Kamindu Mendis made his maiden ODI century, finishing with 131 off 128 balls, as Sri Lanka posted 325 for 8 in their 50 overs after being sent in to bat by Pakistan in the final of the ODI tri-series at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, setting the hosts a target of 326 to win the title on home soil.
Mendis shared an 87-run opening stand with Avishka Fernando (38) before adding 146 for the third wicket with Pavan Rathnayake, who made 77 off 65 balls. The two partnerships carried Sri Lanka to 255 for 3 in the 42nd over, before Mendis fell to Shaheen Shah Afridi and the innings lost some momentum in the closing overs to finish on 325 for 8.
Mendis, who made his ODI debut in March 2019, had gone 31 matches without reaching three figures in the format before Saturday, and he picked the final itself — rather than any of the earlier group games against Pakistan or England — to convert a start into his first hundred. The knock came on the same ground, and in the same tournament, where Dilshan Madushanka's 5 for 34 had earlier knocked Pakistan out of the group stage picture before they fought their way back into the final via other results.
Pakistan reached the final unbeaten in the group stage and are chasing their first ODI tri-series title on home soil, but a target of 326 against a Sri Lankan attack that includes Madushanka and Maheesh Theekshana is a substantial ask in a winner-takes-all match. The size of Mendis and Rathnayake's partnership, built in the middle overs rather than at the death, gives Sri Lanka's bowlers a total with little margin for Pakistan's top order to settle into the chase.
Kamindu Mendis's maiden century makes him the standout pick from either side's batting lineup, with Pavan Rathnayake's supporting innings also worth tracking for value returns. Shaheen Shah Afridi's wicket of Mendis keeps him the sharper bowling option for Pakistan in a chase of this size.
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Scores and innings details in this article are verified against same-day and freshly re-checked reporting as of October 31, 2026; Pakistan's chase of 326 had not yet concluded at the time of writing.
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