A disciplined bowling performance, led by Mohammad Wasim Jr’s three wickets, ensured Sri Lanka were kept to a sub-par total on a good batting surface.
The hosts’ chase began shakily when Haseebullah Khan fell for a duck to Maheesh Theekshana, but Fakhar Zaman quickly restored momentum.
Timing the ball sweetly, he struck 55 off 45 balls and shared an 80-run stand with Babar Azam to push Pakistan into a strong position at 82/1.
Sri Lanka regained control briefly thanks to Jeffrey Vandersay’s superb spell. He removed Fakhar, bowled Babar for 34, and trapped Salman Agha lbw, triggering a Pakistan wobble at 115/4. But that was the last moment of real pressure the visitors could create.
Mohammad Rizwan and Hussain Talat calmly rebuilt, shutting Sri Lanka out of the contest. Rizwan’s patient, unbeaten 61, his 19th ODI fifty and Talat’s steady 42* guided Pakistan home with 5.2 overs remaining.
Earlier, Sri Lanka squandered another promising start. After reaching 55/0 inside eight overs, both openers fell quickly, and although Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama added 43, wickets kept tumbling at key moments.
Samarawickrama’s 48 was the top score before Pakistan’s spinners and pacers tightened the screws.
Lower-order resistance came only from Pawan Rathnayake’s 32, but with little support from the tail, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 211 in 45.2 overs.
