayake as well. The duo slowly dug in and the dew increased they knew batting was going to get easier. The partnership flourished to 119 runs. Shanaka walked in and played attacking cricket. He raced to 25 off 14 balls and that meant only 58 runs were needed off the last 8 overs.
- 48.1wicketSL· 18 Oct 2026, 09:53 pm
Haris Rauf to Asitha Fernando, out Bowled!! Timbaahh! That's the game for Pakistan and Haris Rauf doesn't hide his face. Length delivery on the off stump, Asitha backs away to slice it to third man and misses the ball completely. Asitha Fernando b Haris Rauf 7(10) [4s-1]
- —SL· 18 Oct 2026, 09:52 pm
Haris Rauf to Asitha Fernando, THATS OUT!! Bowled!!
- 47.6SL· 18 Oct 2026, 09:52 pm
Naseem Shah to Asitha Fernando, 1 run, now he picks the slower ball and slaps it through cover-point
- 47.5SL· 18 Oct 2026, 09:51 pm
Naseem Shah to Asitha Fernando, no run, slower delivery, Asitha is not in the mood to get behind the line after that blow to the arm. Asitha swings across the line and misses. Ball escapes over the sticks
- 47.4SL· 18 Oct 2026, 09:50 pm
Naseem Shah to Asitha Fernando, no run, short delivery, Asitha looks to slash and misses
- 47.3fourSL· 18 Oct 2026, 09:50 pm
Naseem Shah to Asitha Fernando, FOUR, yorker on the stumps, Asitha looks to squeeze it for four after backing away but gets an inside edge that escapes to fine leg
- 47.2SL· 18 Oct 2026, 09:49 pm
Naseem Shah to Asitha Fernando, no run, oh dear! He's smashed Asitha on the left arm just under the shoulder. Took his eyes off the ball and wore it on the muscular part under the shoulder. Naseem asks if Asitha is okay and Asitha gives the thumbs up
- 47.1SL· 18 Oct 2026, 09:48 pm
Naseem Shah to Asitha Fernando, no run, short delivery outside off stump, wants to ramp it fine but misses
- 46.6SL· 18 Oct 2026, 09:47 pm
Haris Rauf to Dilshan Madushanka, no run, good length delivery outside off stump, Madushanka looks to push and misses
- 46.5SL· 18 Oct 2026, 09:47 pm
Haris Rauf to Dilshan Madushanka, no run, short of length delivery outside off stump, swings and misses
- 46.4SL· 18 Oct 2026, 09:46 pm
Haris Rauf to Asitha Fernando, 1 run, mistimes the drive to long-on
- 46.3SL· 18 Oct 2026, 09:45 pm
Haris Rauf to Dilshan Madushanka, 1 run, very full delivery, Madushanka squeezes it square of the wicket to the off-side
- 46.2SL· 18 Oct 2026, 09:45 pm
Haris Rauf to Dilshan Madushanka, no run, short delivery, Madushanka avoids
- 46.1SL· 18 Oct 2026, 09:44 pm
Haris Rauf to Asitha Fernando, 1 run, knocked down to fine leg