Pakistan whitewash fierce 3-0  as Wasim, Fakhar deliver dominant win

Pakistan Whitewash Sri Lanka: Wasim, Fakhar and Rizwan Lead a Dominant Finish

The final ODI between Pakistan and Sri Lanka wrapped up with a result that many had anticipated but few expected to be this decisive. With another composed performance, Pakistan whitewash the visitors 3-0, closing the series on a strong, confident note. The match showcased not only Pakistan’s growing stability in ODI cricket but also how effectively they build pressure when it matters.

Sri Lanka began the final ODI with the intention to break the pattern of the first two matches, and for the first few overs, it looked like they might be able to challenge Pakistan. Pathum Nissanka and Kamil Mishara started brilliantly, timing the ball sweetly and racing to a 50-run partnership inside eight overs. The early signs suggested that Pakistan could be chasing more than 300, a total that may have tested their batting depth.

But as the series storyline has repeatedly shown, Pakistan whitewash moments are built on game-changing spells. The first blow came when Nissanka dragged an inside edge onto his stumps, and from that moment Pakistan’s bowlers took control. Mohammad Wasim pushed Sri Lanka further back with extra bounce, claiming Mishara’s edge and halting the free flow of runs. From being 50 without loss, Sri Lanka were suddenly searching for answers.

Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama tried to rebuild, but the scoring rate slowed drastically. On a pitch that seemed to be getting better for batting, they failed to keep the scoreboard moving. The introduction of young left-arm wristspinner Faisal Akram added even more pressure. He bowled an excellent spell, mixing his variations well and keeping the batters uncomfortable. His delivery to remove Samarawickrama—just two short of a fifty—was one of the standout moments of the innings.

By now, Sri Lanka were well behind where they needed to be. When Wasim returned and bowled a perfect yorker to dismiss Mendis, the innings completely derailed. Akram’s double-strike soon after blew the middle order apart. Debutant Pavan Rathnayake showed promising temperament as he handled the tail, even hitting the shot of the day with a clean back-foot punch for six. But Sri Lanka’s total of 211 was always going to be difficult to defend, and it only strengthened the chances of another Pakistan whitewash moment.

Pakistan’s chase started at an energetic pace. Fakhar Zaman looked determined from the first ball, especially after Haseebullah Khan struggled to a 12-ball duck. Zaman made up for the early hiccup with a fluent display, finding gaps regularly and putting Sri Lanka under immediate pressure. When Babar Azam joined him, their partnership stabilized the innings, and for the first 15 overs, Pakistan looked completely in control—exactly the type of dominance expected in a Pakistan whitewash story.

However, Sri Lanka found a spark through Jeffrey Vandersay. Zaman, who was looking set for a big score, went after the legspinner once too often. A brilliant diving catch in the deep cut short his innings at 55. Shortly after, Vandersay bowled a superb googly that went straight through Babar Azam’s defense. For a brief moment, Pakistan looked a little shaky. The scorecard and momentum suggested Sri Lanka might make Pakistan fight harder than expected.

Agha Salman fell soon after to another excellent delivery from Vandersay. The sudden cluster of wickets brought back memories of earlier Pakistan batting collapses. With 97 still needed, this was the first time in the match Sri Lanka had placed real pressure on Pakistan. But even in that tense moment, the possibility of a Pakistan whitewash remained alive.

With 5.2 overs remaining, Rizwan hit the winning runs to seal the match and secure a comprehensive 3-0 result.

This was the eighth time Pakistan have completed a Pakistan whitewash in a bilateral ODI series.But whenever the pressure mounted, Pakistan found answers—wickets at the right time, tight spells in the middle overs, and batting partnerships built on calmness. Those elements are why the Pakistan whitewash narrative repeated itself in match after match.