Fakhar Zaman had gone through four matches without the kind of performance he wanted. But the Pakistan opener knew that a big innings was around the corner. He just had to wait for the right moment. That moment arrived in the One-Day International tri-series final against Sri Lanka in Lahore on Saturday. Zaman smashed 127 off 99 balls to help Pakistan chase down 326 and win the final by three wickets.Pakistan finished at 331 for seven in 48.3 overs, with nine balls to spare. It was a special victory for the hosts, who also equalled India’s famous record for the highest successful chase in an ODI final.Speaking after winning the Player of the Match award, Zaman explained how he dealt with his lack of runs in the previous four matches and why he never changed his approach.
‘I was just waiting for that moment’
Zaman admitted that he was not at his best at the start of the final. However, he continued to trust his preparation and believed that a big score would come when he found his rhythm.“No, look, I’ve played enough cricket now to know that when it’s my day and the ball starts coming nicely off my bat, I’ll score big. So I was just waiting for that moment. I didn’t do anything particularly different from the way I had approached the previous four matches. I prepared for this game in exactly the same way. But that’s the thing: when you score runs, we start talking about how mentally ready you were, how your fitness was and all of that. I prepared for this match in the same way I had prepared for the other games. Luckily, the runs came today,” Zaman said.The left-hander also spoke about his struggles at the beginning of the innings and how important the century was for him.“Look, the way my first four matches had gone, I felt a good performance was due, and I was putting in the effort. But cricket is such a game that sometimes you’re in really good touch, but the runs just don’t come. Even today, I was struggling a little at the start, but luckily the runs came, and that’s a good thing for me. Whenever there is a final, I seem to score runs,” he said.Pakistan were in trouble early in the chase after Dilshan Madushanka dismissed Babar Azam for a five-ball duck. The Sri Lankan pacer also picked up another wicket in the powerplay.Zaman then joined Saad Baig, and the two rebuilt the innings with a 149-run partnership.Baig scored 74 off 75 balls, registering his maiden ODI half-century. Zaman said his young teammate’s approach allowed him to take his time at the other end.“I’ve played domestic cricket with him as well, and he’s a very talented player. Even today, when I was struggling at that stage, he came in and scored quite quickly. That allowed me to relax and take my time. If he had also played slowly like me, perhaps I would have tried to take a few more chances, and if you take those chances, you can end up losing your wicket. So the credit goes to him for the way he started and the way he built his innings. In my opinion, his was the best innings of the match,” Zaman said.
Pakistan match India’s famous 2002 Lord’s record
Zaman’s century helped Pakistan complete the joint-highest successful chase in an ODI final. Pakistan’s chase of 326 was level with India’s famous run chase against England in the 2002 NatWest Series final at Lord’s.India had also chased down 326 to win by two wickets. Mohammad Kaif scored an unbeaten 87, while Yuvraj Singh contributed 69. The two played a major role in taking India out of trouble before Kaif and Zaheer Khan completed the job in a thrilling finish.More than two decades later, Pakistan matched that achievement with their own memorable chase.
Minhas and Nawaz take Pakistan home
Zaman’s dismissal for 127 and Salman Agha’s departure for 17 left Pakistan at 230 for five. However, Arafat Minhas and Hasan Nawaz put together a 94-run partnership to take the hosts close to victory.Minhas scored a valuable half-century and helped Pakistan cross the finish line with nine balls remaining.Earlier, Sri Lanka had posted 325 for eight, thanks to Kamindu Mendis’ 131 off 128 balls and Pavan Rathnayake’s 77. The pair added 146 runs for the third wicket.Pakistan’s bowlers fought back in the final overs, with Shaheen Shah Afridi taking two wickets for 50 runs.
‘The happiness is even greater’
For Zaman, scoring runs in a final and helping his team lift the trophy made the occasion even more special.“Absolutely. Look, whatever performances you put in throughout the tournament, you do them with the aim of winning the trophy. And when you score runs in the final, the happiness is even greater. I consider myself lucky that I managed to score runs in the final today,” he said.The victory gave Pakistan their first ODI tri-series title since 2008, when they defeated India in the Kitply Cup final in Bangladesh. It also helped them make amends for their defeat to New Zealand in the final of the home tri-series in 2025.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
