Pakistan emerged victorious against Afghanistan in the third and final one-day international (ODI) match in Colombo, Sri Lanka, securing a clean sweep with a 3-0 series whitewash. This impressive performance propelled Pakistan to the top of the ODI rankings.
Pakistan’s success was partially due to the outstanding contributions of Mohammad Rizwan, who scored 67 runs off 79 balls, and captain Babar Azam, who scored 60 runs off 86 balls. Their solid batting helped Pakistan reach a total of 268-8 in 50 overs.
Afghanistan struggled in their response and were dismissed for 209 runs in 48.4 overs. Mujeebur Rahman, batting at number nine, put up a valiant fight with a quickfire 64 runs off 37 balls, which included five sixes and an equal number of boundaries. Unfortunately, Rahman was dismissed after stepping on his stumps and being declared hit wicket off Shaheen Shah Afridi. Nevertheless, he set a new Afghan record for the fastest ODI fifty, achieving the feat in just 26 balls.
Rahman and Shahidullah Kamal formed a crucial partnership of 57 runs for the eighth wicket, providing some stability to Afghanistan’s innings. Despite their efforts, Pakistan’s bowlers, including Faheem Ashraf, who took 2-43, and spinners Shadab Khan (3-42) and Mohammad Nawaz (2-45), ultimately proved too much for Afghanistan.
Pakistan’s victory in the series not only secured their spot at the top of the International Cricket Council ODI rankings but also avenged their recent loss to Afghanistan. Earlier this year, Pakistan briefly held the number one position in the rankings.
Pakistan fielded a slightly altered lineup for the final match, resting key bowlers such as Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah. Despite these changes, the team displayed excellent performance in both batting and bowling.
The partnership between Rizwan and Azam played a vital role in stabilizing Pakistan’s innings. Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq fell early in the game, but Rizwan and Azam added 110 runs for the third wicket, setting a solid foundation for the team.
During the middle overs, Pakistan encountered a minor setback, losing four wickets for just 27 runs. However, Agha Salman (38*) and Mohammad Nawaz (30) stepped up, adding 61 runs for the seventh wicket and helping Pakistan achieve a competitive total.
With this series win, Pakistan and Afghanistan will now turn their focus to the upcoming six-nation Asia Cup, set to commence in Multan on August 30.