Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, 2nd ODI - Live Cricket Score, Commentary

That's all from our side for the day folks! We'll be back in a couple of days for the live coverage of the 3rd and final ODI of this series. Till then, it's goodbye from our side. See you guys on Sunday!

Salman Agha: It was a complete batting performance. We had three good partnerships, I think we chased it really well. I think it was a a 320-330 kind of a wcket, but I am happy that we could restrict them to 280-290 odd. It's always good to restrict them to such a total.

Charith Asalanka: I think we were 20-30 runs short. We could have done well in the top-order. In these two games, that has been the case. In the previous series we have scored more hundreds, especially our top-order. Our seamers gave away too many wides and extras, it's hard to come back from that situation.

Babar Azam, Player of the Match: I wanted to believe in myself and my hard work. I was getting off to good starts, I wasn't able to live up to the expectations. I was getting out at wrong times. I was just trying my best. It's an honour to get past all the records of all legends.

This is the 9th consecutive victory for Pakistan over Sri Lanka in a bilateral ODI series, and it is also the 11th win out of the last 12 ODIs for Pakistan against Sri Lanka since 2017.

This is the fourth successive bilateral ODI series win for Pakistan against Sri Lanka and their third consecutive series wins on home soil.

Sri Lanka lost their first series after winning three consecutive bilateral ODI series, and it is their 9th away series loss out of the last ten ODI bilateral series; their only away series win came against Zimbabwe earlier this year.

Fewest innings to 20 ODI hundreds
108 - Hashim Amla
133 - Virat Kohli
136 - Babar Azam*
142 - David Warner
150 - Quinton de Kock
175 - AB de Villiers

It is Babar’s eighth ODI hundred on home soil - the most by a Pakistan batter, surpassing Mohammad Yousuf (7).

Babar Azam’s innings (by footwork)
Front foot: 43(64), SR: 67.18
Back foot: 54(51), SR: 105.9
Down the track: 1(1), SR: 100.0
Other: 4(3), SR: 133.3

Babar scored 51 runs (50 balls) on the on side and 51 runs (66 balls) towards the off side today.

Involved in most 100s partnerships for PAK in ODIs
41 - Inzamam-ul-Haq
40 - Babar Azam*
38 - Mohammad Yousuf
32 - Younis Khan
26 - Saeed Anwar / Shoaib Malik
25 - Javed Miandad

22:53 Local Time, 17:53 GMT, 23:23 IST: Pakistan seal the 2nd ODI with a dominant 8-wicket win, taking an unassailable 2–0 lead in the three-match series. The day began with a smart decision from the Pakistan captain to bowl first. Sri Lanka saw a few batters get starts, but Abrar Ahmed’s strikes through the middle-overs stalled their momentum. The visitors recovered somewhat through valuable contributions from their lower-middle order, with Janith Linayage and Kamindu Mendis stitching together an important stand that helped them edge towards a competitive total. However, on a batting-friendly Rawalpindi surface, that total was never going to be enough. Pakistan’s openers began positively, aided by Sri Lanka’s costly wides in the powerplay. Ayub fell after a quick start, but Fakhar and Babar steadied the innings with composed batting, putting Pakistan firmly in control. The seasoned duo of Babar and Rizwan had a fine partnership for the 3rd wicket. Having rescued Pakistan on several occasions in the past, they once again built a vital stand. Babar displayed his trademark elegance, while Rizwan anchored confidently from the opposite end. Together, the experienced pair held their nerve at a crucial moment and eventually steered Pakistan to victory in the 49th over. They are getting greeted by the Pakistan players and staff at the moment, who are all smiles. Stay around for the presentations..

Most 100s for Pakistan in ODIs
20 - Babar Azam*
20 - Saeed Anwar
15 - Mohammad Yousuf
11 - Mohammad Hafeez
11 - Fakhar Zaman

This is Babar Azam’s first century in international cricket after 83 innings (after 33 innings in ODIs); the last came against Nepal in the 2023 ODI Asia Cup.